Equipping individuals and organizations with tools, insights, and strategic thinking for success in today's world and future landscapes.
Our
Mission
Our mission is to cultivate atmospheres of inspiration, deep critical thinking, and discovery. We strive to equip attendees with practical tools and a competitive advantage, enabling them to understand their environments and navigate potential future landscapes. By doing so, we pave the way for impactful transformations, empowering individuals to take action, contribute meaningfully, and thrive in an ever-changing world
Our
Approach
We believe in the power of inquiry to navigate an ever-changing world and develop ideas that resonate with the speed of culture. Our core focus lies in understanding today’s society and employing a cross-industry mindset to shape cultural strategies.
In today's expectation economy, companies face competition beyond their industry. As explorers of the future, we aspire to contribute to a meaningful future by providing essential tools, updated frameworks, and inspiring audiences. Let's shape a future aligned with our shared values and aspirations.
We want to be a source of inspiration for co-creating futures that add value to this world.
Trusted by
- Procolombia
- C&A
- Istituto Marangoni
- Miami Design District
- Havaianas
- Bogota Fashion Week
- Camara de Comercio de Bogota
- Expotextil Peru
- Marie Claire
- Mercedes Benz Fashion Week San Jose
- LAFS
- Moda Pais Guatemala Design
- Espacio Buenos Aires
- Miami Fashion Summit
- Procolombia
- C&A
- Istituto Marangoni
- Miami Design District
- Havaianas
- Bogota Fashion Week
- Camara de Comercio de Bogota
- Expotextil Peru
- Marie Claire
- Mercedes Benz Fashion Week San Jose
- LAFS
- Moda Pais Guatemala Design
- Espacio Buenos Aires
- Miami Fashion Summit
Team
Camila Straschnoy
Founder
Senior Lecturer
Camila Straschnoy is a brand consultant, educator, and public speaker who applies strategic foresight to cultivate resilient organizational futures.
After years in the fashion industry as a designer, Camila immersed herself in the editorial world, contributing to publications such as ELLE, InStyle, and L’OFFICIEL. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for consumer behavior and trends research, refining her expertise at TrendWatching, one of the world's leading consumer trends agencies.
Responding to her audience's requests, Camila transitioned to independent consulting, assisting established companies, including Bottega Veneta, L’Oreal, and C&A, as well as sustainable brands and startups.
Driven by a passion for education and inspiring others, she later joined Istituto Marangoni as a faculty member at their higher education degrees and actively contributed to their Capstone Committee. Her profound industry knowledge, extensive research, and experience have led to frequent invitations to conduct workshops at esteemed higher-learning institutions, organizations, and businesses worldwide.
As her consulting work evolved, she launched Mate House, a trend-driven agency that helps global brands to grow, connect, sell, and unlock meaningful opportunities in an ever-changing world. And most recently and driven by her passion for futures thinking and anticipation, she launched INQUIRE Studio to meet the demand for immersive learning experiences. This new venture addresses businesses' most pressing needs, equipping teams with insights, tools, and strategic thinking to answer tomorrow's most compelling issues.
Jose Forteza
Senior Lecturer
Born in Havana of Spanish and Cuban descent, Jose Forteza has lived in Europe, Dominican Republic, and the United States. At the beginning of his career, he founded the publishing house Ideas Publishing Group, which Conde Nast International later bought. Today, Jose Forteza is the Senior Editor of Conde Nast (Vogue, GQ, and AD) for Mexico and Latin America, with a career in Conde Nast Publications of over 20 years.
Master in Journalism and International Relations, Jose Forteza has been a curator for Latin America of the World Fashion Week, International Advisor for DAB Bolivia, EsSCAD speaker in the US, lecturer at ICEM, Spain, and international jury Barcelona 080, Miami Fashion Week and San Jose FW. Likewise, he has been a consultant for Country Brand institutions in several Latin American countries. Forteza regularly works as a consultant and member of the international jury at fashion events in Europe, the United States, Asia, and Latin America. In addition, he has been a consultant for advertising agencies, such as Zubi Advertising.
Jose Forteza is also a TV writer, producer, and radio host nominated for Emmy Awards and a Producer Grammy Award winner.
Christina Bifano
Senior Researcher & Lecturer
Christina is a designer, trends specialist, and educator with over 30 years of global experience.
She developed her career in NYC, where she worked a senior designer for companies including, JB Martin Co. Inc., Nautica International, and Milkprint LLC - whose end clients included Anna Sui, Anthropologie, Donna Karan, H&M, Mango, Pottery Barn, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, and Selfridges.
Now, based in Barcelona, Christina guides international clients and students to find value opportunities through design and trends research. She works across industries with institutions and agencies such as D&T Shanghai, Eclectic Trends, MSKPU International School of Costume and Fashion Design, Istituto Europeo di Design, Lateral Thinking, Marriott Hotels, Toulouse Business School, and Trendwatching. She then joined Mate House as the Head of Research, uncovering opportunities for innovation and growth for all of their clients.
Andy Faerman
Senior Lecturer and Program Developer
Fashion designer, seasoned marketer, and creative director; Andy has 20+ years of experience in the industry.
As a communications strategist and creative director in Argentina, she launched successful product lines and communication campaigns working for global clients, including Levi’s, Converse, and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
During this time, she also pursued her passion for teaching, becoming a professor at Palermo University. Shortly after moving to the US, she co-founded and became the COO at Mate House. In her role, she helps clients unlock their full creative potential, developing products that stand out in the market and delivering strategies that effectively communicate who the brands are and what they stand for in meaningful organic ways.
Juana Olivero
Project Manager
Juana began her career in project management at renowned ad agencies such as Wunderman Thompson and Dentsu Creative.
During this time, she gained valuable experience working on diverse projects, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and learning from professionals across various fields. Some of the clients she worked for were Pandora, L'oreal, Unilever, AB InBev, GSK, Disney, among others.
Seeking growth in her career, she joined Mate House and Inquire Studio in 2022. Her tasks include managing timelines and daily interactions with clients, overseeing weekly schedules, and assisting with visual assets.