Meet the Team Behind Two Nerdy Cats
Welcome to Part Three of our Team Interview Series! Here at Two Nerdy Cats (TNC), we want to give you the opportunity to not only learn about our team members, but to navigate our culture more closely, offering a personal view of the journey behind everything we create. Every interview becomes a step toward a deeper understanding of the people who drive this project forward and prove every day that even the smallest detail can create a positive impact.
My highest hope running even a small business such as Two Nerdy Cats is that I can foster a positive work environment where each team member can flourish in their role. However, there is one team member whose contribution to TNC cannot be summarized by a single title. That's that of our administrative assistant, Manu. Her official title might be executive assistant - but she's much more than that. She's an administrative professional, content creator, writer, project management software expert, and more.
Manu works hard - often, behind the scenes - contributing in whatever way she can to make TNC a better place. She shows a willingness to learn, a passion for professional development, and thrives when presented with opportunities to learn, contribute, and challenge herself. She seamlessly takes feedback and criticism, seeing them as moments to improve and tackle new challenges.
Additionally, Manu is an excellent communicator - she not only fulfills whatever duty is priority, but offers regular check-ins and updates as needed along the way, even when work gets fast-paced. When you work remotely with your team, coordination and communication can be extremely important to building trust. Her positive attitude is infectious and builds rapport and open communication amongst our team - which keeps everyone excited and motivated!
Whether it's organizing and overseeing initiatives, writing crucial documentation, coordinating and communicating with our software developers, testing features on our website, creating and analyzing logistics spreadsheets, posting on social media, or writing blog articles - Manu is always on the move. And make no mistake: her contribution has been immeasurable - many initiatives at Two Nerdy Cats were only possible because of her hard work, passion, and dedication.
Our admin assistant, Manu, seeing our logo on a tote for the first time!
Not only does she work efficiently to meet priority objectives, but she works in a gentle, thoughtful way that reflects her true love for the brand in every step. She asks thoughtful questions, communicates effectively, offers insightful suggestions, ensures that tasks are completed, and always delivers every piece of work like it's wrapped in a warm hug. As I've told her many times: "I can hear the love!".
I've had the privilege to enjoy our relationship, collaboration and teamwork on many aspects of our business. On a personal level, she's a sweet and humble person who not only is a truly supportive colleague, but lovingly enjoys hobbies like sipping her coffee, sewing, playing board games with her husband and friends, cuddling with her cats, and flying through the mountains of Colombia, South America. She's also incredibly generous, using much of her free time to sew clothing and make donations to those in need.
Join us as we learn a little more about Manu!
Meet Our Administrative Assistant: Managing With Strategy, Productive Teamwork and Love
Fun Facts About Manu
- Nerdiest hobby: Messing up her sewing room...and making dresses for young girls
- Passions: Flying for life
- Memorable moment at TNC: When she received her first tote bag from the brand
- Comfort food: Chocolate, always, in any form
- Secret collections: Fabrics - she can never have enough
- Pets: Amelia, a calico cat diva. And Cielo, a panther cat with emotional dependency issues
Featured Question and Answer From Our Colleague
Q: What small ritual do you have before you sit down to work?
A: I open the window and let the cool morning air in. I live in Colombia, South America - and I love looking at the Colombian mountains, especially when the Nevado del Ruiz is clear and looks majestic. I have a coffee, doing nothing else. I breathe, look at the sky, remind myself that I am here, now. And from there I begin, making sure that whatever I do comes from calm and not from haste. It's like saying "Here I am: Ready" before starting.
The Full Interview
Q: What part of your personality is reflected the most in Two Nerdy Cats?
A: I think Two Nerdy Cats (TNC) reflects many layers of my personal story. I'm married to a wonderful nerd, I'm a cat mom, and thanks to my family, I grew up surrounded by sewing. So, for me, TNC brings together many things that have shaped me: the nerdy aspect as a form of curiosity and a love of learning, and the handmade aspect as a way to nurture, hold, and express affection. It's like uniting my emotional home and my family heritage in one creative space.
Q: How would you describe the vibe of the Two Nerdy Cats community?
A: It's a curious, gentle, and deeply human community. People who find beauty in the process, not just the results. People who enjoy learning, conversing, sharing, and building respect based on what is authentic to each individual.
Q: What small ritual do you have before you sit down to work?
A: I open the window and let the cool morning air in. I live in Colombia, South America - and I love looking at the Colombian mountains, especially when the Nevado del Ruiz is clear and looks majestic. I have a coffee, doing nothing else. I breathe, look at the sky, remind myself that I am here, now. And from there I begin, making sure that whatever I do comes from calm and not from haste. It's like saying "here I am: ready" before starting.
Q: What inspires you about the process of the other members of the team?
A: I'm inspired by their organization, their prioritization, their open and direct communication, and their positive feedback, both when things go well and when adjustments are needed. I feel like we're all striving for something beautiful and better each time. And besides, there's something truly magical about watching Natalia draw. She makes creating seem light, natural, almost effortless.
Q: What has been one of the most memorable moments in the project?
A: When I received my tote bag featuring the Two Nerdy Cats logo, it was a very exciting moment because I felt like I was incorporating it into my life. Outside of TNC, I love to sew and work in a family-owned aviation company - and this tote bag now got to join me on those adventures. I took it flying, made it part of my sewing projects, and it was with me on the runway and in the mountains. Today, that tote bag is literally my crochet bag.
Q: What is the nicest thing someone has said about your work?
A: I've been told that you can see the heart behind what I do. "That it's not just done for the sake of doing it, but with intention and sensitivity".
Q: What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
A: I make dresses, pajamas, and other clothing to donate to children and people in need. For me, sewing is a way to embrace someone I don't know. Every stitch is a silent "I care for you," a way of doing something truly productive with my free time.
Q: What is your favorite time of year?
A: Christmas. Besides coinciding with my birthday, Christmas in Colombia has a different kind of magic: the traditional food, the novenas, music playing in every house, the lights in the neighborhoods, families gathered without haste, the house smelling of natilla and buñuelos. It's a time when everything feels more loving.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: I love Dan Brown's books, especially The Conspiracy Theory. I like how he blends history, science, and mystery, and how nothing is ever what it seems: the good guy might be bad, the bad guy might not be, and the real villain is almost always the one you least expect. It keeps me curious all the time.
Q: What is your favorite movie, TV series or anime?
A: Top Gun, definitely. I grew up in the world of aviation because I'm the daughter of a pilot, so all airplane movies have a special place in my heart. But Top Gun is the one that always comes back to me; it's my childhood, spent dreaming of adventure, it's the afternoons with my dad.
Q: What's your nerdiest trait?
A: I'm incredibly excited about strategic board games. I love thinking, planning, calculating, negotiating, and spending time on them as if they were a science.
Q: What hobby or interest do you have that might surprise people?
A: Skydiving and air sports. Many are surprised because they imagine it as pure adrenaline, but for me, the sky is home. I grew up seeing the sky as a possible, close, everyday place. So when I fly, I don't feel fear or euphoria - I feel peace. Jumping is my way of letting go of control, of remembering that I can trust, that I can let myself fall and still be held. Up there, there's no noise, no slopes, no rush. Just air, the horizon, and that feeling of, "Ah, this is me".
Q: What is a comfort food for you?
A: Chocolate. It takes away the cold, it gives me a feeling of home.
Q: Do you collect anything? If so, what?
A: Fabrics. So many fabrics. I have more fabrics than finished projects. And yet, every time I see a new one, I feel like this is the one I've been waiting for.
Q: What's your surprise superpower? What's a skill you have that others might not expect?
A: I have the ability to see what's essential amidst the noise. When everything gets tangled up, I can stop, breathe, and prioritize without getting desperate...These are the things skydiving teaches me. I don't know all the answers, but I know where to start, who to ask for help, and what to expect.
Q: What type of tasks do you get the most satisfaction from working on?
A: Those that have to do with paying attention to detail. I like it when something is clear, beautiful, understandable, and intentional. It makes me feel that what I do has meaning and makes someone else's life easier, or allows them to feel understood.
Q: What type of tasks do you feel the most proud to complete, even if they're difficult?
A: Writing and editing blog posts is a huge challenge for me. Spanish is my first language, but we often publish our articles in English. Thinking and writing in two languages is incredibly difficult because it's not just about translating words, but about translating emotions, tones, rhythms, and ways of expressing things. Sometimes I feel like I have two voices in my head trying to find each other. When I finally manage to make an idea flow just as clearly and warmly in both Spanish and English, I feel something wonderful. And that fills me with pride.
Q: What motivates you throughout the workday?
A: The feeling that what we do has soul. That we're not just doing things for the sake of doing them, but creating something that feels alive, honest, real. And also, seeing something move forward, even if it's just a little. One step is a step. And many steps are a victory.
Q: What is your go-to snack when you need a burst of energy or pick-me-up?
A: Peanuts with raisins when I want to feel like I'm functioning. Chocolate when I just want a hug. And coffee, always and for everything, coffee.
Q: So, you have cats - how do you survive working at home with them?
A: Living at their pace, not mine. The concept of "my desk" or "my chair" doesn't exist here: it's all cat territory. They decide where I sit, when I can use the keyboard, and which document gets interrupted for urgent cuddles. If they lie down on the keyboard, we pause. They remind me that no matter how urgent things are, I can wait two seconds to breathe and look at something with affection. I simply adapt, appreciate the purrs, and accept that I'm just administrative staff in their company.
What Makes Manu Special: The Executive Assistant Who Delivers Everything With Heart
There are many things that make Manu special as both a human being and colleague - from her soft, intentional, passionate nature, to her concise, thorough, detailed way of working and helpful one-on-one discussions. As an administrative assistant, time management, setting clear goals, meeting deadlines, and having open dialogue with your team are all essential parts of the job. The work Manu does is beyond important, but the beautiful way she works is how she really leaves her mark. She's one of a kind - exemplifying empathy and excellence cohesively in one! As far as administrative and executive assistants (and well, human beings) go, she is top notch.
Manu having fun at the Upside-Down House of Guatavita: Where everything is built and designed in reverse!
Want to Get in Touch with Manu?
- Specific inquiries? E-mail manuela@twonerdycats.com
- Learn more about Manuela and the rest of the team!
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