Mario is the Executive Director of The Happy Post Project, a social movement aimed at spreading happiness to create social change. Born next to an active volcano in Pasto, Colombia, Mario left his position heading anti-corruption programmes for Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and with no money, no English language skills, and no friends, moved to the United States. He did however have a sympathetic cousin in Boston on whose couch he crashed. After waiting tables and working as a valet parking attendant, Mario learned enough English and entered the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in New York City from which he earned his Masters in International Affairs. A round-about path through the ups and downs working in finance and energy led Mario to create the Happy Post Project.