Her Story
About Anaiz
Anaiz Torres is an experienced management professional and Senior Customer Specialist at CarMax, where she has built more than five years of experience in automotive sales, customer service, and retail operations. In her current role, she supports customers and associates, assists with daily business operations, serves as a keyholder, and provides training to team members. Her broader career began at age 18 and includes management experience across retail, food service, pharmacy, and automotive industries, supported by her education in Business Administration and Management from Post University. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Anaiz is deeply committed to leadership development and community engagement. She was recognized as one of Connecticut’s Black/Latine/Afro-Latine Top 30 Under 30 for Exceptional Leadership in 2024 and serves as a board member of the Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center. She is also involved with United Way of Greater Waterbury, Women United, Emerging Leaders, La Mesa Latina, and the Latinas in Leadership Institute, where she has further developed her leadership, advocacy, and community-building skills. Her volunteer work includes leading and coordinating CarMax Cares initiatives that support local organizations and address community needs such as food insecurity and youth development. Anaiz is passionate about creating opportunities for growth, strengthening leadership, and challenging traditional approaches to professional advancement. Her advocacy interests include social justice, public education, food security, political reform, due process, and immigration rights, reflecting her commitment to building stronger and more equitable communities. As she continues developing her management career, Anaiz is preparing for a future at the corporate level and ultimately hopes to leverage her diverse experience to become a business consultant. Through leadership, networking, mentorship, and service, she aims to help individuals and organizations grow while inspiring other women to recognize their capabilities, use their voices, and pursue leadership opportunities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Anaiz
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to confidence, determination, adaptability, networking, and a commitment to continuous learning. I have embraced new roles and responsibilities, even when they pushed me outside my comfort zone, while building meaningful relationships that provide fresh perspectives and opportunities for growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to intentionally build meaningful professional relationships and networks. My experience with the Latinas in Leadership Institute strengthened my understanding of networking, leadership, personal branding, and career growth, while supportive leaders who recognized my potential encouraged me to embrace greater responsibilities.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to be confident, use your voice, and never be afraid to take up space. Carry yourself with confidence, stand tall, and trust in your abilities. Your presence matters, so own it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I see tremendous opportunities for professionals who are willing to develop their leadership, communication, customer experience, and business skills. My experiences across retail, food service, pharmacy operations, and automotive sales have shown me the value of transferable skills. I hope to build on these experiences as I transition into business consulting and entrepreneurship, where I can help individuals and businesses grow.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are family, confidence, community, growth, leadership, and helping others succeed. I believe success goes beyond personal advancement; it is also about staying connected to my community, building meaningful relationships, and using my experiences to create opportunities and make a positive impact.
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