Her Story
About Eliza
Eliza Rodriguez is Head of Project Management at Jensen Partners, an executive search firm specializing in the alternative investment industry.
In her role, she leads the firm’s project management function, overseeing the execution of executive search engagements and partnering across recruiting teams, clients, candidates, and senior leadership. She brings a highly organized and strategic approach to complex initiatives, with particular strengths in operational leadership, stakeholder management, cross-functional collaboration, and translating organizational priorities into execution. Rodriguez’s career spans nearly two decades of progressively responsible leadership experience across the private and public sectors.
Prior to joining executive search, she spent approximately 19 years with Paterson Public Schools, advancing through administrative, operational, and leadership roles supporting senior district executives and large-scale organizational priorities. Her leadership experience included serving as Supervisor of Special Projects for the Deputy Superintendent, Executive Supervisor supporting the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent on strategic initiatives, and Executive Supervisor of Compliance and Operations for Academic Services. In these roles, Rodriguez worked across a complex organizational structure encompassing 18 departments and multiple functional areas, including curriculum, student support services, guidance, health, and physical education. Her responsibilities required her to navigate competing priorities, coordinate initiatives across departments, support executive decision-making, strengthen operational and compliance processes, and build alignment among stakeholders at multiple levels of the organization.
A significant milestone during her tenure was her contribution as part of the district leadership team that guided Paterson Public Schools toward regaining local control from the New Jersey Department of Education. The achievement represented an important transition in the district’s governance and reflected years of collective work to strengthen accountability, organizational systems, compliance, and institutional effectiveness. Rodriguez’s involvement in this broader transformation reinforced her experience navigating complex organizations, supporting senior leadership through periods of change, and contributing to initiatives with long-term institutional impact.
Her extensive public-sector leadership experience established the foundation for her transition into executive search and continues to inform her broader expertise in organizational leadership, operations, stakeholder management, and strategic project execution. Rodriguez holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University, with a concentration in Coaching, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Saint Peter’s University. Her academic and professional development reflects a longstanding interest in how effective leadership, communication, organizational culture, and human development influence performance and institutional success.
Her leadership philosophy is grounded in integrity, compassion, resilience, accountability, and the belief that strong leaders create opportunities for others to succeed. Influenced by her mother and other strong female mentors throughout her life and career, Rodriguez approaches leadership with an emphasis on perseverance, authenticity, and developing people rather than simply directing them.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Rodriguez has maintained a strong commitment to community service and social impact. Her volunteer efforts have included providing hygiene essentials to individuals experiencing homelessness, distributing school supplies to children, and partnering with community organizations to provide holiday gifts to less fortunate children. Through D0seofG00d, her personal empowerment Instagram page, she extends that commitment by sharing messages centered on encouragement, resilience, personal growth, and recognizing one’s potential.
As organizations continue to evolve, Rodriguez believes effective leadership will require the ability to embrace change and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, without losing the human connection at the center of successful organizations. She views adaptability, continuous learning, social responsibility, and empathy as essential leadership capabilities for navigating the future of work.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Eliza
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute much of my success to the strong foundation I was given and to the influential women who have shaped my approach to leadership throughout my life. My mother, an educator and administrator for more than 40 years who served as a principal, was my earliest example of leadership, perseverance, and commitment to others. Her example taught me that leadership is not simply about the position you hold, but about the impact you have on the people around you.
I was also fortunate to be mentored by a former Deputy Superintendent who reinforced the importance of leading with integrity and using your position to uplift and build others. She taught me that success does not require diminishing someone else and that the strongest leaders create opportunities for others to grow and succeed alongside them.
Those lessons have remained central to who I am as a leader. I strive to lead with integrity, resilience, compassion, and accountability while creating environments where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute at their highest level. I believe leadership is ultimately measured not only by what you accomplish, but by the people you develop and the positive impact you leave behind.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women is to never allow fear to determine the direction of your life. Believe in yourself, trust your abilities, and have faith in God, especially in the moments when the path ahead is uncertain. Some of the greatest opportunities for growth come from the challenges we initially wish we did not have to face.
I have learned that resilience is built by moving through difficult moments, not by avoiding them. The unknown can be intimidating, but fear can also keep us from opportunities that have the potential to transform our lives. Be willing to take the step even when you do not have every answer. Trust that you are capable of learning, adapting, and growing along the way.
Most importantly, know your value and do not be afraid to take up space, use your voice, or pursue opportunities that challenge you. Stay grounded in your values, remain open to growth, and bring others forward as you advance. Success is even more meaningful when you use what you have learned and achieved to create opportunities for the women coming behind you.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I believe one of the greatest opportunities, and challenges, facing professionals today is learning how to adapt to artificial intelligence in the workplace. AI has tremendous potential to change how we work, solve problems, and create efficiencies, but learning to use these technologies effectively can be challenging. The pace of change is fast, and it requires us to become comfortable with continuously learning and sometimes stepping outside of what is familiar.
I believe the key is to approach AI with curiosity rather than resistance. We do not have to become experts overnight, but we do have a responsibility to educate ourselves. Whether through classes, videos, hands-on experience, or other educational resources, we should continue building our understanding of emerging technologies and learning how they can complement our skills and strengthen the work we already do.
At the same time, embracing innovation should never come at the expense of our values. As AI becomes more integrated into the workplace, we must remain thoughtful about its social and environmental impact and ensure that technology enhances, rather than replaces, the human judgment, relationships, empathy, and accountability that organizations need.
For me, the future is not about choosing between technology and people. It is about learning how to bring the two together responsibly. Professionals who remain adaptable, continue learning, and are willing to evolve will be better prepared not only to navigate change, but to help shape how that change is used for the better.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I believe one of the most important things we can do, both as leaders and as individuals, is recognize the value and humanity in others. We never fully know what someone may be carrying or the circumstances they may be navigating, and sometimes a kind word, a willingness to listen, or a meaningful act of support can have a greater impact than we realize.
Creating space for people to feel heard and valued is especially important to me. This includes individuals who may be experiencing mental health challenges or going through difficult periods in their lives. I believe people deserve to be met with dignity, compassion, and respect, without judgment or assumptions about their circumstances.
That perspective influences how I approach leadership as well. People perform at their best when they know their voices matter and when they feel respected as individuals, not simply valued for what they produce. I strive to create environments where people feel comfortable contributing their perspectives, asking for support when they need it, and knowing they will be treated with empathy and respect.
For me, compassion and strong leadership are not separate ideas. You can hold people accountable, maintain high expectations, and make difficult decisions while still leading with humanity. Whether in my professional life, community work, or personal relationships, I want people to leave an interaction with me feeling that they were seen, heard, and valued.
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