Genias Totales: An Interview with the Women Behind Porteñísima

As I see it, “Porteñísima” should be translated as powerhouse. It’s a Buenos Aires-based Spanish school, founded and led by two women who love one thing: language.

About a year in, my good friend (and total powerhouse herself) Mary told me about Porteñísima: a language school that tailors course material to each student’s specific needs and goals. Intrigued, I took the subway to the French-style downtown building and settled in for an hour-long interview. Majo, one of the company’s owners, asked me about my interests, motivations and goals in learning Spanish. While talking, she casually assessed by abilities, and at the end of the interview, she suggested a path forward.

Language is a tool, but it’s living one — constantly moving and changing, and making us adapt our settled minds. It’s an amazing way to reset the way we think.

Majo + Karo, Porteñisima

And so it was that Mary and I began taking weekly classes together, at first with Porteñisima’s customized curriculum. Once we maxed out on available material, we began taking classes with Karo, the company’s other owner, to prepare for the next step: the internationally recognized language-placement exam Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE).

After months of studying, we took the test in November 2018. Recently, Mary and I received our results: We both passed.

So thank you, thank you, gracias a ustedes, las genias totales de Porteñísima, por compartir el regalo lindísimo de comunicar mejor. Son unas powerhouses.

Following is an interview with Majo and Karo, now officially two of my favorite people who seriously put the “ísima” in porteña.

What inspired you to start Porteñisima?

We were in the language teaching business for a couple of years and realized we had some gaps to fill in terms of how and what methods we were using to teach. (Normally, we apply the method we’ve learned with, which is not always the best one!) We decided to study more, and after going through that experience together, we knew we had something different to offer in class. We also knew that we’re a great team — we love each other as partners and friends, and the direct relationship that we have.

What keeps you motivated as business owners and teachers?

People learning. At different ages and with different backgrounds. people still learn. And the progress you see with language learning has this special thing: You can see people communicating, using the knowledge they get in everyday life, from the very first week of classes.

Sometimes you see them being more patient with themselves in the process — like getting off of the self-demanding machine. They begin to understand how their brains can help them, what an amazing tool we all have, and how trying to achieve perfection keeps them away from successful communication. But giving themselves over to the process can yield greater satisfaction.

When former students come by after a time, or send us e-mails telling us a good story about how they improved (not just in language, but thanks to the experience of language learning), that’s a great motivation of owning this business.

What do you love about language?

Language is a tool, but it’s living one — constantly moving and changing, and making us adapt our settled minds. It’s an amazing way to reset the way we think. But still and always, it’s about being able to connect with others.

What are the challenges of being emprendedoras, in Buenos Aires or in general?

Sometimes being a Jack-of-all-trades can be frustrating. And you get used to be so overprotective with your “baby project” that sometimes asking for help, or create teams to cover your everyday tasks, can be challenging. You cannot control everything, but you have to keep an eye on everything. That equilibrium is difficult.

What would you advise a woman seeking to start her own business?

Learn how to work on a team. Look up other types of structures in business; one pyramid is not the only way.

“Your own” business is not all yours. It also belongs to the people that are helping you everyday to keep it real. Remember that, and be thankful.

Maybe the best advice is to go strong, but little by little. It took us more than 10 years to even start being where we wanted in the first place. Maybe with other businesses it’s different. But patience and hard work is the key.

And of course, separate the time you spend with your business from when you are not. Working hard is also about having more and more time to do other things. So, enjoy what to do, and enjoy not doing it also.