Featured Diversity Month 2022 profile
Featured Diversity Month 2022 profile
April 2022
Carolina Rodrigues
Senior HR Advisor, Operations and Asset Servicing Latin America
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I was raised in a city called Niterói, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Since my relatives reside in different states of the country, I had the chance growing up to experience cultures and people different from those of my hometown. This exposure led me to discover a career path that I have been extremely passionate about from an early age.
When I was 18, I started working on social projects focused on the education of young people and adults who struggled with reading and writing. I wanted to help these young adults improve their employability and decided to study psychology to better understand human behavior. Over time, I realized this project enabled the change I wanted to see in the world and redirected my career to focus on the human resources sector.
After graduating from business school, I joined BNY Mellon as a recruiter. Over the last nine years, I have specialized in Strategic and Economic Management of Human Resources and expanded my scope within the company. Today, I am a Senior HR Advisor for the Operations and Asset Servicing Latin America teams.
I can confidently and proudly say that my role is exactly what I wished for all those years ago when I began helping young adults improve their skills. I work with people, helping to identify their strengths and create strategies for them to succeed in their careers. Thanks to the focus the firm places on diversity, equity and inclusion, I can work with colleagues in a safe environment where they can feel comfortable being who they are.
This inclusive environment, and my colleagues who are encouraged to excel here, motivate me daily. Knowing that I spend most of my days with people who are passionate about what they do, who focus on excellence in their work, and who take pride in the company, is invaluable.
Our values and behaviors serve as a solid foundation for us to strengthen the company in every facet. I aim to live our Strength in Diversity value through managing Brazil's Reverse Mentoring Program, which offers senior leadership the unique opportunity to learn from the next generation. This program highlights diverse perspectives and advances our culture of inclusion and innovation.
I became involved with HEART, our Employee Business Resource Group (E/BRG) that elevates awareness of employees with diverse abilities, when my mother was diagnosed with cancer and became wheelchair-bound. Coping with this new reality and witnessing the difficulties people face obtaining meaningful career opportunities, aligned perfectly with HEART’s mission.
My family and my diverse professional experiences have made me who I am today. I have developed relationships with people from different backgrounds and cultures, stepped outside my comfort zone, learned important life lessons and built a rewarding life and career.