Her Story
About Monelle
Monelle Petgrave is an Associate Director, Workday HCM at the University of Central Florida, where she leads Workday HCM strategy, administration, optimization, and governance. She brings more than a decade of experience in human resources information systems, enterprise HR technology, and Workday, with previous roles at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Amadeus, Carnival Cruise Line, and Vistaprint. Her expertise spans Workday HCM, Talent, Learning, Performance, Security, Reporting, Integrations, HRIS transformation, data management, and process optimization. She approaches HR technology as a strategic business asset, combining technical expertise with cross-functional leadership to develop scalable and reliable systems. Petgrave holds a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Montego Bay Community College and earned a master’s degree in Information Technology Management from Western Governors University in 2024. She is completing a second master’s degree in Data Analytics with a Data Science specialization at Western Governors University, expected in 2026, and plans to begin a doctoral program in Information Technology at Walden University. Her professional credentials include the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® designation from the Project Management Institute, WGU certificates in Data Operations and Data Analytics Professional, IBM training in Python for Data Science, AI & Development, and mediation training. She also has experience with Python, R, SQL, Power BI, and data-driven analytical approaches. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Petgrave is committed to mentorship, continuous learning, and personal growth. She is a member and mentor within Women in Technology, where she has mentored others, and is also affiliated with the National Society of Leadership and Success and the Project Management Institute. She credits her family, husband and her two children as a major source of motivation, inspiring her to pursue continuous improvement and serve as a positive role model. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in respect, honesty, emotional intelligence, professionalism, and empowering others to make their voices heard through confidence, intelligence, and meaningful contributions.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Monelle
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success primarily to my family. I have two wonderful children, and becoming a mother—particularly when I had my son—was a turning point in my life. It motivated me to become more career-focused and intentional about building a future for them.
I want to set a positive example for my children and help them understand the importance of achievement, growth, and continuous improvement. My family motivates me to keep developing myself professionally and personally so that I can be a role model they can look up to and aspire to emulate.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received came from my first manager in the field. She taught me the importance of emotional intelligence and maintaining professionalism, particularly when dealing with challenging situations.
She encouraged me not to allow my emotions to dictate how I present myself professionally. I learned that it is important to manage both what I communicate and how I respond emotionally so that I can remain composed, thoughtful, and professional.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to recognize that the sky is not the limit—we can go much further than we sometimes believe. Women may face situations where they feel they have to prove themselves, but that should never prevent them from expressing their ideas and perspectives.
I believe one of the most important things a woman can do is stand confidently behind her opinions and thoughts. Do not allow anyone to push you to the side or make you feel that your voice is less important. At the same time, you do not have to be the loudest person in the room. Make your voice heard through intelligence, confidence, professionalism, and the quality of your ideas.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My biggest challenge right now is learning the organization itself. I have only been in my current role for about three months. I am confident in my ability to work with systems and people, but understanding the organizational structure, processes, and support networks is where I currently see the greatest learning gap.
When you join an organization where many people have been there for years, there is naturally a significant amount of institutional knowledge to learn. My opportunity is to understand that environment, build relationships, learn how the organization operates, and use my strengths in systems and people to contribute effectively.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Respect is the most important value to me. I believe treating people with respect can take you a long way, and I want my actions to reflect my character in a way that others can look back on positively.
Honesty is also extremely important to me. To me, being honest means more than simply telling the truth; it means being willing to communicate the full truth and ensuring that my actions consistently reflect who I am as a person. Respect and honesty are fundamental to how I want to conduct myself both professionally and personally.
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