Possibility Is Your Superpower

Introduction

As is the case in all superhero and human origin stories, I had no clue what the future would hold for me when I came into this world. I never thought I’d work in the film industry; I never thought I’d produce superhero movies; I never thought I’d write a book. I was just one of the hundreds of thousands of kids in Argentina who were growing up amid a heart-wrenching military dictatorship, trying to figure out this thing called life. Yet my mother instilled in me from a young age the belief that anything was possible if I set my mind to it. As I grew older, I learned how to follow my gut, consider my options, and lead with a yes instead of a no when presented with new and intriguing choices along my path. Eventually, this mindset inspired me to leave my hometown of La Plata at fifteen and say yes to studying abroad in the United
States. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that this one decision would eventually open the door to so many unique and remarkable opportunities.

Once I began to define my path as a storyteller and a decision maker, I sought out every door possible to enter the film industry: the side doors, the back doors, the doggy doors. And I jumped at the first opportunity I received to become a production assistant—a yes that, without knowing the first thing about film production at the time, kick-started a long and prosperous career. By taking that leap, I managed to work my way up the proverbial ladder that led me to visual effects production jobs at Sony, Paramount, Fox, and DreamWorks. I hit exciting milestones throughout this long and winding road of filmmaking, which ultimately catalyzed me into becoming the president of physical and postproduction, visual effects, and animation production of Marvel Studios, home to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the highest-grossing film franchise of all time.

Devoting eighteen years of my career to bringing relatable superheroes to the big screen has paved the way for me to share with you one simple secret: You don’t need a cape, a shield, or
the power of flight to be your own superhero. If you are willing to quiet the outside chatter and listen to yourself, to what you want and need, you will realize that the answers are already there, waiting to be discovered within you.

I’m not here to give you a one-size-fits-all magic formula to success, because I’m keenly aware that each of our paths is beautifully and uniquely different. What I do hope to do is to inspire and empower you to tap into your full potential, listen to your voice, and open yourself up to your ultimate superpower: possibility. My strength, resilience, and perseverance are major contributors along my road to success, but I believe considering and saying yes to possibilities is the fuel that has bolstered my journey to exhilarating new heights.

In Possibility Is Your Superpower, there are no right or wrong ways to apply possibility to your life, because each person’s potential is different and in tune with their own path. So I won’t be asking you to meditate or do exercises or journal. All I would like is for you to simply take the time to consider the possibilities presented in this book so that you too may be inspired to take an active role in your fate. How old you are doesn’t matter, nor does your religion, your race, your ethnicity, your sexual preferences, what you have or don’t have, or where in life you may be. Every road, every path, every journey, every life begins with possibility. Oftentimes all it takes is opening that one door in front of you to discover a new realm of opportunities. When in doubt, remember this: At the end of the day, you are just as strong as the superheroes you’ve
been looking up to since you were a kid, because their power and your own ultimately spring from character, will, resolve, and the ability to embrace the possibilities along your path.

My hope is that by sharing a deep dive into my life and career—the hurdles, the highlights, and the lessons—I will be able to ignite a spark that will encourage you to find your strength,
speak up when you finally have a seat at the table, define your nonnegotiables, and never lose sight of who you are along the way. I wish to inspire you to go from thinking you could to believing you can . . . believing in yourself and the power of possibility. And then rolling up your sleeves and getting to work to make it happen. If I could do it, so can you.

You hold the power within you to become your own superhero. You hold the power to change your life. Possibility is your superpower, a buoyant outlook is your sidekick, and your resolve
and determination are what will drive you to push forward, jump over seemingly impossible hurdles, and run faster than the speed of light toward your dreams. Are you ready?