Diego Villena, Author at TheCoolist

Diego Villena is the managing editor of TheCoolist, and has worked broadly within its parent company Bon Ventures since 2017. Diego brings a richness of experience to the site’s content strategy, drawing from his background as a marketing professional, classical musician, husband, woodworker, traveler, artist, and writer to hone the focus of TheCoolist’s topical kaleidoscope. Additionally, Diego has received intensive SEO training from some of the world’s leading search experts, and is passionate about making engaging content discoverable to global audiences.

Highlights and Achievements

Over a decade of writing, editing, and marketing experience
Classically trained cellist, session musician, and instructor
Charleston City Market Certified Authentic Handmade Artisan

Experience and Education

Diego Villena was born in Madrid to an American model and Spanish advertising executive. He was raised in Charleston, SC, where he was first exposed to the performing arts through Spoleto Festival USA. He later auditioned for the creative writing and classical cello majors at the Charleston School of the Arts, subsequently enrolling in the latter as a budding musician. Diego went on to complete a BA of music performance at the College of Charleston, then continued with independent study under a master cellist in Amsterdam, NL.

It was in Amsterdam that Diego connected with his passion for writing, and broke into the content marketing industry. He worked in-house at a major agency before shifting to a startup. Soon thereafter, Diego started with Bon Ventures as a copywriter, then moving into editing and eventually project management, SEO, and business strategy. He enjoys close working relationships with the crack team of editors and marketing professionals at TheCoolist. Together, they have cultivated a global audience reckoned in the millions.

Diego continues to live in the South Carolina lowcountry with his wife, with whom he runs a handmade wooden toy and trinket business. He enjoys spending time renovating his century-old craftsman home, subsistence gardening, visual astronomy, reading speculative fiction, and playing board games with his wife.