It’s no secret that our colleagues are the key to Perficient’s success. We have some of the best and brightest people in the industry who make a difference for our partners, clients, and communities. By embracing a culture of continuous learning and professional growth, we’re enabling colleagues to advance their skillset and build a foundation for their future. We recently sat down with Carolina Contreras Landinez, based in Bogotá, Colombia, who is celebrating her second year as a Senior HR Business Partner (HRBP).
With an impressive 11-year tenure at Perficient (formerly PSL), she has cultivated a career deeply rooted in mentorship, leadership, and people-first growth strategies. Continue reading to learn more about her experience in Human Resources, passion for learning, and how she embraces Perficient’s People Promise by celebrating the success and development of her teams.
READ MORE: Learn About Perficient’s Award-Winning Growth for Everyone Programming
Carolina’s Career Journey: Paving the Way for Career Development
Before transitioning to her current position at Perficient, Carolina gained valuable knowledge through community building and academic partnerships. Prior to joining Perficient through an acquisition, she worked as the Lead of Outstanding People at a software development company.
She led initiatives through alliances with deans and directors from various fields, including software and systems engineering, mathematics, and data and computer science. She supported interns by organizing boot camps and immersion days with engineers across different practices.
“I managed the internship process every semester hand-in-hand with the deans and directors of the above-mentioned careers with the sole purpose of finding the best talent,” said Carolina. “We helped them in their professional growth and created an environment where the growth of teams with such talented people could be seen.”
Her responsibilities centered around providing early-career professionals with hands-on learning experience and an understanding of what to expect when joining a large tech company. She also taught both men and women the importance of learning a second language, such as English, to enhance their future professional development. This helped to close the gender gap in the field by increasing educational availability for people from all backgrounds.
Carolina led and participated in PSL Software Girls, a group dedicated to closing the gender gap in STEM education. In collaboration with PSL Software Girls, she traveled to different schools, universities, and community events to share more about technology and why it’s important to study STEM. Since joining Perficient, Carolina has remained involved in the Latin America chapter of the Women in Technology (WiT) Employee Resource Group (ERG). Through mentorship and knowledge-sharing events, she continues to inspire future professionals to dive deep into the world of advanced technology.
READ MORE: Discover How Perficient is Fostering Career Growth Through Women in Technology
Setting the Stage for Colleague Career Growth
Now, as a Senior HRBP, Carolina works closely with line managers to align their strategies with their business unit’s (BU) overarching goals, ensuring teams thrive through effective leadership development and talent management. A crucial part of Carolina’s responsibility involves investigating, advising, and guiding line managers through complex people-related challenges.
“My team and I develop and implement initiatives that help the business units challenge, champion, and celebrate its people. HR Business Partners investigate and resolve difficult people-related issues, advocate for colleagues and leaders, and work with leaders and line managers to develop recommendations to help drive engagement and retention. What I enjoy the most is the opportunity to meet and talk to so many people every day, even from other countries, with the purpose of making every minute they spend at Perficient enriching while also adding value to their life and work.”
Due to her strong passion for learning, Carolina found incredible value in hearing advice from others who have advanced their careers. To navigate her own professional development, she reached out to leaders within her field for guidance on leadership and career growth.
After experiencing the impact firsthand, she began prioritizing giving back and sharing her experiences with others. She felt a deep sense of fulfillment by helping her peers succeed. Through mentoring, Carolina has developed a heightened ability to listen and understand others, guiding them in meaningful ways to help them find their own paths forward.
“On a professional level, I feel a lot of satisfaction when I am able to help people, leaders, and teams learn from a situation or solve a problem, thus becoming better leaders and human beings. It is very rewarding to feel that I have made a difference in someone’s day. Thanks to my vocation for supporting leaders in their development process, I have had the opportunity to mentor different people, which has been a very enriching experience.”
Carolina’s Advice: Career Development and Charting Growth Opportunities
As someone who continuously seeks opportunities to improve, Carolina actively engages in new learning paths, networking, mentoring, and taking on challenges. Developing strong emotional intelligence has allowed her to manage difficult conversations, navigate change, and positively support her team.
She acknowledges that career growth is not always a smooth process, and there are moments of frustration, setbacks, and unexpected obstacles. Remaining positive in the face of adversity and having the courage to propel yourself forward makes a world of difference.
Take a look at Carolina’s career advice for charting your personal growth journey:
- Continuous Training: I work closely with the operations team to promote courses and workshops related to not just my role, but the entire company. This allows me to acquire new skills and keep up to date with industry trends.
- Networking: I attended industry events and conferences where I met professionals from different areas. This not only expanded my network but also gave me valuable perspectives on professional growth and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) careers.
Mentoring: I sought out mentors within the company who could guide me. Their advice and experiences were critical to better understanding the opportunities available and how to take advantage of them.
- Challenging Projects: I volunteered to participate in projects that were out of my comfort zone. This not only helped me learn but also demonstrated my willingness to take on new challenges.
- Constructive Feedback: I ask continuously for regular feedback from my leaders and colleagues, allowing me to identify areas for improvement and work on them proactively.
- Goal Setting: Constantly setting clear and achievable goals for my professional development has helped me stay focused and motivated.
Carolina works through challenges with a collaborative demeanor, striving to see the silver lining in each situation. Radiating positivity and open communication contributes to an environment where everyone feels supported and heard.
“The growth I have experienced in both my personal and professional life has been immense. The challenges and difficult moments that I’ve overcome helped me develop patience and tolerance, making me more aware of what it means to work with people. When you promote empathy, dialogue, and win-win solutions, you can learn from and with each other to fulfill our promise to challenge, champion, and celebrate our people on a daily basis.”
READ MORE: Learn Key Career Development Insights and Advice From Perficient Colleagues
Teeing Up for Success: Additional Tips and Tricks on Navigating Challenges
With more than 15 years of experience supporting professional development, Carolina shared that one of the most valuable life lessons is developing patience and empathy. She emphasizes the importance of withholding judgement and recognizing that every person carries their own struggles, fears, and dreams. We’re each on a unique path of self-development and personal progress. Understanding different perspectives has helped her foster stronger relationships and guide other professionals toward success.
“Being able to listen, understand, and reflect the emotions or tone of a person‘s input helps me to better engage and create a more personalized experience, which in turn makes interactions more meaningful.”
Emotional resiliency is another major factor in personal growth. Carolina shares that it’s essential to tolerate frustration and not let setbacks define one’s career path. With the right mindset, even the most challenging situations can lead to positive outcomes. Having the courage to be yourself and never compromise your principles, values, and beliefs is a strong way to achieve long-term success – both personally and professionally.
“Do not to be afraid to learn from everything and everyone. Soak in the culture of the company, love what you do, and develop a high tolerance for frustration. In any career path, you can encounter people, situations, and moments that frustrate you. That is a part of the journey. The more you think positively, the better it will be.”
Making a Difference in the Community
Carolina shines at Perficient, mentoring colleagues, guiding leaders, and building strong team bonds. Her active role in Perficient’s Women in Technology ERG drives inclusion, leadership growth, and career advancement for women in tech.
She is also incredibly passionate about supporting others in their leadership journeys and tackling new challenges. She eagerly attends industry conferences to broaden her knowledge and network, all while championing career growth opportunities and inspiring women to pursue tech careers.
Beyond her professional life, Carolina treasures the 15 years with her husband, Milcho, and enjoys spending time with her dog, Zamo Libardo. Her family has profoundly shaped who she is today, and she finds joy in her lifelong love for animals.
“My greatest motivation is my two loves in life, my husband, Milcho, and my dog, Zamo Libardo. They are the engines of my life, together with my parents and my family. I love animals, and I feel that mankind is indebted to them. Every day I try to help those who have no voice.”
Perficient continually looks for ways to champion and challenge our workforce, encourage personal and professional growth, and celebrate the unique culture created by the ambitious, brilliant, people-oriented team we have cultivated. These are their stories.
Learn more about what it’s like to work at Perficient on our Careers page. Connect with us on LinkedIn here.
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