Influential Woman · Health & Wellness
Daniela Mabry
Founder, OT Aerialist | Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant | Aerialist, OT Aerialist
Orlando, FL
Her Story
About Daniela
I've always been fascinated by what happens when we stop looking at a tool only for what is designed to do and start asking, "what else could this become?"
My background spans occupational therapy, aerial arts, performance, coaching, and operations, and OT aerialists grew from allowing those worlds to overlap as both a certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and in experienced aerialist, I see an aerial hammock differently. It can be a swing, a performance of apparatus, a place to play, or, when used intentionally, a tool for exploring movement, body awareness, sensory experiences, motor planning, problem solving, confidence, and autonomy.
I'm especially interested in understanding the why behind what I have observed through years of movement and clinical work My goal is to continue exploring the science, contrib to the evidence, and help build greater awareness around adaptive aerial movement while keeping safety, individual needs, and meaningful participation at the center.
At the heart of all my work is a simple idea: helping people discover what they are capable of.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Daniela
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute much of my success to following my passions with the curiosity and willingness to ask, "What else could this become?" I have never been particularly interested in staying inside one box. My background spans occupational therapy, aerial arts, coaching, performance, and operations, and some of my best ideas have come from allowing those worlds to overlap. I believe the tool is only as powerful as the knowledge, creativity, and intention of the person using it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Keep going. There will always be obstacles, moments of doubt, and reasons to take the easier path. If you are passionate about what you are building and believe there is purpose behind it, keep moving forward. You may have to adjust the path along the way, but that does not mean you have to abandon where you're trying to go.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Learn the foundations, then don't be afraid to think beyond them. Your experiences outside of your profession are not necessarily separate from your professional identity. Sometimes the thing that makes your perspective different is exactly what allows you to see a possibility that someone else hasn't considered.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges, and opportunities, in my work right now is awareness. The intersection of occupational therapy and area movement is still an emerging space, and there is so much more to explore. I want to help people understand that aerial equipment can be more than a recreational or performance tool when viewed through an occupational therapy lens at the same time And observation are not enough. We need research and evidence to better understand what is happening, why it is happening, and how these approaches can be used safely and intentionally. I hope to be part of building both awareness and the science behind this work.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Helping people feel capable of their own bodies. Whether I'm working with a child, teaching movement, performing, building a program, or raising my own children, I value curiosity autonomy and meaningful connections, and creating space for people to discover what they can do.
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