Every career is shaped by the people who believe in us before we fully believe in ourselves. For Gisell Rodriguez, Senior Director of Sustainability and Enterprise Risk Management, that influence began with two women.
The first was her mother, whose sacrifices created opportunities she never had herself. Her determination and work ethic formed the foundation for everything that followed.
The second was her godmother. As a first-generation American navigating two cultures, Gisell’s godmother had already walked a path that Gisell was only beginning to understand. What she offered was not a formal set of career instructions. Instead, she demonstrated something far more powerful: possibility.
When you grow up without seeing people who look like you in leadership positions, it is easy to assume those spaces were not built with you in mind. Seeing someone succeed in those rooms can change that perception entirely. For Gisell, that example helped reshape what felt possible.
When you grow up without seeing people who look like you in leadership positions, it is easy to assume those spaces were not built with you in mind. Seeing someone succeed in those rooms can change that perception entirely. For Gisell, that example helped reshape what felt possible.
Example alone does not eliminate challenges. As her career progressed, Gisell faced familiar obstacles many professionals encounter: learning to speak confidently in rooms where she felt different, building a professional network without inherited connections, and navigating the persistent voice of imposter syndrome as she moved into leadership roles.
Those experiences ultimately shaped how she approaches mentorship today. She makes a point to mentor women whenever the opportunity arises, sharing candid lessons about moments when she did not advocate strongly enough for herself or hesitated to pursue opportunities. Her goal is simple: help others avoid the detours she once navigated alone.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is Give to Gain. In Gisell’s words, “The give is the honesty. The gain is time.” Time, in a professional journey, can be one of the most valuable gifts anyone can offer.
Mentorship does more than support individual careers. It accelerates progress across teams, organizations and industries.
When leaders invest in those who follow, opportunity multiplies.
