Giorgina Pinedo-Rolón, PhD

I attribute my success to my faith, which is very important because, throughout life, we all experience ups and downs. My determination has also been key. When someone says “no” to me, I take it as motivation to keep going, and I never give up.

I do not see challenges as negative experiences or mistakes. I see them as learning opportunities. I am a positive and optimistic person, but I am also realistic. I believe that anything you set your mind to can be achieved, regardless of what others may tell you. When you feel down, you keep going. If you fall, you get back up and keep moving forward.

My approach has always been to set goals at different levels: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4. When I achieve one goal, I tell myself, “You got this. Let’s go for more,” and I keep going. I am realistic about my goals, starting with small, achievable steps that lead me toward the bigger vision.

When I was little, my father told me to never give up, to pursue my dreams no matter how difficult they may seem, and to remember that education is the key. The more you know, the better you become.

I lead with faith, gratitude, resilience, and service. I am always thankful to the people who helped me get to where I am, and I never forget them. As I continue to grow, I believe it is important to lift others along the way, because if we do not do that, we are not truly serving our community.

One of my greatest accomplishments is when former coworkers tell me that I was the best manager they ever had. That brings me tremendous satisfaction. You never know the impact you can have by speaking with someone, encouraging them, or giving them advice until they come back years later and tell you how it changed their 

Mercy McCall, Laura Santos, and Linda Larman Gonzalez.

While working at Disney, I volunteered my time at Telemundo for a year and a half because I was eager to learn, contribute, and grow. That experience ultimately opened the door to an incredible opportunity, and I became one of the faces of the station. Mercy McCall introduced me to Laura Santos, and together they introduced me to Linda Larman Gonzalez. Their mentorship, belief in me, and willingness to invest in my success played a significant role in my personal and professional development.

I was also fortunate to have the support of an extraordinary leader, Roberto Vizcon. He believed in my abilities, encouraged my ideas, and gave me the confidence and freedom to pursue innovative solutions. He was one of my greatest champions and supporters, and his leadership style left a lasting impression on me.

Another leader who profoundly impacted my career was Mayor Buddy Dyer. He opened the door for me to serve in government and public service, providing opportunities that expanded my leadership experience and allowed me to make a meaningful difference in the community. His trust, vision, and commitment to inclusive leadership helped shape an important chapter of my professional journey.

I remain deeply grateful to each of these individuals. Their mentorship, encouragement, and belief in my potential reinforced an important lesson that I carry with me today: when someone opens a door for you, it is your responsibility to work hard, honor that opportunity, and help open doors for others.

Do not wait for permission. Prepare yourself, build relationships, stay grounded in your values, and walk into every room knowing that you belong there.

When you rise, reach back and lift another woman with you. Do not allow anyone to put you down or tell you that something is not possible. Never give up on your dreams, no matter how difficult they may seem.

Education is the key. It is one of the greatest tools for success, because the more you know, the better you become.

Believe in yourself. Believe that what you are doing can create change in any field, and move forward with confidence and purpose.

Always be thankful for the people who helped you get there, and never forget those who opened doors along the way. As you climb, remember to lift someone else with you because if we are not helping others rise, we are not truly serving our community

Do not wait for permission. Prepare yourself, build meaningful relationships, stay grounded in your values, and walk into every room knowing that you belong there.

When you rise, reach back and lift another woman with you. Never allow anyone to diminish your worth or convince you that something is impossible. Hold on to your dreams and pursue them relentlessly, no matter how difficult the journey may seem.

Education is one of the greatest tools for success. The more you learn, the more you grow, and the better equipped you become to create opportunities for yourself and others.

Believe in yourself. Believe in your abilities, your purpose, and your power to make a difference. If you believe that what you are doing can create positive change, move forward with confidence, determination, and courage.

Always be grateful to those who helped you along the way, and never forget the people who opened doors, offered guidance, or believed in you when others did not. Their support becomes part of your success story.

And as you climb, remember to lift someone else with you. True leadership is not measured by how high we rise, but by how many others we help rise alongside us. When we invest in others, we strengthen our communities, create opportunities, and leave a legacy that extends far beyond ourselves.

I think my leadership is grounded in faith, service, and strategy. I lead with heart and execute with discipline. I believe that you can be compassionate and decisive at the same time. I think you can do all those things and be successful. Resilience and gratitude are among the biggest things that I have. Faith, gratitude, resilience, and service are really important values to always keep in mind. I'm always thankful to the people who helped me, and I never forget the people that took me there. When I speak in public or have an opportunity to talk to the young generation of women, I always close with these two sentences: 'Influence is not about being the loudest voice in the room, it's about being the most intentional.' And I also say, 'I don't just want a seat at the table, I want to build longer tables.' Because sometimes as women, we are not sitting in big boards or influential boards where we can make a difference and have our input. I think that we need more of those influential women to help other women to get into those spaces. For me, influential women means it's not about titles or recognition, it's more about responsibility. Influence means to me using your voice to open doors for others, to advocate for those who may not have access, and to create spaces where people feel empowered. I think true influence is measurable by impact, not by applause.