Pride and Power in My Unique Perspective
Name: Nancy
Pronouns: she/her
Title: Team Leader
Location: Phoenix, AZ
My personal brand
I am kind, sympathetic, and charismatic.
My favorite thing about who I am is my culture. It drives my passion and my goal of making my family proud.
What matters most and learning moments
Helping people means so much to me. I still remember when I interviewed at Discover and was asked about my career goals, my answer was “to be in a place where I can ultimately help others”. It’s a very fulfilling experience being thanked by customers in their moments of need and being able to be part of a support system for many of my employees.
A big learning moment in my career was when I learned the power I held. Being promoted into a leadership role at a young age, it was easy to feel scared or invisible, but I learned I offer a different perspective and have the courage to speak up for changes when needed.
I would tell my younger self to be more confident. Confident in my work, in showing my true personality, and in speaking up in areas outside of my comfort zone.
A hard truth I learned over the course of my life and career is “not everyone thinks like you do”. We all have different backgrounds and mindsets that lead to different opinions. This helped me understand people on a deeper level and realize if someone disagrees with me, it is not my fault or theirs. It’s what makes everyone unique and in this corporate world, recognizing differences has helped me be more open-minded and expanded my knowledge on a variety of topics.
When I joined Spanish CSE [Customer Service & Engagement], it was the first time I was in a professional setting where I felt like I fit right in. You train and practice for months to assist customers in their time of financial need, but nothing compared to joining a department where I was assisting customers that genuinely felt like I was helping a tia or tio. That really helped me understand how important my role was and why we need more people from different cultures to step into the corporate world and into positions of power—to become voice for those who don’t.
Accomplishments, who I am, and finding my voice
I am most proud of having become a homeowner on my own at the age of 21. My parents immigrated from Mexico in their early 20’s and rented apartments for decades, about 10 years ago they were able to buy a home thanks to all their hard work. Seeing my dad watering his plants and my mom making home cooked meals in their very own home always fills my heart with pride. They always instilled in me the importance of buying my own home to enjoy that same freedom and financial advantage. I thank them for all the lessons they taught me that led me to where I am today.
Being in the corporate world as a first-generation Mexican American has brought many battles. I hear the same struggle constantly that you are “never Mexican enough for Mexicans and never American enough for Americans”, and it’s difficult finding a middle ground in this environment of always trying to fit in. I have always been proud of my culture and ability to speak Spanish, and I choose to bring that with me everywhere I go. Regardless of where in the corporate world you may be, I think we should always be able to show our culture and be able to advocate for our minority groups.
