Mara was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She graduated from the Athens College and went on to the Greek National Guide School in Corfu. While leading tours, she received a second degree in Humanities and Greek Civilization from The Hellenic Open University. She speaks three languages fluently and leads groups in Greek, English and Japanese, highlighting all aspects of the Greek culture with a strong emphasis on ancient Greek civilization and mythology. Since 2001, she has taken tourists from over sixty nations to the mainland and the islands of Greece, sharing with them her love for her country and her prodigious knowledge of history, archaeology, best food and wine, and the art of folk dancing.