Carmen Placensia

Much of who I am today is because of my father, Jose Placensia. For several years, he was a single father raising my brother and me before he remarried and built a beautiful family with my late stepmother, together raising five more children.

Throughout every stage of his life, he led by example. He worked incredibly hard, often putting in long hours, yet he never failed to be there for his family when we needed him. Growing up on our family farms in Mexico, everyone was expected to contribute. From a young age, we learned the value of hard work, responsibility, and helping support the household. Because of that, I've never been afraid of work. My father taught me that through his actions every single day.

As the oldest daughter, people often tell me that I'm my father in a woman's body. He was successful in everything he pursued, but what impressed me most was his constant desire to learn and improve. He was always curious, always growing, and always looking for ways to do things better.

More importantly, he taught me that success means very little if you're not a good person. He was hardworking, humble, generous, and deeply respected by those around him. His character left a lasting impression on me, and many of the values I carry today come directly from him.

I truly admire my father and consider him one of the greatest influences in my life. More than anything, he taught me that integrity, kindness, and treating people well are just as important as working hard. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my life, and I will always be grateful for his example.

I owe much of my professional growth to the guidance, trust, and mentorship of a few remarkable people who believed in me long before I fully believed in myself.

One of the most influential has been my current boss, Tami Gutierrez. She gave me my very first interview in the produce industry and advocated strongly for hiring me, despite my lack of experience at the time. She saw something beyond my resume—my attitude, determination, and work ethic. Although we didn't work together for long during that first opportunity, she stayed in touch over the years, consistently reminding me that she wanted me on her team and that she believed in my potential.

About eight years ago, I finally had the opportunity to work for her, and it truly felt like the right fit. With more than 40 years of industry experience, Tami has been an incredible source of knowledge and support. Whenever I faced a challenge, a difficult decision, or a new contract opportunity, she always seemed to have the insight and experience to guide me. I absorbed as much as I could from her, and I continue to learn from her today. Over the years, our relationship has grown beyond that of boss and employee—we've built a genuine friendship that I deeply value.

Another person who has had a tremendous impact on my career is Tony Ojeda. We currently work together again, but our professional relationship began years ago when I was a salesperson at OrganicGirl/NewStar. Early in my career, I was much more reserved and often nervous in meetings or when approaching new opportunities. Tony saw that and took me under his wing. He constantly encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, coaching me on everything from customer outreach and follow-up strategies to building confidence in my own abilities.

Tony has a unique ability to connect people, opportunities, and industry knowledge. With years of experience in produce, he helped me understand how companies are connected, who the key players are, and how relationships drive success in this business. As fellow bilingual professionals, we worked closely together developing business in Mexico, and our partnership proved to be incredibly successful. Even today, we continue to collaborate, and I still benefit from his encouragement, knowledge, and unwavering support.

Looking back, I realize that my success has never been a solo journey. It has been shaped by mentors who invested their time, shared their wisdom, challenged me to grow, and believed in me every step of the way. For that, I will always be grateful.

If I could offer one piece of advice to young people entering sales, especially young women, it would be to believe in your abilities and not let fear stop you from pursuing opportunities.

When I started in sales, there were far fewer women in the industry than there are today. It wasn't always easy, and there were certainly challenges that came with being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated business. Those experiences taught me resilience, confidence, and the importance of finding your voice.

One of my personal goals is to help the next generation succeed faster than my generation did. I would love to mentor and train young professionals, sharing the lessons I've learned throughout my career so they don't have to learn everything the hard way. While this advice applies to everyone, I am especially passionate about encouraging more women to pursue careers in sales, build strong customer relationships, and become leaders within our industry.

I want to see more women confidently sitting at the table, closing business, earning customers' trust, and achieving the success they deserve. This industry can be demanding, but it is also incredibly rewarding for those willing to work hard and keep learning.

Beyond technical knowledge, I believe it's important to pass along emotional support, confidence, and practical guidance. Success isn't just about understanding products, contracts, or markets—it's also about learning how to navigate challenges, build resilience, and continue growing professionally even when things don't go as planned.

The mentors who invested in me helped shape my career, and I hope to do the same for others. If I can help even a few young professionals gain confidence, avoid some of the mistakes I made, and reach their goals sooner, that would be one of the most meaningful accomplishments of my career.

One of the biggest challenges in sales—and honestly, in any industry—is simply learning how to connect with people.

Success isn't just about products, pricing, or contracts. It's about building genuine relationships and taking care of those relationships over time. People remember how you make them feel, and those connections often follow you throughout your career. In many cases, the relationships you build today can become customers, business partners, mentors, or lifelong friends tomorrow.

When I was younger, I was naturally shy and often nervous about approaching new people. I would overthink conversations and wonder whether I had anything valuable to say. Over time, I learned that the most important thing is simply to start the conversation. Talk to people. Listen to their stories. Get to know them as individuals before worrying about selling anything.

My advice to anyone entering sales is to expand your circle and never be afraid to introduce yourself. Ask questions, be curious, and focus on building authentic connections. The best relationships often begin with ordinary conversations that have nothing to do with business at all.

The larger your network becomes, the more opportunities you'll create for yourself. Not only does it help you grow your customer base and become a more successful salesperson, but it also allows you to build meaningful relationships that can last a lifetime.

At the end of the day, people do business with people they know, trust, and enjoy working with. Learning how to build those relationships has been one of the most valuable lessons of my career.

For many years, my primary focus was building a stable life for my family while growing my career in the agriculture industry. As a young mother raising two children, much of my energy was dedicated to creating opportunities for them and establishing a successful professional path for myself.

Now that my children are adults and pursuing their own lives, I have entered a new chapter—one that has allowed me to embrace one of my greatest passions: travel. My career has given me opportunities to visit new places, meet people from different backgrounds, and experience cultures I may never have encountered otherwise. Those experiences have broadened my perspective and reinforced the importance of staying curious and open-minded.

What I value most is the opportunity to learn from others. Whether I'm meeting a customer, attending an industry event, or visiting a new country, I'm always interested in understanding how people live, work, and build relationships. I believe there is something to learn from every person and every culture.

In many ways, travel, business, and personal growth are all connected. Expanding your horizons also expands your network, your understanding of the world, and your appreciation for different perspectives. One of the things I love most about the produce industry is that it provides a common connection with people everywhere. No matter where you go, everyone eats. Food brings people together, and produce creates opportunities for meaningful conversations and relationships across cultures and communities.

At this stage of my life, the connections I make and the relationships I build are among the things I value most. Those relationships enrich both my personal life and my career, and they continue to remind me that success is ultimately about people, not just business.