Her Story
About Magdalena
I’m an HR professional with a background in nonprofit and mission-driven organizations where I’ve had the opportunity to support people not just as employees, but as individuals navigating real life.
My work has focused on all areas of HR including employee relations, recruitment, onboarding, compliance, training, and building HR systems that create both structure and a positive workplace culture.
What drew me to HR was realizing how much impact strong leadership and people support can have on an organization from behind the scenes. I genuinely enjoy creating environments where employees feel supported, heard, and empowered to succeed while also helping organizations operate effectively and sustainably.
Working in nonprofit spaces has been especially meaningful because the work is deeply human-centered, and it’s taught me the importance of adaptability, empathy, and resilience. I’ve learned how to lead in fast-paced environments, solve problems under pressure, and balance compassion with accountability. Being bilingual in English and Spanish has also been one of the most rewarding parts of my career because it’s allowed me to connect with diverse teams, bridge communication gaps, and help create more inclusive workplaces where people feel truly understood and represented.
Outside of my professional life, being a mom has shaped me tremendously as a leader. Motherhood has strengthened my patience, emotional intelligence, time management, and ability to lead with both empathy and strength. It’s given me an even greater appreciation for balance, community, and creating supportive environments, which are values I carry into my work every day. As a woman in leadership, I believe influence comes from consistency, integrity, and the ability to uplift others while still maintaining high standards. I’m passionate about continuing to grow as an HR leader, mentoring others, and helping organizations build cultures where people and purpose can thrive together.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Magdalena
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say mentorship. When I started my career, I was very fortunate that as soon as I finished school, I was able to start as an HR assistant. The VP of HR there, her name is Maggie Vinas, really mentored me and gave me all the tools to be successful. Within that same company, I was able to move up very quickly, and after that, go into managerial roles. Maggie, my mentor was a blessing.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to not be stuck on a plan. In that sense, you may think that you're gonna go one route, but you shouldn't be so set in stone in it. There are different paths that you can take to get you to either where you want or somewhere different. There are always new opened opportunities.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It takes time, definitely. It takes time, and being accustomed to ask questions, not be afraid to ask questions. Communication is key. Being able to communicate and always seek information needed. And seek mentorship, which has worked out well for me.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the challenge is that you can't always give the outcome you'd want. You know, of course, within HR, sometimes you do have to let people go, or discipline, and it's not the fun part of the job. It's not something we want to do, but unfortunately, we have to, and we do know that it affects others' lives as well, so just kind of, in a sense, knowing that, I would say it's a challenge of having to have that in the back burner of your head. An outcome or opportunity is seeing the business grow and flourish with everything that you install in there and organize, and being a part of it all.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are integrity, respect, accountability, and compassion. I value creating fair, supportive environments where people feel heard and treated with dignity. I’m also focused on growth and continuous improvement, both professionally and personally and I take pride in being dependable and contributing in a meaningful, people-centered way.
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