Rosa E Hearn, CFS, CPMM

I attribute my success to resilience, reinvention, and relationships. Resilience has helped me overcome not only professional challenges but also cultural and generational expectations as a first-generation Mexican-American Latina, where I often had to navigate misunderstandings within my own family while staying committed to my goals. Reinvention has been equally important, as I have continually adapted my skills across roles in sales, product management, and now marketing—building niche expertise along the way, including becoming known for my specialization in industrial fasteners such as rivets and embracing the identity of “Rosie the Riveter” as a symbol of strength and expertise. Finally, relationships have been essential in creating opportunities and support systems, especially as someone who built my career without an inherited network, relying instead on intentional connections to help me grow, stay grounded, and advance professionally.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to be intentional about three things: building your network early, owning your identity, and understanding the business end-to-end. First, build your network before you need it—relationships take time, and in this field, they are currency. Don’t wait until you’re searching for an opportunity to connect; invest in people consistently, especially when things are going well. Second, bring your full identity to the table. Your background, culture, and personality are strengths, not things to minimize. I’ve learned that the right environments won’t ask you to shrink yourself—they will value what makes you different. Finally, take the time to understand how the entire business operates, regardless of your role. Knowing how processes, decisions, and systems connect not only strengthens your performance but also makes you indispensable and positions you for long-term growth.

The biggest challenge and opportunity in my field is transformation. It’s a very traditional, legacy-driven industry where the core product hasn’t changed much, but everything around it is rapidly evolving. Technology, AI, and customer expectations shaped by fast, digital-first experiences are pushing the industry forward, while some processes still rely on outdated methods like fax orders. At the same time, there’s a generational shift happening between those who want to modernize and those holding onto legacy ways of working. Navigating that transition is challenging, but it’s also where the greatest opportunity for innovation and growth exists.

I value integrity and being someone people can trust. It’s important to me that when I say I’m going to do something, I follow through, because that consistency builds trust over time—and I don’t take that lightly. I also value showing up for others, which has sometimes made it difficult to say no, since I genuinely want to be dependable and supportive. At my core, I strive to be someone who demonstrates that it doesn’t matter where you come from—you can show up, deliver, and make things happen with integrity and commitment.