Her Story
About Adriana
Adriana Avirvarei, MBA, CRL, PMP, GISP, is a seasoned global sales and business leader with a unique blend of engineering expertise, project management excellence, and strategic account leadership. As Senior Global Accounts Manager at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), she oversees some of the company's most significant global customer relationships, such as Amazon, supporting more than 150 locations worldwide. With responsibility for large-scale international accounts across North America, Asia-Pacific, EMEA, and Latin America, Adriana specializes in developing strategic partnerships, leading cross-functional teams, and delivering scalable technical solutions that drive business growth and operational reliability. Throughout her career, Adriana has built a reputation for combining deep technical knowledge with executive-level business acumen. Prior to her current role, she managed a $100 million capital improvement portfolio at the Central Arizona Project, where she led reliability engineering initiatives, complex infrastructure projects, and multi-stakeholder programs. Her professional experience spans global sales leadership, reliability engineering, business development, contract negotiation, and solution selling across industries including power and utilities, data centers, renewable energy, government, mining, oil and gas, water and wastewater, food processing, and automotive. She has successfully led teams of up to 16 sales professionals and managed portfolios generating more than $105 million in annual revenue. A passionate advocate for continuous learning and leadership development, Adriana recently earned her MBA with Distinction from Keller Graduate School of Management. She holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and maintains multiple professional credentials, including Certified Reliability Leader (CRL), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP). Known for her resilience, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to mentorship, Adriana actively supports STEM education initiatives through the Arizona Science Center and encourages emerging professionals—especially women in technical fields—to pursue ambitious goals with confidence, perseverance, and a strong network of support.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Adriana
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous growth. Throughout my career, I have navigated significant transitions across countries, industries, and professional roles, each of which required me to learn quickly, embrace change, and remain focused on long-term goals. Relocating to the United States and rebuilding my career in a new environment strengthened my determination and reinforced the importance of perseverance. I also believe that success comes from being willing to take initiative, speak up, and pursue opportunities even when I do not feel completely certain. Equally important has been my ability to build strong, trust-based relationships with colleagues, clients, and global teams. I value confidence, collaboration, lifelong learning, and the belief that growth happens when we challenge ourselves while helping others succeed along the way.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Some of the most valuable guidance I have received came from the lessons instilled in me early in life by my family, especially my mother, who taught me the importance of resilience, integrity, and perseverance. As I became independent at a young age, I learned to trust my judgment, take responsibility for my decisions, and continue moving forward despite challenges. Professionally, I was fortunate to have mentors and managers who believed in my potential and gave me opportunities to grow before I fully recognized my own capabilities. Their trust taught me that confidence is often built through action rather than certainty. The advice that has stayed with me throughout my career is to believe in my abilities, remain adaptable, and never stop learning, regardless of the stage of my professional journey.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to believe in their abilities and pursue opportunities even when they do not feel completely ready. Too often, talented individuals underestimate their potential and wait for the perfect moment before taking action. In my experience, growth happens when we step outside our comfort zones and embrace challenges that stretch our capabilities. I also recommend investing in continuous learning, seeking mentors, and building a network of supportive individuals who share similar goals and values. Success is rarely achieved alone, and strong relationships can provide guidance, encouragement, and new opportunities. Most importantly, I would encourage women to trust themselves, remain resilient through setbacks, and recognize that their unique perspectives and contributions are valuable in shaping the future of engineering, technology, and business leadership.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in global engineering and enterprise account management is keeping pace with the rapid evolution of technology while meeting the increasingly complex needs of large, global organizations. Managing relationships across multiple regions, cultures, and time zones requires exceptional communication, adaptability, and strategic thinking. Organizations are also under constant pressure to deliver scalable, reliable, and innovative solutions in highly competitive markets. At the same time, these challenges create tremendous opportunities. The growing demand for digital infrastructure, data centers, renewable energy solutions, and global connectivity presents significant potential for innovation and collaboration. For professionals who can combine technical expertise with business acumen and relationship-building skills, there are more opportunities than ever to drive meaningful impact on a global scale.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my professional and personal life are integrity, perseverance, continuous learning, collaboration, and service to others. I believe in approaching every challenge with honesty, accountability, and a commitment to excellence. Perseverance has been essential throughout my journey, helping me overcome obstacles and adapt to change while staying focused on my goals. I also place a strong emphasis on lifelong learning and personal growth, as I believe there is always an opportunity to improve and expand our perspectives. Collaboration is equally important because meaningful achievements are often the result of strong teams working toward a common purpose. Beyond my professional responsibilities, I am passionate about mentoring and supporting the next generation, particularly young women pursuing careers in STEM. Through my involvement with programs such as the Girls in STEM initiative at the Arizona Science Center, I have seen firsthand the impact that encouragement, representation, and mentorship can have in inspiring future leaders and innovators.
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