Cristina Carrión
My name is Cristina Carrión, and I’m the Director, Producer, and Head Writer of the animated children’s series Rockolandia, as well as the founder of Dakiti Productions in Puerto Rico. My journey began in the theater world, I studied and worked in New York’s alternative circuit before spending several years in real estate. But eventually, I felt the pull to combine my artistic roots with business strategy. That’s when I chose to pursue an MBA at IE Business School.
IE gave me the tools and confidence to transform my passion into a production company, and helped me realize that my unconventional background could be a true asset. Today, I’m leading creative projects that bring Puerto Rican culture to new audiences, while honoring a powerful family legacy and proving that entrepreneurship can come from anywhere, even a childhood memory in a theater aisle dressed as a goat.
"Know yourself — that’s when you truly have the power to shape your future."
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO STUDY AT IE BUSINESS SCHOOL?
After nearly eight years in the real estate industry, I felt the need to formalize my business knowledge. I had always been rooted in the creative world, my father is a musician, my aunt an actress, and I worked as a director and actor in New York. But I realized that to take my next step, whether in real estate or the entertainment business, I needed a solid business education.
IE stood out to me because it wasn’t a cookie-cutter business school. Its human-centered and creative environment resonated with my background. Studying in Spain, the country of my grandmother, also allowed me to reconnect with my roots.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT IE?
In one word: self-discovery. I didn’t come from a traditional business background, but that turned out to be one of my greatest strengths. While my classmates led on finance or analytics, I took the lead on presentations, marketing strategies, and creative projects. I went from barely knowing how to use Excel to building complex automated models that even impressed my lawyers.
The diversity of the cohort, both in age and background, also stood out. I found a tight-knit group we lovingly called "Los Abuelos", our own support system, proving that you’re never too old to take a leap or start something new.
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST SKILL YOU TOOK AWAY FROM THE PROGRAM?
Without a doubt, learning how to navigate the startup world. I had these dormant skills from my theater days, storytelling, production, vision, but IE taught me how to structure them. From pitching to investors to building a team and creating a business model, the program unlocked a new version of me. The Startup Lab and entrepreneurship electives were crucial in helping me shape Rockolandia into a viable, fundable concept.
TELL US ABOUT ROCKOLANDIA — WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM?
Rockolandia is a deeply personal project. It’s based on a beloved Puerto Rican children’s play from the 1980s, created by my family. I grew up with it, I was literally handing out programs as a kid in costume. While at IE, I realized there was a new opportunity to bring this story to life in a modern format, through animation.
With the rise of streaming and demand for Spanish-speaking content, I saw a window. I started researching the children’s entertainment market at IE, using resources like Statista, and building out a plan. After graduating, I moved to Puerto Rico to make it real, and a year and after a half after of developing the concept and looking for funding, we were awarded a government grant to officially start the production of Rockolandia with the support of an incredible team of Puerto Rican talent.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE BRINGING A FAMILY LEGACY TO LIFE?
Emotional. Fulfilling. And a little nerve-wracking. I worked closely with my father, Alberto Carrión, a celebrated composer in Puerto Rico, who created the music for the original and the new version, and co-produced the series with me. We brought in many Puerto Rican artists and studios that provided expertise in different aspects of audio-visual productions, some of which had their own history or relationship with the original Rockolandia. For example, Alfa 2.0, was the original audio/post-production studio that worked on the Rockolandia LP of the 1980's, and Eduardo Reyes Studio worked closely with my father on creating new music and the updated versions of the existing music. Our animation studio, Mana-T Studios, was founded by someone who literally grew up with the original show. When I pitched the idea, his jaw dropped. He knew the songs by heart.
There was something magical about finding people who not only had the technical skill, but also a real emotional connection to the source material. That authenticity is everything to me.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS?
Know yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses, and then build the right team around you. You don’t have to do everything alone, but you do need to be ready to lead. Prepare yourself, even for unexpected opportunities. When we secured the government grant to fund Season 1, it happened fast, but I had everything ready: the team, the pitch deck, the designs.
Also, create something that truly reflects who you are. Rockolandia blends my childhood with my creative past and my business education. When your work aligns with your story, you’ll have the drive to see it through, even when the path gets tough.
HOW HAS THE IE NETWORK SUPPORTED YOU?
The connections I made at IE, especially through our alumni group, have been invaluable. Whether it's industry advice, introductions, or just moral support, the IE community continues to show up. You never know where the next opportunity might come from, and this global network is full of unexpected doors.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
Success is doing something you love so much that it doesn’t feel like work. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it takes everything out of you. But if you enjoy the process, and you’re building something meaningful, that’s success.