The selection of Natalia Montaño, founder of Aguamarina Schools, as the cover subject of Ejecutiva Magazine places a spotlight on a Miami-based educational project that has expanded to Mexico and Colombia. The feature, which coincides with her recognition at the Top Entrepreneurs of USA Awards 2026 on October 8, underscores how a locally developed academic philosophy can scale internationally and attract mainstream business media attention.
Montaño, a Colombian businesswoman, has built Aguamarina Schools around the “Kind & Cool” educational philosophy, which integrates academic learning with values, creativity, autonomy, and social responsibility. The model now operates three campuses in Miami—Brickell, South Miami, and Downtown Miami—alongside sites in Mexico City and Bogotá. This geographic reach matters because it demonstrates that a school founded in South Florida can compete in multiple Latin American markets, potentially influencing how early education is delivered across the region.
“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,” Montaño said in the announcement.
The cover story also highlights the family dimension of the enterprise. Montaño's husband, architect Roberto Salazar, co-founded Aguamarina Elementary, and her daughter Luisa Salazar serves as co-founder and director of the school. Luisa additionally founded the Planet Patrol Foundation, which promotes environmental education and children's leadership through conservation activities and community participation. This family involvement suggests a long-term commitment to the project and a succession structure that could sustain its growth.
Ejecutiva Magazine's decision to feature Montaño reflects its editorial focus on women who transform industries and create opportunities. By elevating an educator to its cover, the publication signals that education is increasingly recognized as a high-impact business sector, not merely a public service. The timing—shortly after Montaño received the Top Entrepreneurs of USA award at a ceremony organized by Negocios Magazine and Ejecutiva Magazine at the EB Hotel Miami—reinforces the connection between entrepreneurial achievement and social impact.
For Miami's business community, the recognition is a reminder that the city is exporting more than tourism and finance; it is also developing intellectual property in education. Aguamarina's expansion into Mexico and Colombia could open doors for other South Florida education ventures seeking international partners. The full interview with Montaño is available in Natalia Montaño: the educator redefining teaching in Miami, and the announcement was distributed through NOTICIAS NEWSWIRE.
Montaño's profile arrives as parents and investors increasingly seek educational models that blend academic rigor with emotional well-being. If Aguamarina's “Kind & Cool” approach proves replicable across borders, it could become a reference point for bilingual, values-driven schooling in the Americas. The cover story thus marks more than a personal honor; it signals the maturing of a Miami-origin education brand with ambitions to shape how future generations learn.
