Cristina Arcay navigates the intersections of music, culture, and business with the ease of someone who has always understood the rhythm of power. A marketing visionary and creative strategist, she has built her career on turning opportunity gaps into global stages.
As a partner at NEON16, named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, Arcay helps shape the sound and narrative of contemporary Latin music. Through her own agencies, AM16 and ARRO Media, she has led campaigns for artists such as Thalía, Tainy, Danna Paola, and Carlos Vives, as well as for companies including Meta, Hard Rock, Audible, and F1. Her work resides where art meets influence, connecting creative voices with platforms large enough to support their ambitions.
But Arcay’s vision extends far beyond the boardroom. As the founder of Take a Seat, a project that amplifies women across music and culture, she has created a space where stories, strategy, and solidarity meet. Through conversations with artists like Becky G and Kenia OS, she reminds women across industries that power isn’t something to be given. It’s something to be claimed.
“The culture I’m building looks like a global stage where Latino and Latina creators aren’t just invited, but leading,” she says. “Defining the conversations, the sound, and the future.” That future, for Arcay, is collaborative, unapologetic, and deeply rooted in purpose.
Her advice to the next generation is simple: “Don’t wait for permission to take your seat. Build your own table, bring your ideas to life even when the industry isn’t ready, and trust your voice to reshape the narrative.” For Cristina Arcay, the next wave of culture begins with those who dare to lead from the margins and make the center move.
