The selection of Natalia Montaño, founder of Aguamarina Schools, as the cover subject of Ejecutiva Magazine carries significance beyond a single feature: it highlights the emergence of a Miami-born educational model that is now operating in three countries and positioning itself as a reference for combining academic rigor with emotional well-being. The Colombian businesswoman's profile in the publication coincides with her recognition on October 8 at the Top Entrepreneurs of USA Awards 2026, a ceremony organized by Negocios Magazine and Ejecutiva Magazine at the EB Hotel Miami, reinforcing her standing as a leader whose work bridges business and social impact.
Aguamarina Schools has developed the “Kind & Cool” philosophy, which integrates academic learning with values, creativity, autonomy, and social responsibility. The model is currently applied across three Miami campuses—Brickell, South Miami, and Downtown Miami—as well as in Mexico City and Bogotá. For Montaño, the approach is rooted in how children experience learning: “At Aguamarina, we believe that children should learn in environments where they feel safe, heard, and capable of leading with purpose. Education is not just content: it is experience, community, and vision.” The model's expansion from South Florida to Latin America suggests that demand is growing for educational offerings that prioritize both critical thinking and emotional development, a combination that traditional systems often struggle to deliver.
The recognition also carries weight because it reflects a family-driven enterprise. Montaño's husband, architect Roberto Salazar, is co-founder of Aguamarina Elementary, and her daughter, Luisa Salazar, serves as co-founder and director of the school. Luisa is also the founder of Planet Patrol Foundation, an initiative that promotes environmental education and children's leadership through conservation activities and community participation. This structure indicates that Aguamarina's growth is not merely a business expansion but an effort to embed a coherent set of values across generations and geographies.
Ejecutiva Magazine's decision to feature Montaño aligns with its stated mission of highlighting women who transform industries and generate positive social impact. The publication, a product of Acta Diurna Urbis Group Corp., focuses on female leadership and entrepreneurship across the United States and Latin America. By placing Montaño on its cover, the magazine underscores how an educational vision can evolve into a business initiative with international reach, driven from South Florida. The full interview and article are available through Natalia Montaño: the educator redefining teaching in Miami | Ejecutiva Magazine, and the announcement was distributed via NOTICIAS NEWSWIRE.
The implications extend beyond one educator's profile. Montaño's cover story arrives as conversations about education increasingly focus on student well-being, leadership formation, and models that can travel across borders. Her ability to scale a philosophy from a single campus to an international network—while maintaining a family-led structure—offers a case study in how mission-driven enterprises can grow without diluting their core principles. For Miami's business and education sectors, the recognition reinforces the city's role as a launchpad for initiatives with hemispheric reach. And for parents and educators, it signals that alternative models blending academic excellence with emotional intelligence are gaining visibility and credibility among influential audiences.
