When this New Yorker isn’t spearheading diversity in advertising or tech, she’s exploring the city’s creative and cultural diversity – from interactive film noir plays and off-menu cocktail bars to hipster Japanese food and unmissable comedy clubs.
New York with Mara Lecocq
Creative Director & Entrepreneur
Location Hell’s Kitchen
‘Start walking from Hell’s Kitchen on the West Side of Manhattan and work your way down towards the Brooklyn Bridge and into Dumbo. Then, walk through Bleecker Street, the iconic area known for Sex in the City and that kind of New York vibe.’
Hell’s Kitchen, New York, NY
Culture 9/11 Memorial Museum
‘I love the 9/11 World Trade Centre Memorial. It really brought me closer to the city. It’s sad but done so tastefully to honor the stories of people affected by that tragic event. It made me feel way more connected to the city’s history.’
180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007
Culture Sleep No More
‘Sleep No More is an interactive play held at the McKittrick Hotel. It’s loosely based on Macbeth but a very poetic interpretation. What’s fun is that you, as the audience, come in with creepy white masks, explore each room, and see actors performing the scenes; you can move closer if you want to. This has been around for over a decade, and I highly recommend people to check it out as a top New York attraction.’
530 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001
Culture Comedy Cellar
‘Comedy Cellar is a comedy club that has shows every hour in the evening, like from 7pm to 12am or so. And that’s where famous comedians practice their jokes, you actually never know who’s gonna show up.’
117 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
Food & Drink Rule of Thirds
‘Rule of Thirds. I’d call it hipster Japanese. It’s like a good fusion between Williamsburg and Japan in terms of style. Beautiful interior design and the food is amazing. It’s quite a unique New York hidden gem experience that I’d recommend to anyone.’
171 Banker St, Brooklyn, NY 11222
“Start walking from Hell’s Kitchen on the West Side of Manhattan and work your way down towards the Brooklyn Bridge and into Dumbo. Then, walk through Bleecker Street, the iconic area known for Sex in the City and that kind of New York vibe.”
On a secret New York attraction
Not a secret, but I’m always blown away by Comedy Cellar. Such quality and so many great insights that make you understand society better.
On your favorite gallery
Gagosian Gallery. It’s like… welcome to America.
On good drinks
Any bar where you can sit, where there’s no line, where there’s more than beer, where there are no TVs, and where people don’t shout.
Otherwise: Attaboy. Their cocktails are amazing. There is no cocktail menu and they come up with awesome flavors that fit your palate.
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On your relationship with New York
Gratitude. I felt ‘normal’ for the first time in my life at age 30, when I moved to New York. I’ve always felt ‘on the side’ of my home countries — in New York, I finally feel like everyone else, because most people have an awesome immigrant story, whether it’s theirs or their family’s. So, coming from everywhere is NBD. The diversity in New York is incredible. My favorite place is inside a subway car. I love seeing people from everywhere.
What I love is that everyone has this optimistic, go-getter, immigrant mindset. Everyone encourages you to be your best self. It’s a really invigorating place to be in.
On where you’re living
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, but off Lorimer Street, the Puerto Rican and Dominican neighborhood. I love how they speak Spanish at the laundromat and how there’s Merengue blasting at the corner store. And they think I’m hispanic. Both my home countries actually don’t think I’m one of theirs, only Latin Americans do. So I feel a sense of belonging, somehow. Also, the Philippines is the only Asian country that’s a Spanish colony, so there are similarities in culture.
Whether or not you’re a bookworm, The New York Public Library in Manhattan offers a fascinating (and free) one-hour tour of the iconic site, featuring highlights of its storied past — ranging from official military research meet-ups to the filming of many a popular movie and TV show.
On whether American culture has influenced your creativity
Yes, definitely: more power and shamelessness. I come from pretty humble and self-deprecating cultures, so America has taught me to just OWN IT and GET IT (laughs). I still have my demons but I try to learn from Americans and ignore the noise.
On where you find inspiration
Conversations with everyday people. The news. Stand-up comedy. I like feeling what moves societies and coming up with ideas from there.
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On creative diversity and new cultures
Mixing cultures leads to human progress. People grow up with stereotypes that hold them back. In order to grow past them, you need to meet the people defying these stereotypes, and draw inspiration from different sources. As Sallie Krawcheck said, ‘Innovation is the clash of differences.’
On where you’re from
I’m from two countries at the same time. Born and raised in the Philippines but went to French school and spent all my summers in France. French mom, Filipino dad. Also lived 14 years in the Philippines and 14 years in France. Full 50/50 mind, body and geography.
On what is different in America from France or the Philippines
Knowing how to sell yourself are table stakes here. I learned that America is a country where you can be successful by being really good at speaking. France is all about the hard skills, and we’re generally horrible at speaking. So I had to step up in terms of how I presented myself, spoke, and what types of first impressions I gave. Every culture has something amazing to learn from. And even if in France we’re cynical about people who just talk — and don’t walk the talk — I think Americans are really powerful in how they talk. They inspire me every day. Walking is easier for me, so now I need to learn to TALK the walk. Ha.
On what inspires you in New York at the moment
The feminist movement is going bonkers right now. It’s incredible. Being at The Wing, a co-working space designed for women, is so inspiring. I love how they combine community and activism in such a beautiful place. I’m sad feminist dudes who like pretty things can’t join. Ah, new business idea!
On the inspiration for ‘Secret Code’ and ‘Where Are The Boss Ladies’
Over a decade in my career in advertising, I was feeling a growing passion for an issue: representation. Being one of the rare female leaders in advertising and technology, I decided to solve the problem in two folds: by inspiring little girls to get in male-dominated industries, and by inspiring women to remain in them.
I created Secret Code, a customizable children’s book that stars your girl as a tech hero. The way it works is you personalize her name, skin color and hairstyle, and two weeks later she receives a beautiful children’s book with her story as a badass robot engineer.
Studies show that stereotypes sink in between ages 5 and 7, and that has an impact on children’s interests, and later, their aspirations. I wanted to have an impact by targeting those formative years, when children are building their models with children’s books. I won a grant from Sophia Amoruso’s Girlboss Foundation. I signed with William Morris/WME. I got an offer from a publisher, and Secret Code is coming out in bookstores this fall.
And to address the issues later in the pipeline, I started Where Are The Boss Ladies, a crowd-sourced list of female executives in advertising, to offer a resource for women to find a boss they can relate to.
“Mixing cultures leads to human progress. People grow up with stereotypes that hold them back. In order to grow past them, you need to meet the people defying these stereotypes, and draw inspiration from different sources.”
next stop: NYC
Creators
Michael Yamashita
Photographer
Traversing the world with Nat Geo for three decades searching for the perfect shot, Mike has sampled almost every cuisine imaginable. Which is why his drool-worthy foodie guide to NYC, bursting with hot spots only locals know about, is worthy of our attention.
Alex Trochut
Graphic Designer
Design is his passport to the world. But his unique view of NYC will show you why he called this city home for over a decade. Alex will have you knocking on secret back-street restaurant doors, uncovering underground parties and checking out Tarantino style cinemas with movie-inspired menus.
For more exceptional creators, visit www.exceptionalalien.com
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