Women’s History Month Colleague Spotlight: Christel Mendez

Our company is shaped by the contributions of so many talented women every day. During Women’s History Month, we’re partnering with our Empowered Women at Actalent employee resource group to highlight a few of our women colleagues and their career journeys. Today we hear from Christel Mendez , fulfillment executive. Read on to learn more about her story and the marker moments that have shaped her career.

Are there any women leaders who have inspired you in your career journey?

My professional journey has been directly impacted by many women across our organization. These women embody grit, professionalism at its highest level, discipline, and an extreme level of dedication to their field. Ashley Gorazda , Lauren DeMarco-Stadtlander , Katie Heffernan , Bree Brown and many others have mentored and guided me, but most importantly, they have demonstrated that there is space for women here.

Personally, my mother and my grandmother are my biggest inspirations. I watched them immigrate to this country with little knowledge of English and minimal resources, yet they still raised families and changed the trajectory of a generation. I aspire to make as big an impact as they have.

Lastly, I would like to highlight many allies who have inspired and motivated me; individuals like Chris De Angelis , Justin Woods , Christopher Pacchiana , Stuart Ferguson, and Dave Poling . They are advocates and have created safe spaces for me and other females to feel confident and grow.

Have there been any marker moments or stories that have helped shape your career?

Attending my first Leadership Legacy Summit (LLS) was a marker moment in my Allegis Group journey. This was the first moment in my career where I was surrounded by successful individuals who looked like me. We shared our lived experiences both in and out of the office and were met with support and commitment from the executive leadership team. This helped me realize that I was not alone, but also how important it is to create a better path for future generations.

How does someone show up as an ally for women in the workplace?

The first step is understanding why being an ally is important to you. Where does the drive to help come from? This is not a check the box assignment, you have to be passionate about it. After doing that work, it is important to educate yourself on the challenges women face in the workplace (before asking women to explain). Recognize that privilege is power and when used correctly it can have an immense impact. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or say the wrong thing, it will happen (that’s why #1 is so important). Lastly, practice active listening and advocacy.

Women are often over-mentored and under-advocated for. Our allies play a big role in breaking that barrier by mentioning our names in the rooms we are not in.

Know that it will be uncomfortable, but it will be worth it.