Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Tess Maribao

Tess Maribao shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Tess, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
Honestly? The name. People hear “WorQ Out” and immediately assume I’m running a fitness studio where we all plank our way to enlightenment. And I’m like… no, no, there will be zero burpees here. When I started the business about eight years ago, it was actually focused on administrative and secretarial services that small businesses could outsource. The uppercase “Q” was my little wink to say: “Quality, always.”

But here’s the plot twist: during the pandemic, all my admin clients suddenly had way too much free time… thanks, lockdown, and they didn’t need outsourcing as much. Meanwhile, the creative stuff? Social media, emails, blogs, slide decks? Everyone needed help getting online, and that part of the business absolutely took off. And honestly…I realized that’s the work I loved most anyway.

So now WorQ Out is all about digital marketing and creative services. The name stayed because it still fits. We just “work out” the creative projects busy entrepreneurs don’t have the time (or skill, or energy) to deal with. And trust me, it’s way more fun than a gym.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a digital marketing strategist and the founder of WorQ Out LLC. And if the digital world were a giant kitchen, I’d be the chef who measures everything, studies the flavors, and still isn’t afraid to improvise when the moment calls for it. My work is all about mixing creativity, strategy, and a healthy pinch of humor to whip up marketing that actually tastes like something. Think Michelin-star storytelling meets data analytics… with the occasional mildly inappropriate joke sprinkled in (tastefully, of course), because humor resonates, connects, and sticks.

At WorQ Out LLC, we’re basically your behind-the-scenes culinary team for all things digital, minus the hairnets. Our menu includes:

1. Social Media Strategy: We help your business show up online like it just walked into the party with great lighting and excellent timing. High-quality content, attention-grabbing storytelling, and a strategy that doesn’t feel like throwing spaghetti at the algorithm to see what sticks.

2. Email Campaign Services: Forget boring newsletters. We turn emails into tiny digital desserts sweet enough to click, satisfying enough to convert. Inbox magic, but powered by strategy, not sorcery.

3. Presentation Glow-Ups: If your slides are putting people to sleep, we bring the caffeine. We take your expertise and turn it into a visual story so compelling that your audience will forget to check their phones.

4. Blog Brilliance: This is where my storytelling heart really beats. I blend strategy, personality, and humor to create blog posts people actually want to read, content that positions your brand as the wise, witty friend everyone trusts.

What sets me apart? I don’t just “do marketing,” I build narratives that feel alive. Every strategy is crafted like a signature dish, designed to convert views into leads and browsers into buyers. I’m also very mindful about not adding more noise to an already loud and chaotic digital world. Every piece of content has to bring real value, and even the humor I sprinkle in is there to create connection, spark joy, and leave people feeling a little lighter than before. Because at the end of the day, brands are run by real humans… and fabulous ones, in your case.

I’m proud of every delicious success we’ve cooked up, from clients celebrating skyrocketing engagement to others seeing sales jumps that taste like victory. That’s the fuel that keeps me in the kitchen, mixing ideas and sprinkling magic like confetti.

And I can’t wait to keep bringing this energy to new clients, whether they want to refresh their brand, launch something exciting, or simply add more flavor to their digital presence. Whatever’s cooking, I’m ready to help them serve something unforgettable.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Oh boy. As a kid, I was painfully shy, the classic middle child wedged between two super-smart, high-achieving sisters. Meanwhile, I was over here battling what I now know was “dailysex”… oops, dyslexia (where is spellcheck when I need it?). So of course, back then it was all just lovingly labeled as “Tess is just slow.”

School was tough. And because my mom was a teacher, my tutoring sessions at home were basically pop quizzes mixed with mild fear conditioning. One wrong answer and whap! The household slipper had a very active career back then. So naturally, I cried through most lessons and decided, “Yep, I’m the dumb one.”

Fast forward to now: completely different story. A few incredible teachers saw something in me, encouraged me, and hyped me up in ways that genuinely changed my life. Compliments? Magic. Supportive people? Game-changers. My sisters, my friends, and the mentors I’ve collected along the way have all helped rewrite that old childhood narrative.

Today I know I’m capable, creative, resilient, and always learning. And the shy little girl who thought she wasn’t smart? She’d be shocked… but she’d definitely be proud.

That whole experience taught me something huge: always be kind with your words. Be generous with compliments. Don’t hesitate to be someone’s cheerleader, especially when they’re struggling. You never know which tiny moment of encouragement becomes the plot twist in someone’s life story.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d say: Love yourself, like, really love yourself.

Growing up, we were taught all the right things about loving others, giving generously, being kind, respectful, and thoughtful. What no one really taught us was how to turn all that love inward. So instead of self-love, I carried a lot of self-loathing. It pushed me to work harder, learn more, and do better but it also meant I depended way too much on outside validation to feel “enough.”

And let me tell you… that’s exhausting. Approval is inconsistent. Compliments come and go. And life? Life doesn’t play fair. After losing my dad, facing financial stress, and navigating health challenges, I realized something big: I’m still here. Still standing. A little bruised, sure, but stronger, softer, and kinder because of it all.

So if I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this: You are already worthy of the same love you give so freely to everyone else. You don’t have to earn it. You don’t have to prove it. You already deserve it.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That self-promotion has to look like bragging, or worse, humblebragging. You know the kind: “I’m so grateful to be so busy,” or “I can’t believe I was chosen for this amazing opportunity.” Cue the invisible back-patting.

The truth is, people are far too smart for that now. Audiences can smell performative humility from a mile away, and instead of building trust, it often does the opposite. Marketing doesn’t work because you shout your accomplishments louder, it works because people believe you.

The real magic happens when you stop talking about how great you are and start showing it. Let clients tell your story. Share real challenges along with real wins. Create content that is genuinely helpful instead of self congratulatory, like case studies, educational reels, useful blogs, and email campaigns that bring real value. Engage in conversations rather than constant broadcasting. At the end of the day, authenticity beats ego every single time.

And honestly, beyond marketing, I think business in general tells us another big lie: that success means beating the competition. I don’t buy into that at all. I don’t see others in my industry as competitors. I see them as potential mentors, collaborators, referral partners… and sometimes just friends I can vent to, because we’re all navigating the same chaos.

So if there’s one thing I wish we’d unlearn, it’s this: business isn’t about bragging louder or winning at someone else’s expense. It’s about trust, community, and lifting each other up. In a world that already pulls us down enough, choosing collaboration over competition just feels better—and it works better too.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
Honestly? When I’m with my pup, Nicole—my Golden Lab Retriever and unofficial business development manager. Whether we’re strolling around the dog park meeting other dogs and their humans, heading to the beach for salty air and sandy paws, or “just popping into” PetSmart (where she is very much a shopper and full-on fashionista), those moments bring me instant calm and joy.

I also find a lot of peace in the kitchen. Cooking, experimenting with new recipes, and trying different cuisines grounds me. Over time, cooking has taught me some powerful life lessons—generosity (food is always better when it’s shared), creativity (there’s no single right way to make something great), patience (good things take time), resilience (not every dish turns out as planned), flexibility (improvise and keep going), and trust in the process.

And you know what? I apply all of those same lessons in my digital marketing practice every day. Marketing works best when it’s generous, creative, patient, adaptable, and human. And Nicole? She’s honestly the best marketer I know. With her savvy social skills and pure charm, she’s sparked more conversations—and landed me actual clients—just by being her delightful, golden self.

So peace, for me, looks like wagging tails, shared meals, meaningful conversations… and a Golden Lab Retriever who clearly understands the power of connection.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://worqoutllc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessmaribao/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-maribao-98b252102/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worqoutllc