Her Story
About Rosalina
Rosalina Banaban has built a career in human resources spanning over 13 years, beginning with her background as a respiratory therapist in Washington State. Her transition into HR was sparked by a chance meeting with an HR director on a flight to California, who became her mentor and fairy godmother, providing opportunities such as SHRM conferences, PHR certification support, and an HR administrator role. Rosalina progressed through positions including HR coordinator, generalist, and manager, gaining experience in training and development while working in environments such as tech and biopharma. She earned her master's degree in HR management from 2020 to 2022 with a 4.0 GPA, which strengthened her strategic leadership skills. At Amazon, she served as an HR manager and took on the role of Glamazon president, leading initiatives for the LGBTQ+ community including toolkits, gender-neutral facilities, and volunteer efforts. Rosalina is a member of Fairy God Boss, where she volunteers by offering advice to women professionals, and she credits her success to guidance from multiple women leaders who helped her navigate challenges in the field.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rosalina
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from my mentors, especially the HR director I met on a plane who became my fairy godmother. She opened doors to SHRM conferences, helped me get my PHR, and supported my transition into HR. I've been fortunate to learn from many women leaders throughout my career who shared their experiences navigating challenges in male-dominated fields and as HR professionals.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
One thing that has stuck with me is you're never too young to do anything. A baby shark is still a shark. I was on the younger side coming into the field and intimidated, but keeping that in mind helped me try new things. The only person stopping you is yourself, and if you don't ask, the answer is automatically no, so give it a shot.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest ongoing challenge is reframing the negative stigma around HR. People often have a biased reaction to HR outreach, fearing it's only to protect the business. Especially in tech with layoffs and reorganizations, supporting HR professionals' own mental health is critical. We need to focus on being HR for HR and prioritizing overall health and well-being.
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