Her Story
About Carolina
Carolina Franco is the Cluster Director of Human Resources for White Lodging’s Teaneck Glenpointe Hotel Collection, where she focuses on building strong teams and creating systems that empower employees to perform at their highest level. With 14 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Carolina has progressed through a range of operational and leadership roles, beginning as a night auditor and advancing to front desk agent, operations manager, and Director of Front Office before transitioning into human resources. Her expertise includes associate engagement, leadership development, recruitment, personalized development plans, and fostering meaningful one-on-one connections with employees.
Carolina’s professional background reflects a diverse educational journey. She attended trade and fashion school and earned an associate degree in Health Information/Medical Records Technology from DeVry University, along with certification in medical billing and coding. She has also completed Hilton certifications and is currently working toward her SHRM certification. Throughout her career, Carolina has been recognized for her commitment to quality service and customer satisfaction, including receiving Marriott International’s Spirit to Serve Award. She credits her drive and resilience in part to becoming a single mother early in her career and to the inspiration of her mother, who has more than three decades of experience with Marriott.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Carolina is deeply committed to her family and community. She describes herself as a full-time cheer and soccer mom, supporting her daughter’s varsity cheerleading activities and her son’s soccer schedule while encouraging both children to prioritize their education. Carolina also dedicates time to causes that support others, including initiatives benefiting human trafficking survivors, 9/11-related causes, local education efforts, and foster children. Guided by values of integrity and loyalty, she brings the same people-centered approach to her community involvement that defines her leadership in hospitality and human resources.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Carolina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, self-motivation, and a commitment to continuous learning. Becoming a single mother early in my career pushed me to work harder, pursue opportunities, and take online courses while balancing work and family. My children remain my greatest motivation, while my mother’s 30-plus-year career with Marriott inspired a healthy competition and encouraged me to strive to become even better.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to never settle for less than I’m worth. My former Director of Human Resources at the Conrad encouraged me to keep growing, pursue better opportunities, and continually push myself toward greater goals.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the hospitality industry is to stay true to yourself and remain open to learning. I started in hotel operations at the front desk and never expected to pursue HR, but after six years and becoming a Director of Front Office, an opportunity opened for me to transition into Human Resources. Being willing to learn and embrace unexpected opportunities can lead you in directions you never imagined.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in hospitality is retaining employees in a competitive market, particularly when it comes to wages. Being so close to New York City, with easy access to Port Authority, creates additional competition for talent and makes competitive compensation especially important.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity and loyalty are the values I hold most strongly in both my personal and professional life. I believe in staying true to myself while remaining committed to my work, my team, and the company I represent. My experiences with leading hotel brands have reinforced how meaningful loyalty and dedication can be, and I believe they can take you a long way in your career.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.