Sylvia Antonello

I attribute my success to taking opportunities and not being afraid of change, even when it's uncomfortable. I've learned through life that it's really about what you manifest for your future - not necessarily knowing exactly what you want to do, but trying your best and taking every opportunity that comes your way to improve yourself and get where you need to be. The transitions I've faced, like moving to Ecuador as a second grader and not knowing Spanish, then coming back in eighth grade and having to relearn English, were incredibly difficult, but they made me stronger. Being a single mom raising three boys taught me resilience I didn't even know I had - sometimes you don't see that confidence in yourself until others point it out. I've also been fortunate to have great leaders in my company, and I've learned that you have to recognize good leadership when you see it, support them, and believe in their vision. It's not about whether your leaders are men or women - it's about people and believing in what they're trying to accomplish together.

What I try to tell kids nowadays, especially young people, is that it's really about what you manifest for your future - not necessarily knowing exactly what you want to do, but just trying your best and taking every opportunity that's there for you. Those opportunities will help you improve and get you where you need to be. Life will kind of take you there if you're open to it. I want women to know, especially minorities, that there are no excuses - you can go out there and make it happen. Don't be afraid to change fields or take on new challenges, even at 53 like I did when I moved from mortgages to HR. It's okay to make those transitions. And trust in yourself - be confident in what you've accomplished. Sometimes you don't see your own strength until you look back at everything you've overcome, whether that's language barriers, being a single parent, or navigating a male-dominated leadership environment. The key is to believe in yourself and the leaders around you, support good leadership when you see it, and remember that it's not about gender when it comes to leading - it's about people working together.

The values most important to me are making people feel special and valued, teamwork, and helping others grow into their potential. Every morning, the first thing I do is check whose birthday it is among my 120 team members and send them a message to make sure everyone feels special - that's how I start my day. I love encouraging people and seeing their unique talents, because I believe everyone has a niche for something. Those small victories, like when someone I hired gets promoted or has been with the company for over 6 years, feel like my own personal trophies - I treat them like my own. I also value taking care of people beyond just work - whether that's encouraging my team to take lunch breaks when they're working hard, or volunteering to help foster youth get the clothing and shoes they need for job interviews. In my personal life, family time is precious to me. Even though my three sons are adults now and we live a couple hours apart, we make time on weekends to get together, cook out, and enjoy each other by the pool. And when I need to recharge, I go to the beach - that's my serenity. Just sitting back, listening to the waves, the birds, and the air is the most beautiful thing to me.