I was raised in Lima, Peru, surrounded by a large extended family. When I was nine, my mom, who worked at the Peruvian consulate, was offered an assignment that brought our family to California. We were excited about the opportunity, but the move was difficult for me. I was shy, and the fact that I didn't speak English or understand American culture made it hard to make friends. It wasn’t until high school that I started opening up and feeling like I belonged, and even now I struggle sometimes with my doubts and confidence.

I’ve been with Genentech for 17 years, and spent a big part of my first 15 years mostly behind the scenes as a Compensation Specialist. In the last few years, I realized something was missing, and I started journaling when meaningful moments would arise. I realized that what I loved most were face-to-face interactions with people at work, so I went back to school for a Masters in Organizational Development, which helped set me up for my current role as an H.R. Business Partner. Now I have so many more of those moments I value–where I made someone feel special, or empowered, or helped them see things in a more positive light.

Because of my background, it’s important for me to make other people feel like they belong, participate, and not feel like an outsider. There are so many opportunities to belong; I’m part of a Diversity Network Association (DNA) group called Vida, for Latino professionals at Genentech. When I talk to others about the importance of networking, it’s not just trying to sell yourself, but connecting with people on a more personal level.

A big part of my job is helping our scientific leaders create the right environment for their teams so everyone knows that they can contribute. I’m not a scientist. In fact, science was never my best subject in school. But I have the same curiosity and passion for helping people grow in their careers as our scientists have for their research. And being able to do what I’m passionate about in a way that helps others makes me feel incredibly lucky.