For women, times have always been a life of constantly walking a tightrope, while balancing every aspect of their modern lives like a pro. Modern in the professional sense for working women. Add to it the new-age reality of women with families migrated to the strange lands like the United States of America.
It was the case with Adriana Pirela, from Venezuela. In the United States, Latina executives represent only 1% of C-Suite positions. However, walking every tightrope that came her way like a born pro, Adriana has defied this statistic with her perseverance, achieving the highly sought-after crossover by holding leadership roles in global tech companies like Samsung, BlackBerry, Digicel, and TCL.
According to Adriana Pirela, for women, the narrative of modern life often resembles a high-wire act, demanding a perpetual balancing of multifaceted roles with exceptional skill. This is particularly pronounced for the contemporary working woman, who navigates the demanding terrain of professional life while simultaneously managing the intricate responsibilities of personal and family spheres. The challenges are further compounded for women who have migrated, particularly those with families, to culturally distinct lands like the United States.
The pressure to maintain a sense of cultural identity while integrating into a new society creates a unique set of challenges. Women often become the custodians of their cultural heritage, striving to pass down traditions and values to their children while simultaneously helping them adapt to their new environment. This delicate balancing act requires immense emotional resilience and adaptability, she furthers.
In essence, women in this context are not merely balancing roles; they are constructing a new reality, weaving together threads of their past and present, their professional ambitions and personal responsibilities, their cultural heritage and their adopted home. Their journey is a testament to their resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to building a fulfilling life for themselves and their families, she concludes.
As told earlier, originally from Venezuela, Adriana Pirela faced the similar challenge of breaking into a foreign market with a Venezuelan degree and in an English-speaking country, at a time when few people even knew where Venezuela was. “While women are naturally skilled at multitasking, we all need someone who can offer advice and truly understand the challenges of giving our all to work and family, whether in our home country or abroad,” Adriana says.
Fast forward to the concurrent times, Adriana shines as a symbol of inspiration, embodying a multifaceted role that transcends conventional boundaries and standing at the forefront of a new generation of empowered women. She defines herself as a CMO³, an innovative blend of Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Mama Officer, and Chief Mentoring Officer. This concept reflects her ability to lead, balance motherhood, and contribute actively to her community, redefining what female empowerment means in the 21st century.
Chief Marketing Officer: Global Marketing Leadership & Industry Impact
With over 20 years of experience, Adriana Pirela has led high-impact global campaigns that have reshaped consumer behavior in telecommunications and financial services. From major corporations to startups, she focuses on innovative strategies that drive measurable results.
Her influence in the tech industry has earned her prestigious recognitions, including being named one of the Top 100 Latinas in Tech in the US and Top 100 Fintech Women Worldwide in 2024. As a Latina thriving in a male-dominated field, she not only breaks barriers but also paves the way for other women and Latino professionals entering new markets.
Fractional Leadership: A Smarter Business Approach
Adriana Pirela also champions fractional leadership, a model that allows experienced executives to provide strategic guidance to multiple companies on a part-time basis. This approach enables startups to access top-tier marketing expertise without the cost of a full-time hire. “Fractional leadership gives startups high-impact strategies in an efficient and flexible way,” she explains.
For emerging market companies and Latino-led businesses in the U.S., this model is a game-changer, combining expert guidance with cost-effectiveness. Adriana has embraced it in her work, supporting brands like Brava, a new venture under the ATN International suite, and the latest addition to her growing portfolio of brand launches.
Chief Mama Officer: Balancing family and career
Beyond her professional success, Adriana Pirela has achieved what many consider impossible: balancing a high-level corporate career with motherhood. As a mother of two, one of whom is neurodivergent. Adriana has faced unique challenges. “Being a mother and an executive is not easy, but YES, we can have it all! There’s this false stereotype that pushes women to believe that the two cannot coexist, that to achieve our full professional potential, we must sacrifice the personal and family aspects. That is absolutely NOT true,” Adriana emphasizes.
Adriana strives to balance work and family by actively participating in her son’s therapies, supporting him at every stage, and working closely with her family to navigate daily challenges. More importantly, she focuses on helping him to recognize the unique opportunities that his condition brings to table.
In addition to her personal journey, Adriana is committed to helping other parents in similar situations by ensuring they have access to valuable information and support in their native language. As a Communications and Marketing Advisor to Ancla, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing Spanish-language resources for neurodivergent individuals and their families, she plays a key role in expanding its impact.
Through her work with Ancla and its Venezuelan founder, Angel Reverol—a well-known autistic psychologist and influencer—Adriana Pirela aims to increase awareness and understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), reaching more families in need of guidance and support.
Chief Mentoring Officer: Empowering the next generation
Adriana also dedicates time and effort to mentorship, sharing her knowledge and experience with young professionals and entrepreneurs through platforms like Upnotch.com, where she offers free mentorship sessions. “As women, and especially as Latinas, we face unique challenges. We have to navigate cultural expectations, professional ambitions, and personal lives. Through mentorship, I can help others find their own path to balance and success,” she says.
When Upnotch invited her to join the project, Adriana didn’t hesitate to accept. Today, she is not only part of the platform’s mentor network but also advises Tatia Zuloaga, its leader and co-founder, on marketing strategies to increase the reach of the platform, which will ultimately translate into more free mentorship sessions for those who need them. Her commitment goes beyond established executives and extends to entrepreneurs and startups, particularly those led by Latinos and/or women. “Startups are the heart of innovation, and with the right guidance, we can ensure that more Latino and/or women led companies grow and contribute to our communities,” Adriana explains.