We recently had the chance to connect with Sergio Santamaria and have shared our conversation below.
Sergio, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I’ve always created with purpose. It’s easy to make something look cool—but can you create something that truly makes an impact?
Standing on the field at Snapdragon during a recent SDFC game, I felt a powerful wave of pride—of being fully myself, creating for community, for the people.
I’m proud and grateful to be where I am today as a creative.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sergio Santamaria, but most people know me as OMatic. I spent over five years as a full-time freelancer, and today I continue to run my creative business while also working as a video producer with San Diego FC.
I’m proud to say I turned my passion into a career—building something true to myself and my art. Now, I hold a professional title and have the privilege of representing San Diego through a professional soccer club.
The journey hasn’t been easy, but I’m here to say: keep going. It will work out.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My wife. She gave me the trust in myself and in my journey that I never knew I had. Taking the leap into my career was the hardest thing I’ve ever done—but she believed in the vision from the very beginning and watched it grow into what it is today.
She saw what I see now. She’s a part of everything I’ve built—both in business and in who I am as a person.
I was, and still am, nothing without her by my side. She made me.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was a time I was living project to project. The freelance world can be incredibly inconsistent, and I wanted to build a stable life—to support the family my wife and I always dreamed of. I was even ready to take a “normal” job just to be a stronger foundation for us.
Then we took a trip to Italy—and everything changed. While we were there, I got an offer for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for a professional soccer club. We weren’t married yet, and I was actually planning to propose during that trip.
After the meeting, I told her, “Our lives are about to change forever”—she had no idea I was talking about more than just the job.
Now we’re married, and I have a career doing what I love. The struggle was all worth it.
Never give up.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. Being my authentic self is exactly why I’m where I am today. Even at a professional level, I never hide my roots—I stand by that wholeheartedly.
Staying true to who you are is what brings real success and fulfillment.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
He was real—and he cared about people.
I fell in love with creating because of that: the people. Sharing their stories in the way they’re meant to be told. I still remember my first few projects—clients getting emotional, feeling truly seen.
Everyone deserves their spotlight.
More than just remembering my story, I hope people carry forward the values I stand for as a creative.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.omaticmadeit.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omaticmadeit/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-santamaria-4344a2318/
Image Credits
Nico Ricoy
