16 minute read
WOMAN ON THE RISE
YOU ARE ENOUGH. MELISZA CAMPOS
BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO
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Tell our audience about who Melisza Campos is and where she came from?
I am a mom of three awesome kids, a wife, daughter, sister and friend. I work for one of the best food retailers in the world and am a master facilitator for a world-class training organization. I am constantly driving out my inner self-critic (because it’s real and always there) to take on challenges with fierce ambition, fun and focus. My purpose is to focus on love, elevating others, boldness, and excellence to empower my family, organization, and other people to make the world a better place. I came from an amazing family that always has lifted me up, and I try to create that for my husband and kids.
What makes you hustle? I value excellence, which means I take ownership for what I do and dream. You can’t have one without the other. As a Latina, I hustle to impact our community in small ways, and to lift others, particularly people of color, with me.
How did you end up as the Priority Owner for Incredible Customer Service for Wegmans for Rochester NY Metropolitan Area?
I have had a deep love for Wegmans for many years, and I was all in when I came on board. In my roles in marketing and operations, I always focused on doing the right thing for our people and customers, and I think that was noticed. I was willing to be humble, dive into a new industry, not be the expert, understand the operation, and be curious. It was extremely difficult to do this when I was an expert in my field of human development and facilitation.
What are the roles and responsibilities associated with this job?
At Wegmans, we are known for our incredible customer service because of our caring, knowledgeable people. We are looking at how we want to evolve that service to grow customer relationships through more personal interactions that add value. I’ve heard that the companies that feel the most human will be the ones that thrive. It’s so exciting to work on a place of strength for the company.
How do you balance work and life responsibilities, being a female leader?
There is absolutely no such thing as balance, because life is dynamic and unpredictable. It’s about compromise and aligning your actions with what’s important to you. I live by the quote from Jocko Willink, “Discipline is freedom.” I focus on simplifying life so I can do more and enjoy precious time with family. I try to make it easier to put food on the table, still find time for our family to connect and experience life as a unit, and exercise to stay sane.
Who inspires you to live your best life?
My husband; he is one of the most incredible humans, and makes me want to be a better person.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be powerful and empowering woman in this day and age?
In my experience, it takes a lot of people to accomplish meaningful and complex work, so the ability to build and navigate relationships, think critically through strategy and planning, and communicate in a confident manner builds credibility.
What goes through your mind when you think of women who have done this before you? What would you do the same or differently.
It’s always easier to have hindsight. I am grateful for the women who have come before me, because they were the true pioneers who fought for more family friendly practices to equalize the playing field, equal pay, and equity in general. I am more successful in the business environment because of them.
What motivates you to work hard? Passion and vitality for life. I live life to the fullest and with energy so I can be the best version of me. That sounds Pollyanna, but it’s truly difficult to do this on a consistent basis. I am fulfilled when I get results and win; connect and find moments with people I love;admire and/or care about and live with faith, inspiration and enthusiasm even when I don’t feel like it. As a mom, I am motivated to model the way for my three kids, too.
What is your proudest
accomplishment? Besides becoming a mom, I would say being selected to be part of the Changemakers exhibit at the RMSC. That validated the work I have done over many years at Dale Carnegie, as well as in the community. When I went to visit the exhibit with my kids, it was one of the most moving experiences to see their reaction and pride when they saw my part of the exhibit. I live to be an example for them.
What is one thing you have done that not many people know about you?
When my husband and I first got together, he was the lead singer in a band, and I was a “band aid” for years. I would travel with the band on the weekends. We lived in Philadelphia, and he worked many jobs to make ends meet. I had an entry-level job at Dale Carnegie. We built our life together and it wasn’t easy, especially in the beginning.
What is your favorite thing about the career path you have chosen?
It’s pretty simple…I have always focused on impacting others in different ways - that’s the human experience. People have told me that I have a divine sense of what is needed in the present and future based on what I have learned in the past. I attribute that to being a tireless maximizer at heart, an observer of people, and a master facilitator.
Do women in your profession have a hard time getting promoted?
As a realistic optimist, I am always aware of the barriers I face, and take personal responsibility to crash through them by determining what actions I need to take. Being a woman of color definitely has it’s challenges, no matter what profession you are in, and it always will. There are unconscious biases, judgements, and perspectives you have no control over. Having a pioneer mindset is hard, and necessary to overcome these challenges.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be and why?
I think the older I get, the simpler I become. I would love to spend the day with my family doing something fun, with a lot of laughter.
What values are most important to you as a leader?
Love and excellence. Love, because it’s the opposite of fear and judgement. Love in action is building trust, helping others, and having compassion. Excellence is a standard, and not perfection, which is rigid and unattainable. These two values guide my behaviors (most of the time) and my personal standard.
What family member do you call when you have good news to share and why?
I am so lucky to have a close-knit family and would probably text them all at once! That would be my husband, parents, and brother. They are my biggest cheerleaders.
If you were a super-hero, what powers would you have?
I think I would be Flash so I could get the kids to all their activities a lot quicker and gain more time. I would also have a lasso of truth like Wonder Woman to ensure my interactions always reside on the side of truth and what’s right.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
I love weekly traditions that create memories. Every Saturday night, our parents would have a “talent show” in
clapping no matter what I did.
our living room, dedicated to showing off all our talents, including my brother and cousins. I remember my mom and dad always sitting on the couch clapping no matter what I did.
Do you use your influence and offer your support to help other women succeed?
I am so fortunate to work with WOCHA (Women of Color Honor and Ambition) at RIT. This is a program that really helps create those future leaders by giving them the tools to be successful in the current business environment. It is so fulfilling and a privilege to impact younger women of color before they even enter the business world.
Where will we see you in the future?
Making a difference, impacting people, and getting results.
YOU ARE ENOUGH.JENNIFER SOTO
BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO PHOTOS BY JULIE OLDFIELD
Tell our audience a little about who you are, where you came from, and what your background is?
I was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. My grandfather migrated from Cuba to Puerto Rico during the Revolutionary War, and he married and started a family. My grandfather had children in which one would be my mother. My mother and fmarried in Puerto Rico at a young age, in which they went on and had 4 children ( all girls ). Well, the oldest of the four daughters was me.
I grew up in a small town of people where literally everyone knew each other. I remember walking in groups of kids through a passageway in the back of our community to reach the next street over and go to school. All the moms used to watch out for each other’s kids. I remember growing up watching my father working on construction and doing mechanic work as a side hustle and watching my mother take me with her to do all kinds of direct sales companies like Avon, May Kay , Beauty Control etc. As a child it opened my mind to a whole other world of possibilities and earnings.
The first sale I made was at the age of 9. I drew a Little Mermaid picture, colored it and sold it to a student for 15 cents that I used to buy my own candy in our snack store at school. I arrived In Rochester NY at age 11 with my family, a dream of doing better and none of us knew how to speak English at all. When I started school I remember being bullied and/or made fun of since I did not understand anything that was spoken to me. My mom and dad quickly found a job and I would help with my sisters getting them ready for school and setting myself up for school. After my experience with the kids at school and watching my mom and dad continue to push, I told myself I would do the same. Just a few short months after that I could hold up a conversation in English and help translate for my parents. From that point on I started my journey In
Rochester, NY.
I currently have a background in Management, Sales and Training. I have a total of almost 12 yrs of experience in telecom communications and a technical background. As of the present day I have been self employed for two and half years now and love it.
What makes you hustle?
What makes me hustle? That depends on which perspective you’re looking at. Some of the things that make me hustle have always been providing my children everything they need or want. As a child I saw my parents do the same for us. They instilled in us the desire to always want more for our children. Additionally, to provide a good example and foundation they can learn from. Another reason I hustle is to demonstrate and prove that not everything that people presume, or think is going to happen, will happen.
I am a big believer of the phrase “ YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT DEFINE YOU THEY REFINE YOU”. I believe that if women believe that, they could do anything they set their mind and heart to. Lastly, I hustle because I deserve the freedom to be available for my family, I deserve a shot at having something of my own, I deserve the chance to tell my kids I did it and so can you and hope they feel proud of the mom they have.
Tell us a little about your history, your wife and family.
Although my history has not been perfect I am grateful for each experience in life. It has taught me many lessons and has led me where I am today.
I was a young mom with my first child ( a son ) at age 15. My parents, although not happy, were very supportive. I did not have a welcoming attitude from the other side of the family. In fact I was faced with many opinions and other options besides keeping my baby. I made the decision to keep my baby and continue
to go to school and work at the same time. Like many of us, some of my 1st jobs were in retail stores or fast food restaurants to support my child. I was lucky enough that although things did not work with my son we still managed to co-parent. At the age of 16 I notice that i have always had an Interest In the same sex. I was more comfortable and could be myself. Coming from a heavy Religious background this was an absolute no. My parents were always in church and raised us that these feelings were Not ok. I tried telling my parents once and I was terrified. My father was very old school and the perfect example of tough love. My mother was strict and stern in her beliefs as well.
It did not go as I planned. Needless to say I suppressed those feelings and never talked about it and continued life like “ I Should “ the “ Right “ way. By the age of 17 in a half (2004 ) I got married to a man that would show me a whole other world and emotions that I could not have even envisioned. By the time I turned 18 I had already experienced : Isolation from friends, Physical Abuse, Mental Abuse, Humiliations, Disrespect and a broken heart on top of a child made out of the marriage. It was an absolute toxic maze that no matter where I looked I could not get out.
During my years within this marriage I learned what it was to survive on very little to Nothing. I went without eating so i would not take away from my sons food, I knew what it was to walk under snow storms and take off my winter gear to put it on my son so he would be warm, as i carried bags, i walked under 90 degree heat to get my license, i learn to put a smile up for my son so he would know im ok. I learn to make up stories like “Mami got Cool Shiny Hair clips so i don’t have to do my hair to hide 9 staples in my head Or Cool Mummy bandages on my arm so i could play scary mummy with him. You become numb, and Conflicted of your life and what it could have been or whether you did something wrong. Is that person right in any way, shape or form? And all of this as I am hiding many of it from friends and family.
By Age 19 - 20 (2006- 2007 )
I worked up the courage to move out and leave, get my own house start it a better job, To find my self back In that very maze that i had finally stepped out of. This person now has scaled up into a whole new level of uncertainty. Although i had my own place now i experienced stalking, Traspassing in my house through back doors, Walking into a dark house not knowing what would happen when i turn the light on. After so much trying to start over i was back at square 1. It was not until 2011 that the final episode of that fragment of my life played out. That last incident i decide it to fight back. After a bruised face, a black and blue hand print on my neck and several cuts, and Holding on to my fainted breath while still holding on to now child number 2 of 10 months that she would not get hurt. That i fought back, managed to get out the house and finally justice was served. I was giving a stay away order of 5 yrs which with that i could file for divorce. I realize at that moment that Fear hold us back from so many things sometimes. If we just fight back, give your self a chance and believe things might just happen.
Age 25 -26 ( 2012 - 2014 )
i decide to give my self another shot at life, family and happiness. At this point i have trust issues, not confident, scared, and with lots of anxiety. But i try not to allow that to hold me back. I start dating again, after 1 yr in half of this new relationship that start it with support, fun, company and filling the void of loneliness i found my self pregnant again and both of us drifting apart. Personalities were changing, priorities were changing, aspirations were changing and we just did not want the same things. But this time I was not going to live unhappy. I had a decent job, a new residence and my first 2 kids were happy. So we made a decision to co- parent once the baby came and i choose ME this time.
In September 24th 2014
I met the person that would sweep me off my feet, make me smile and Push me to things i would not thought of doing on my own. Today she is who i call My wife, my back bone, Protector, safe place, supporter and BEST FRIEND. My wife is very strong mind it. She has a degree in criminal Law, She currently is not in that field but she is a supervisor of a leading Telecom communications company on a commercial level. She is very chill and driven with everything she does. Although she loves cars, shopping for the latest things, and doing family activities. Her New absolute everything for the last 4 years has been our son. Which we had through IVF after getting married in august 2016. My wife is very
