For Paula Quintero, there has always been a clear guiding force for her ventures in the industry: her love for the game of soccer. A love that was unearthed at a young age and has taken her on an incredible journey over the years both on and off the pitch. It all started at the age of 10 years old after moving to Miami, Florida from Bogotá, Colombia. "I remember seeing a girl playing soccer and suddenly realizing there were more girls that liked to play like me. In Colombia, I never really saw that growing up," she recalls. It was at this moment that she was determined to embark on a journey of her own in the game, and fulfill her dreams of one day playing professionally. She was on a mission. From receiving the opportunity to play for Colombia's U20 National Team to earning an athletic scholarship to play at Florida International University (FIU)— playing all four years there—, Paula inched closer to her goal of playing the sport at the highest level. After graduating college with a bachelor's degree in Recreation and Sports Management, Paula wanted to take that next step and pursue a professional playing career. Sure enough, she did just that. She returned to Bogotá to play for Santa Fe—one of the most successful teams in Colombia that also plays in the country's top football league. She had done it. Not only had she achieved her childhood dreams, but she had also fulfilled her dad's dream of playing soccer for his favorite soccer club. This was just the beginning though. Through this experience, Paula discovered the need to "bring more visibility and more support to the women's game—not only in Colombia, but worldwide." It was then that she stepped away from the game and returned to school for her master's degree. From earning a degree in Football Business Management to working with an array of organizations such as CONCACAF, Atalanta Media, and Teqball USA, Paula immersed herself in the business side of soccer and worked beyond the pitch to highlight the game further. She hasn't looked back since. Currently, Paula is the CEO of Bootbags—an athletic brand connecting sports to fashion that is dedicated to giving back through its charitable initiatives. Along with this, she has also co-founded her own organization—Art Bringing Friends Closer (ABFC)—focused on bringing art and football together to make an impact on communities worldwide. Incredible!
Take us all the way back to your time in high school! You had an incredible career there. You played Varsity all four years, you won MVP three times, you got the Golden Boot as a sophomore, and even played for the national team in Colombia. What did achieving those milestones and earning those honors mean to you?
That was an incredible honor because, at the time, I was playing for a club and then playing high school at the same time. I was fully dedicated. I was full-on for my soccer career and just wanted to be the best player I could be. Winning those honors meant a lot to me. We were also district champions my junior year, and that was the first time ever that the women's team of my high school won district so it was a milestone. Even playing for the Colombian national team, the U20, that was a dream come true.
You also highlighted that you moved to the U.S. at 10 years old and seeing girls play soccer at such a young age sparked your interest in immersing yourself fully in the sport. When did you discover that you wanted to play at the professional level one day? Was that early on in your journey as well?
No, honestly, when I was in Colombia I never thought it was a career for women or a thing for women. I always just thought it was for boys. It wasn't until I came to the United States, started playing more, and had more access to the game as a girl that I thought it was ok for me to play soccer. That opened up (the thought of): “Ok, I know that there are other girls that play. I have more access.” I saw more females playing (as well) like Marta from Brazil. You know, she was a big inspiration to me and I wanted to play at the highest level possible since then. After coming to the U.S. that dream ignited in me.
After graduating high school, you started your collegiate career at FIU. How was that transition from high school to college like for you?