Meet Daniela Matinho | Data Manager & Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniela Matinho and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniela, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
My habits are always evolving but I have seen major progress when I consistently do certain things.

1. Have one day per week without electronics – In the tech industry (my work environment), things move fast. I started prioritizing quiet moments without loads of notifications/information when I realized my best decisions/ ideas came in these moments;

2. Wake up early – I try to do my most creative/brain-consuming work in the morning because that’s when I feel I perform the best. Especially, if you have kids, there is magic in the early hours of the day when the world is quiet;

3. Have a concrete TO-DO list – Every Sunday, I write the 10 things I want to accomplish in the week, and every night, I plan the next day according to that list. When you wake up and know what is your priority of the day, everything flows more naturally;

4. Sweat in the mornings – YES, working out in the morning. I never enjoyed exercising in the morning but, when we activate our body early on, we activate our mind. Over the past months, I saw major results in my performance by implementing this habit;

5. Catch daylight every day – When we live in cold states, it’s easy to skip sunlight and not go outside. Even if it’s only for 10 minutes, go for a walk to help you step out of work and regain perspective;

6. Consume Art – Being in an artistic environment activates my creativity. Whatever art form you prefer (shows, museums, books, movies), make it a commitment to have it present in your life;

7. Make journaling a daily habit – I have learned that writing helps me to think better, understand better, and idealize better. There is an unbelievable power of putting words into paper.

If you don’t practice any of the above habits, I recommend starting small. Per the Atomic Habits book, focus on tiny changes and stick to them daily.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Data Manager with experience working in the Tech and CPG industries, I have had the privilege to work at Meta, UChicago, Circana, McCain…

My ability to communicate with technical and non-technical people easily is my greatest strength. I like to say, my job is to tell stories with numbers and simplify complicated concepts.
Going back to Grad school definitely helped me to gain more technical skills. Later, joining a MANGA company made my transition into management easier.

I am also a content creator. I like to share my experience living abroad and give tips on how to achieve a fulfilling career. I try my best to help my community land their dream jobs and better manage their money for financial freedom.

With almost 10 years of work experience and 6+ creating content online, I have learned curiosity, boldness to do what you are not 100% qualified for, and working hard are the three magic components for success.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Chicago now. The restaurant/cafe scene is amazing here. Running, biking, and swimming by the lake are great things to do over the Summer and, it’s something most people enjoy doing. If friends were to visit, I would try to give them a full immersion experience of the city by showing them the best places to eat, see shows, and experience the busy life of a big city.

Cafes/ Restaurants:
Cupitol is one of my favorite coffee shops in town. Cira and Cabra are also great places to experience good food (the latter has an amazing rooftop that makes summertime even better).
The Winter’s Club is a great location for Jazz shows.

Arts:
Chicago has some of the best museums. The Art Institute and the Museum of Science and Industry are my favorites. The Chicago Theater and the Nederlander Theater are exceptional to watch Broadway shows. Open Books is one of my preferred places in the West Loop. Open Books is a bookstore I love for its books and mission: the store’s returns support children’s education in the city.

Sports:
For first-timers, I always like to take friends to watch a baseball game (Go Cubs), a basketball match with the Chicago Bulls, or even a soccer game to support the Chicago Fire FC.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mentors have definitely helped me to achieve more and create better opportunities for myself. They believed in me before I did. To name a few: Hellard, Keri, and Jennifer.

There are also some public figures who have been instrumental over the years. Without a doubt, Oprah Winfrey is one of them. Her talks inspired me to aspire for the unimaginable and work hard to make my dreams come true.
Today we live in an era hungry for attention, speed, and motion. Everything has become about doing, performing, and delivering. It’s easy to get lost and forget about our purpose. Books I recommend to anyone looking for a meaningful life: The Alchemist, The Four Agreements, The Go-Giver, and Tuesdays with Morrie.

Website: https://www.danielamatinho.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielamatinho/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielamatinho/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm4tG9_rSJYTgmHv9ThXPTg

Other: https://medium.com/@danielamatinho

Image Credits
Photo 1 (black background): Liam Sullivan Photo 2 & 3 (blue backgroud & trees): Callie Kennedy Photo 4 (bridge): Zhongren Shao