Case Study · MindSonar

Marianne Araneda: Unlocking Entrepreneurial Potential Through Cognitive Awareness

Background

Marianne Araneda returned to Guatemala after completing her studies in equine-assisted therapy in the United States. Due to unexpected financial circumstances in her family, she was unable to make the final payment for her academic program — and although she finished her career successfully, she never received her university diploma.

That created a real emotional barrier. Despite her knowledge, passion, and strong vocation for equine-assisted therapy, Marianne hesitated to start her own professional project. To understand what was holding her back, the MindSonar assessment was applied in the context of “Limits for Entrepreneurship” — the goal was to identify the thinking patterns behind her hesitation to start a business.

What the MindSonar profile revealed

The profile showed several thinking styles that explained both Marianne’s initial difficulty to take action and her potential strengths as an entrepreneur.

The intervention

Understanding these thinking patterns allowed the coaching process to focus on aligning Marianne’s entrepreneurial strategy with her natural cognitive style. Instead of waiting for ideal conditions — such as owning horses or having her own facilities — she designed a progressive, structured growth model that matched the way she thinks. She began by renting horses, designing clear step-by-step procedures for her programs, and developing her services gradually, through continuous improvement.

Through the coaching collaboration, she also developed innovative programs combining equine-assisted therapy with coaching for team development. These programs use experiential learning with horses to support leadership development, emotional awareness, team cohesion, and personal growth.

The results, ten years later

Marianne’s project Entrelazados has become a sustainable initiative dedicated to equine-assisted therapy and development programs. The journey included both growth and loss — some of the horses she started with have passed away over the years, and today six horses are part of the program.

Sixty-four students currently take lessons, and the centre delivers more than sixty lesson hours every week. Alongside therapy, Marianne runs programs with students from several schools and equine-assisted experiences for personal and team development. Over time, Entrelazados has grown into a space where therapy, learning, and human development come together.

Where the project stands now

The debt to the university — the very obligation that once kept her diploma out of reach and held her back from starting — has been paid off. Entrelazados has secured sponsors, and this month every available class slot was filled, in a period that is usually one of the quietest in the year. The number of students the centre can take on is now set by the number of horses in the program, not by demand.

In Marianne’s own words

Marianne talks about the programme and what changed along the way. The video is in Spanish; subtitles can be switched to English or another language in the YouTube settings (auto-generated, so treat the wording as indicative).

Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/rt0lKGgGoH4

Key learning

This case shows that MindSonar is more than a diagnostic tool — it can be a catalyst for personal and professional development. By understanding how Marianne naturally thinks and makes decisions, it became possible to design an entrepreneurial pathway aligned with her strengths.

She did not need to change who she was. She needed to build her future using the way she thinks.

Ten years later, what began as uncertainty has become a purpose-driven project that impacts dozens of lives every year.

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