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Brenda L. Sanchez-Pineda will never forget her first true introduction to courageous leadership. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Sanchez-Pineda saw the suffering around her. In an effort to bring support and empathy to those around her, then-HR director Sanchez-Pineda met with her CEO Bob Weinstein at Robertet North America. The conversation was not an easy one, and she left unsure of what could be expected in the coming days.
“Three days later, our CEO sent an email sharing a personal story and his strong aversion to racism and optimism for change,” remembers Sanchez-Pineda, who is now senior director of human resources for North America. “I was profoundly moved. I knew I had played a role in his choice to share such a significant narrative with our employees, and I was so impressed with our CEO’s courage and empathy for people who were hurting.”
It was a landmark moment for Sanchez-Pineda, but the senior director has been inspiring those around her for decades. She was able to grow from an administrative assistant role into an HR manager at Avon. She had been serving in an admin role for five years while attending undergrad, and her colleagues had the chance to see a Latina evolving into a new opportunity and leading others in the process.
“I think I gave hope to other admins that they could indeed move up,” Sanchez-Pineda says. “And I had the opportunity to be exposed to many great leaders as well. So many of those women may not know it, but they served as role models for me and other women in the organization.”
Early in her leadership experience, Sanchez-Pineda did her best to stay out of the spotlight. Others had mentioned the commanding presence with which she carried herself—she had even been mistaken for a lawyer during a presentation. But she knew that that presence could carry with it a fair amount of baggage when it came to helping other people open up to her and share their struggles.
If she could change anything, Sanchez-Pineda says she would go back and give herself some grace. That commanding presence didn’t need to be “toned down.” It just needed to be tailored to the right moments: speaking out, taking the initiative, establishing early partnerships, and not being afraid to lead.
Sanchez-Pineda has been able to become the mentor she saw in others earlier in her career. She helped create a mentorship program in partnership with a network of Latina HR professionals, Latinas Rising Up in HR, and she was a contributing author for Latinas Rising Up in HR, Vol. II and the recipient of 2023 Leadership Award.
“I aim to establish mentorship programs that are unfiltered, candid, and ready to equip young women for the demanding hurdles that life and careers may throw in your way.”
Brenda L. Sanchez-Pineda
“I aim to establish mentorship programs that are unfiltered, candid, and ready to equip young women for the demanding hurdles that life and careers may throw in your way,” Sanchez-Pineda says. “I believe many lack the level of intensity and directness that resembles tough love. My goal is to continue to serve as a mentor that will leave participants with unforgettable experiences, where they emerge tougher, and free from any lingering fears or self-doubt.”
At Robertet, Sanchez-Pineda is especially proud of the diversity program she has taken the lead on, initially starting out as a discussion around women in supply chain organizations in 2019, which quickly evolved as the company doubled down on its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
“I think it’s important to point out that these conversations were happening before George Floyd’s murder, as we began a three-year strategy that included training, diversified recruitment processes, advancement opportunities, and pay equity,” the senior director explains. “I am now working on a global scale with our HQ in France to design a DEI plan for our international affiliates.”
Sanchez-Pineda’s growth and evolution, at least initially, can be traced back to the single mother who raised her. It’s no surprise that the HR leader describes her mother as strong and motivational, two qualities she undoubtedly passed on to her child. Sanchez-Pineda’s mother now lives with her, and in many ways, the roles have been reversed. And Sanchez-Pineda is grateful for the way things have played out.
Every Sunday morning, you can find Sanchez-Pineda up two hours before the rest of those in her home, sitting with a cup of freshly brewed Café Bustelo staring at the mountains out her window.
“Most of the time, I just sit in silence and reflect on the blessings in my life and feel grateful for the opportunity to share them with my family,” Sanchez-Pineda says. The senior director has grown so much over the course of her career, but she’ll never forget how far she’s come, and how much more she has to go.
