COLLEAGUE HIGHLIGHT: MAITE CAMIRUAGA

Meet Maite Camiruaga: Colleague of The Morning Star Company since 2024

Maite joined Morning Star in November 2024, bringing with her a unique mix of international experience, agricultural knowledge, and a deep appreciation for building lasting relationships. With a background in Agricultural Engineering and years in the tomato industry, her transition into export sales was a natural one. What makes her stand out is how she blends professionalism with a genuine curiosity about people and the world around her.

Before arriving in California, Maite built her career from the ground up—literally. She spent time in rural Chile working for an agrochemical company, providing technical advice to growers. Earlier still, she took a leap after college to live in Australia for a year, followed by three months of traveling through Asia. Along the way, she picked up life lessons (and a few unexpected jobs), including a memorable stint as a server at a Hindu restaurant on a quiet Australian beach.

Her decision to join Morning Star was motivated by two things: the opportunity to gain international experience and the desire to be part of something different. Morning Star’s self-management structure intrigued her—especially how such a large company operates without traditional hierarchy, while still placing strong emphasis on customer relationships. That balance between autonomy and accountability, she says, keeps things both challenging and rewarding, and requires constant innovation and personal ownership of results.

Maite describes the culture at Morning Star as client-focused, innovative, and challenging in the best way. What she finds most surprising is the level of trust placed in each colleague and the freedom to approach work as if you’re running your own business. It’s pushed her to think more creatively, especially when it comes to solving problems or exploring new ways to add value for customers.

When she’s not working, Maite gravitates toward the outdoors. She enjoys being active in nature—whether it’s hiking, camping, road-tripping, or just spending time near the mountains, rivers, or coast. Since moving to California, she’s taken advantage of the region’s natural beauty and uses her weekends to explore new places. It’s a noticeable shift from her life in Chile, where weekends were often centered around large family gatherings. As the third of four siblings in a tightly knit extended family, Maite grew up surrounded by cousins, grandparents, and relatives nearly every weekend. While she misses that sense of closeness, she’s also embraced the freedom and discovery that comes with living abroad.

Maite’s other passions include music, travel, and food. Her music taste ranges from classic rock to current hits, shaped early on by afternoons spent with her dad, listening to artists like Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. In terms of books and movies, she gravitates toward novels rooted in historical exploration and films that match her sense of adventure—favorites include Titanic, Eat, Pray, Love, and anything animated (with Shrek topping the list).

As for food, Maite enjoys trying new things and rarely says no to something unfamiliar. Spanish cuisine is a favorite—something she traces back to her grandparents. Her interest in food ties closely to her love of travel and culture, and she sees trying new dishes as part of discovering the world around her.

Looking ahead, Maite doesn’t put too much pressure on where she’ll be in five or ten years. For her, it’s more about staying present, continuing to grow in her role, and maintaining strong relationships with the people who matter most. Professionally, she hopes to deepen her career in export sales while tapping into her agricultural roots. Personally, she’s focused on staying close to family and friends, even across long distances.

And yes, she has a bucket list—skydiving over coral reefs, seeing the Northern Lights, and witnessing bioluminescent plankton lighting up the ocean at night. She’s already checked off one dream: holding a koala in Australia.

Maite brings a global mindset, a love of people, and a thoughtful approach to everything she does. Whether she’s strategizing with a customer or planning her next road trip, she’s always looking to connect, learn, and explore what’s possible.

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