Meet Training Specialist Bryni Soto

Brytni Soto joined LLNL in 2009 as a recruiting intern for a contract company. Today, she serves as the Training Specialist for Physical and Life Sciences – a role that she describes as being in direct alignment with her passion to support people in their pursuit of career growth.

“I love the opportunity to help people understand the work we do at the Lab; help get them excited about our mission and be a part of their career here,” she said. “Over time, I’ve had the pleasure to work in several directorates; I’ve worked at Site 300, and I’ve pursued several different career paths. The opportunities here have been instrumental in my choice to stay at LLNL and I’m proud to continue to be a part of this amazing workforce.”

Born and raised in Tracy, California, Soto is the oldest child in a large, blended family.

“My family is very close, despite many of us living in different time zones,” she said. “We talk several times a week and prioritize family, faith, and food. Growing up, education was very important to my family. My grandma always told us that knowledge was the one thing in life that no one could take away from us. It has motivated me to complete several degree programs, graduate-level certifications and pursue every opportunity to learn and develop at work, and in my personal life. I hope to continue this legacy of learning in my own family. ?

Soto notes that she has been very fortunate to have had lots of positive role models in her life. “Every person in my immediate family inspires me every day to push through the hard stuff, to love sincerely and to make meaningful memories,” she said, adding “I also have had the privilege to have supervisors here at LLNL who have supported growth opportunities and celebrated wins with me.”

Soto describes herself as very driven and dedicated to the work she does. Despite experiencing situations that were difficult to overcome and times that she questioned her career decisions, she credits a network of confidants that support each other. “Those tough instances have really shaped my desire to lead compassionately,” she said. ?

Soto highlights the pandemic as a pivotal time in her career at LLNL. “What has made LLNL stand out during this difficult time, is the desire to put the workforce first. We have had a voice in how the Lab moves forward; we are shaping our own future and that sets us apart,” she said. “Even though I wasn’t on an assigned task force, I felt represented, and I think that’s what makes LLNL great – when there is a decision to be made, the voices of the workforce are respected and when we speak, it results in action.”

“LLNL has leaned into telecommuting opportunities for our staff to work where they are productive and happy through being an employer that is engaged with their workforce and values our unique perspective,” she added. “It’s the ultimate embodiment of DE&I – that’s why LLNL is a great place to work.”

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are important to Soto for many reasons. “In order to be the best that we can as a person, as an organization, as a culture and as a society; we need to be open to listening and learning about each other,” she said. “Learning leads to compassion, understanding and valuing differences which enrich our lives and make us wiser and stronger. DE&I allows people to offer a perspective where we can work collectively to address issues that alone, we might have missed and give voices to the otherwise voiceless.”

Soto has developed her own words to live by. “Anyone who is close to me has heard me say this at least once, but more likely they hear it often: ‘I reserve the right to reconsider’,” she said. “It was a saying I came up with when I had my daughter that really gave me the power to make a ‘right now’ decision, with the option to reevaluate along the way. It was my way of giving myself permission not to have it all figured out immediately, and if something isn’t working anymore then I have the power to change it.” As time has passed, the motto has remained, and it applies in all aspects of her life.

Soto credits her time at LLNL for helping her develop her personal direction in life. “LLNL has been a conduit for learning and helped me sharpen the tools I needed for personal and professional growth,” she said. “I would tell anyone interested in pursuing a career where they can perform meaningful work and have access to growth opportunities that LLNL is a great place to have a great career.”

Outside of work, Soto values her time as a mother to a four-year-old daughter and a wife. She loves all things Disney – “the ears, the parks, the snacks – all of it!” she said. In addition, her family loves to explore and travel. “We enjoy experiences that allow us to learn about new cultures, eat diverse food and visit some really amazing places.”