You don't need to read my whole story to know we can create something great together. If you've made it this far, you've already seen part of it. If you connect with what I do, You'll want more. And once you understand the power behind every brand, every project, every idea, you won't settle for just reading 100%. You'll be driven to experience it, co-create it, and achieve new milestones by my side.
1985-1993
Roots and development
2006-2010
Undergraduate & Master’s Degrees in the USA – Tennis Scholarship
2011-2017
Professional Development in Colombia – Co-Founder of Arpentos
2021-2023
Founder of Tennis2Go. Hospitality Projects USA
Today
1994-2005
2010-2016
2017-2020
2023-2024
Education & High-Performance Tennis
Professional Development - USA, Germany, & Colombia
Co-Founder of Qzi.co & LOOK&FEEL Magazine
Washington D.C. – K. Dixon Architecture, PLLC
HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE
Natalia is a results-driven professional with over 17 years of experience in leadership, project management, and business development across the architecture, design, and hospitality industries. She has led high-impact projects for global brands such as AUDI, Siemens, Marriott, Four Seasons, and Hilton.
She has held key roles in expanding market presence and securing strategic partnerships at firms like LEFA/IMA Hospitality and K. Dixon Architecture.
Currently, she is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of LOOK&FEEL Magazine, a digital platform focused on interior design and art, where she leads editorial strategy and business growth.
Natalia holds a Master’s degree in Architectural Visualization and Construction from the University of Southern Mississippi and is known for her entrepreneurial mindset, creative leadership, and commitment to excellence.
HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE
Architectural Engineer · Designer · Tennis Player · Photographer · Entrepreneur
ROOTS & DEVELOPMENT
1985 - 1993
Natalia Parrado Ontibón was born on November 8, 1985 , in Bogotá, Colombia. From a very young age, she displayed an extraordinary passion for the sport that would shape her life. At age 6, she began her athletic career , and two years later, at age 8, she was already joining the renowned Bavaria Tennis School as a high-performance player .
Her childhood was marked by the challenges inherent to a high-performance athlete, where she faced the challenges of this demanding discipline with determination. This early experience forged a resilient character and a mindset oriented toward excellence.
1994 - 2005
Education & High-Performance Tennis
With a solid athletic background since high school, where she participated in multiple interscholastic tournaments across various sports, Natalia demonstrated an exceptional competitive spirit. However, it was in tennis where she truly shone, reaching the national Top 5 in her categories and finishing number 1 in her league, establishing herself as a promising player in Colombian tennis thanks to her unwavering discipline and determination to achieve victory.
Driven by her discipline, Natalia began studying Electronic Engineering at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, but after two years of excellent performance, she decided to change course, feeling that something important was missing.
Following her intuition, she decided to change the course of her life to reconnect with her true passion.
2006- 2010
Undergraduate & Master’s Degrees in the USA – Tennis Scholarship
With renewed determination, she resumed her training in the Bogotá Tennis League while striving to balance academics and sports.
Her efforts led her to a full scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi, where she competed in the NCAA Division 1, the elite of college sports in the U.S.
After graduating as an Architectural Engineer, she was invited by one of her professors to work in research and teaching at the School of Construction, while pursuing a Master's degree in Architectural Visualization with 100% financial assistance.
During that time, she also began developing websites for businesses in Mississippi, combining design and technology as an additional source of income.
2010-2016
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
USA - ALEMANIA - COLOMBIA
Natalia lived in New York, where she coached tennis at clubs such as Riverdale Tennis Club and New Rochelle Tennis Club, after gaining experience at summer camps in the Hamptons, NY and Mississippi, organized by Nike, among others.
At the same time, he took his first steps in architecture working as a contractor for Sandra Krinner (2010–2016), focusing on design, 3D modelling and visualisation, with notable projects in Germany such as the Volkswagen & Audi workshop and the AUDI Brand Terminal in Bad Tölz, as well as a 430 m² house in Frankfurt .
In parallel, he developed projects in Colombia with his father, architect Félix Parrado.
This duality between TENNIS and ARCHITECTURE would become a CONSTANT IN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER.
2011- 2017
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN COLOMBIA – COFOUNDER OF ARPENTOS
At the end of 2011, Natalia returned to Colombia and worked with Mauricio Hadad's Tennis Academy and as a broker at Century 21.
In parallel, she carried out architectural consulting for firms such as ALC Constructora and TASH Colombia , and was Technical Director on prominent projects such as the ICON Tower in Barranquilla.
Natalia continued her career as a Senior Architect and Project Manager at Arquint Colombia, leading commercial and construction processes. Later, she worked with Rafael Quiñones on environmental rehabilitation and architectural development projects, including an 8,000 m² project in Villa de Leyva.
Between 2015 and 2017, she was Director of Projects and Design at Carvajal Espacios , where she led multidisciplinary teams and managed strategic projects for corporate clients.
On September 7, 2016, Natalia, in partnership with her family, founded the company Arpentos, a Design, Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Consulting Services firm.
2017-2020
COFOUNDER OF QZI.CO & LOOK&FEEL MAGAZINE
Her connection with tennis continued when, between 2017 and 2020, she assumed the role of Coordinator of Basic and Specialized Programs at the Bogotá Country Club, where she coordinated sports programs and events, developing programs and classes for both children and adults. During this time, she also obtained her certification in sports coaching and actively practiced it.
In 2018, Natalia founded QZI.CO, a venture that began with early explorations during the FIFA World Cup and the Barranquilla Carnival that same year. The company was formally established in February 2020, with its trademark registered in August of that year.
At the same time, in May 2019, Natalia became a co-founder of LOOK&FEEL Magazine with Melissa Cotes Ricciulli. That year marked the structuring phase of the brand and the production of its first digital edition, published in August 2020.
2021-2023
HOSPITALITY PROJECTS IN THE USA & FOUNDER OF TENNIS2GO
During 2021, Natalia dedicated crucial time to structuring and strengthening her brands, Arpentos, Qzi.co, LOOK&FEEL Magazine, and Tennis2Go. This period was essential in laying the foundation for her entrepreneurial ventures, allowing her to clearly define the vision and direction of each project.
Natalia's career took an international turn when she joined LEFA/IMA Hospitality in January 2022 as Project Manager. In this role, she led hospitality projects valued between $2 and $3 million, managing relationships with clients and suppliers in the United States and Central America. Her leadership resulted in successful projects for prestigious hotel brands such as Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, and Four Seasons.
Tennis represents an essential balance in Natalia´s life, through her brand Tennis2Go, she combines her passion with sports coaching methodologies, offering teaching that transcends technique to provide her students with resources to analyze their daily challenges and enhance their personal growth.
2023-2024
WASHINGTON D.C. - KDA
Between 2023 and 2024, Natalia served as Studio Operations Manager at K. Dixon Architecture PLLC, where she resided in Washington, D.C., for three months to integrate operations with the Latin America team. In this role, she oversaw daily operations and managed the execution of high-profile government and institutional projects , including the interior design of the NFL's M&T Bank Stadium and academic developments for prestigious universities such as Morgan State University, Johns Hopkins University, and Howard University.
She played a key role in project site visits and was actively involved in business development, participating in design competitions alongside partner teams from renowned firms such as Perkins&Will and Gensler, among others.
2024-PRESENT
CREATION OF AD PHOTO BY NAT & NATALIA PARRADO VENTURES
Currently, Natalia is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of LOOK&FEEL Magazine, where she leads strategic planning and execution of growth initiatives, oversees operations, and directs the audiovisual and photography team to deliver high-quality editorial content.
At the same time, she works as Operations and Project Manager at Arpentos and as Director at Qzi.co SAS.
She balances her professional life by developing architectural photography with her brand AD Photo By Nat, and teaching tennis with a coaching and therapeutic approach through her brand Tennis2Go.
This unique combination of athletic excellence, international academic training , and extensive professional experience in architecture, design, and business management has defined Natalia Parrado's career, making her a versatile and multifaceted professional, capable of tackling complex challenges and continually reinventing herself throughout her career.