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As I approach my 40th birthday, I’ve decided to take a moment to look back and reflect on the path I’ve walked, both personally and professionally. I want to share my story with those who may also be going through a time of transformation. This is a story about courage, reinvention, and, above all, staying true to my dreams.

My name is Johanna Merchán Ramírez. I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and, like many Colombians, I consider myself a fighter. Since birth, I’ve faced personal challenges that taught me to trust my intuition and inner strength. I’ve always felt deserving of great things, and that belief has continually pushed me to step outside my comfort zone.

The Starting Point: Public Service
My professional journey began in Colombia’s public sector, where I dedicated over 10 years of my career. I earned a degree in Finance and International Relations, specialized in Financial and Stock Market Law, and completed a Master’s in Government and Public Policy all from  Externado de Colombia University.

I started with an internship at the National Planning Department (DNP)  and later joined the National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN), working in areas like Auditing, Collections, and Budget. This experience was foundational, and many of the skills I apply today in the business world were shaped during those years.

My path continued at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). After more than two years of persistence, I finally joined the organization, taking on roles such as Administrative and Financial Auditor, and Regional Project Evaluator for initiatives funded by Colombia’s royalties system. This phase took me across departments like Córdoba, Sucre, and Bolívar, and I spent nearly three years living in Montería—a city I affectionately call my beautiful Montería. It was there I discovered what I truly valued in terms of quality of life.

Later, I won a national competition for a permanent position at the Land Restitution Unit, standing out among 250 candidates. Still, I realized that the “stability” it offered didn’t align with my personal vision—living abroad and exploring the world.

My final public-sector role was as Financial Advisor at the Ministry of Housing, City, and Territory  (MVCT). During that time, I was selected to represent Colombia in an international course on Digital Government in the Age of Open Government, organized  by Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and Aecid  in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. There, I met someone from the Uruguayan government who would later become instrumental in our decision to start a new life in that country.

Those years in public service came with big challenges. Living in Bogotá meant long commutes—nearly an hour and a half to reach the office. As a woman, I often felt unsafe, especially in the downtown area where most of my jobs were located. On top of that, I pursued both my specialization and master’s degrees while working full-time, which meant constant effort to balance studies, work, and personal life—an area that was also going through major changes.

The Quantum Leap
In 2018, I decided it was time to close that chapter and go after a long-held dream: living outside of Colombia. While preparing for the move, selling my belongings, applying for a visa to Australia, I also got married and had my second encounter with the tech world: I designed our wedding invitation as a video game, which we called Pac Matri. Want to see it in action?  click here. It was so well received that after we arrived in Brisbane, Australian investors showed interest, and the project became known as Invigames.

That same year, I began working with my husband’s company, Press Start, which develops video games and custom software. I brought my financial and management expertise to the team. Although the company had been around for 8 years, there was still a lot of room to grow.

In October 2018, we set off on our journey. We traveled through Europe for 40 days, and then settled in Brisbane, Australia.

Australia: Exploration and Drive
In “Brissy,” as the locals call it, we spent a year and a half. I traveled within Australia, sought investment for Invigames, studied English, volunteered at Multicultural Australia  (where I was later hired), and then, after receiving my first paycheck, I made the wise decision to resign and dedicate myself fully to Press Start, which we had officially launched in Australia by that time. In this blog, we share more about that business experience on the other side of the world.

While in Australia, my desire for motherhood intensified, and aligned with our personal goals, we made the decision to leave and start a new chapter in Uruguay in March 2020.

Uruguay: Our New North
In 2020, we moved to Uruguay, driven by our desire to start a family and build something lasting. In the following blog, we explain why we chose Uruguay, and in this blog, we list five reasons why we’ve made it our home. And in this blog, I talk about how Press Start expanded its presence in Uruguay and how, in March 2025, we proudly celebrated becoming Uruguayan citizens in this  blog.

We chose Punta del Este as our new home in July 2020, and from here, we’ve consolidated and grown Press Start Evolution, a company specialized in the design and development of video games and Augmented Reality experiences for education, entertainment, and marketing.

Today, as Co-Founder and CFO, I lead our operations in Colombia and Uruguay, and we’ve reached milestones such as being awarded the Uruguay Technology Nation Brand, delivering over 120 projects in 10 countries, and collaborating with globally recognized brands.

More Than a Career A Personal Transformation
This journey hasn’t only been professional. Emigrating, adapting to new cultures, learning new languages, becoming a mother, and building a business each of these experiences has deepened my resilience, self-confidence, long-term vision, and above all, my gratitude for everything we’ve built not just in terms of quality of life, but also in being a present and engaged mother to my son.

A Message for You
Today, I look back with gratitude and ahead with hope. My story isn’t perfect, but it’s real. And if I could leave you with just one message, it’s this: no matter how long it takes to reach your goals, the race is only with yourself.

Technology doesn’t just transform industries, it transforms lives. In my case, it allowed me to design mine on my own terms.

At Press Start Evolution, we don’t just develop Augmented Reality experiences and video games for marketing, education, or entertainment. We’re also committed to sharing our journey as entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and a team that believes in technology with purpose.

📩 Want to connect with us? click here.
🌐 www.pressstartevolution.com  Colombia & Uruguay