Upwardly Global is proud to announce that Mariana van Zeller will be honored at our Brighter Futures Together Gala on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 6–9 p.m. ET at Tribeca 360° in New York City.
Mariana is an Emmy, Peabody, and duPont-Columbia Award-winning investigative journalist and the host of National Geographic’s “Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller.” Now in its fifth season, Trafficked offers an unflinching look into global black markets and trafficking networks. In 2025, the series made history with 29 News and Documentary Emmy nominations, setting a new record for National Geographic after winning five awards in 2024.
A fearless storyteller, Mariana has reported on the opioid crisis, immigration, and the rise of global scamming, earning recognition as a leading voice on the “hidden third” of the global economy — black and gray markets that account for trillions of dollars worldwide.
She is also the co-founder of Muck Media, the production company behind Trafficked, the Emmy- and Sundance-winning “Science Fair,” Netflix’s “Mucho Mucho Amor,” and HBO’s “American Pain.”
Originally from Portugal, Mariana moved to the U.S. to study journalism at Columbia University. Just one month into her program, she was reporting on 9/11 — an experience that shaped her career and commitment to uncovering the world’s most urgent, untold stories.
We are honored to recognize Mariana’s extraordinary contributions to journalism and her dedication to humanizing the stories of workers everywhere. Her work embodies the spirit of Upwardly Global’s mission: uplifting the lives and careers of immigrants and refugees.
Join us in celebrating 25 years of impact and the leaders shaping a brighter future.