Hometown: Tijuana, Mexico
Occupation: Cooking Instructor

Marcela, 27, successfully tackles motherhood and a culinary career as a chef. Born in San Diego and raised in Mexico, she now teaches cooking classes to over 40 students in her Tijuana, Mexico home while also running a catering company. She graduated as a "Certified Cook" from the Los Angeles Culinary Institute and her training has taken her to Paris, where she graduated as a classical French pastry chef from the Ritz Escoffier Cooking School. A guest chef on the Food Network and a former food editor and recipe stylist for "Bon Appetit" Magazine, Marcela dreams of hosting her own cooking show. Married to her kindergarten sweetheart, they have a one-year-old boy.

When will you consider yourself "a success?"
I will consider myself successful the day my son is able to know the real difference between right and wrong and then tells me that he's proud of me, that I've been a good mom and a good example to want to follow. My dad always told my brother and sister and myself that every experience has already been lived and written of by someone else, hence his love for famous quotes... here's a couple of mine...

The definition of success--To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition. to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. Albert Einstein

But besides all that lovely stuff, you know you've made it if you wake up every morning excited to go do what you do best and are able to make money doing it.

How would you describe your leadership style?
I think I am a quiet leader. I like to lead by example. As much as I like to delegate I also love to work and to work hard. I try to respect everyone's views and opinions. Absolutely nothing you do as a leader will have a bigger impact on teamwork than respect and humility.

How do you deal with personal and professional challenges?
I read. If I am ever confronted by anything that seems like a challenge I'll buy every book on the subject, ask people about it. Basically educate myself about it. I'm usually cool calm and collected. After kidney stones during pregnancy NOTHING is a challenge. Nothing.

What, in your opinion, is the most important quality to have in order to succeed in life and why?
Vision. Not being afraid to dream and imagine what you can become. I truly believe that if you can envision it, it can happen. With hard work, perseverance and faith you can accomplish anything.

What's more important: College Education or Real World Experience?
For me, real world experience. For my passion that is my career there is no question about it. I didn't acquire my skills at culinary school. I got them at the restaurants I worked in, the food magazine, even cooking for my family but not at school. I think it totally depends on your career of choice. But at the same time, in the real world, we need doctors and lawyers.

Have any previous Apprentice winners motivated or inspired you?
No not really. I haven't been able to identify with any of them.

How do you combine your creativity with your business savvy?
I've taken what I love doing the most, which is cooking, and turned it into a business. I teach what I love and my students get a sense of that, so they keep coming back for more classes. I think what has made me successful has been being able to keep it interesting. Being able to respect and teach the classic techniques and recipes but at the same time knowing the trends.

Faves;
Music: Although hard to believe, I'm the biggest Pink Floyd fan on the planet. Specifically Roger Waters. But I listen mostly to Latin music. Luis Miguel, Alejandro Fernandez, Mecano, Alejandro Sanz and Juanes.
Books: Once Minutos by Paulo Coelho and Veronika Decide Morir by Paulo Coelho
TV: Where I live (in Mexico), I don't get the Food Network but whenever I have a chance and am in San Diego I love The Barefoot Contessa and Boy Meets Grill. Anything food related.
Movies: Anything Almodovar-directed. Talk to Her, All About My Mother, Live Flesh, High Heels. Amores Perros directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu Como Agua para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate) directed by Alfonso Arau

Waaaaait, wait wait wait - her KINDERGARTEN sweet-heart? As in, dating when they were four years old?


Eeek.

oh wow... KINDERGARTEN... just.... wow.