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Ricardo Roman, a Peruvian native, began his career in Peru as a fixed income securities head trader in the late 1990s. He could have had a long and successful career in the exciting money and capital markets, but Roman was eager for opportunities to increase business knowledge and face new career challenges.
An MBA program in the US seemed like the right tool to accomplish those goals. Roman, who is now the vice president of finance for the components business at Cummins, has prioritized his continuing education, career development, and above all, his core beliefs.
“I’m a firm believer that education makes you better,” Roman said. “Knowledge is power, and if you apply good judgment, you get good results. That’s how I was educated and why I chose to pursue my master’s in the US. This was the entry door to Cummins, where I have had the opportunity to develop business skills and grow professionally in the corporate finance world.”
Roman recently celebrated his twenty-fourth year at Cummins, a multinational corporation that provides global power solutions. It might seem surprising that a person so intent on lifelong learning would stay at a company for two and a half decades, but Roman doesn’t see it that way.
“Keep in mind, diversity of thought, background, and perspective makes you stronger.”
Ricardo Roman
“I have constant learning opportunities at Cummins that make me feel more well-rounded and capable,” Roman explains. “Through my own development, I can add more value to our company, and this excites and motivates me. Also, a key reason I have stayed at Cummins is that I strongly identify with our company’s values of integrity, teamwork, excellence, caring, and diversity and inclusion. The way we put those values in action makes Cummins a great place to work, grow, and develop.”
Since assuming the VP of finance role in 2024, Roman takes Cummins’ values more seriously than ever. He prioritizes actively demonstrating those values while inspiring others to follow his lead.
As his roles and responsibilities evolved, Roman’s outlook changed significantly. Earlier in his career, Roman often focused on technical results rather than the broader picture, which he says can be critical for individual contributors. But good people leaders also help others grow.
“While I’m obviously still focused on delivering superior results, I’ve learned a lot more about how I help people develop,” Roman says. “I’ve learned about what motivates people and what I can do to help them get to their next level.”
He strives to remove barriers for his employees and to foster people development and career growth. Roman currently has nine mentees at Cummins. He says if you’re hoping for a casual chat and some generic words of encouragement, you’re talking to the wrong guy. He takes a process-oriented approach to mentorship to maximize progress and growth for his mentees.
“Trust is the fundamental aspect of a mentor-mentee relationship. While I’m friendly and helpful, I will also call you out if it doesn’t seem like you’re working to advance yourself.”
Ricardo Roman
First, there is the “get to know you” meeting. At the next meeting, the mentees need to think through areas of improvement or concerns that they and Roman can work on together. They create actionable plans to help mentees start filling gaps in their experience or career development. Throughout this problem-solving process, Roman builds two-way trust, as he measures his mentees’ progress.
“Trust is the fundamental aspect of a mentor-mentee relationship,” Roman said. “If you haven’t taken steps on the areas we’ve talked about a month from now, you’re not holding up your piece of the bargain. While I’m friendly and helpful, I will also call you out if it doesn’t seem like you’re working to advance yourself.”
More broadly, Roman finds other ways to help give back to his organization. He’s active in the Cummins Latino employee resource group (ERG) and has also done speed mentoring for other ERGs.
And for those who may want to emulate Roman’s path, he offers great advice:
“Look at the pros and cons, analyze, and take calculated risks. Without some level of risk taking, it’s hard to progress. It’s important to understand your skills as an asset. Use them to your career advantage and for the benefit of the company. Keep in mind, diversity of thought, background, and perspective makes you stronger.
“I’ve found Cummins to be a place where I can thrive and now motivate and inspire people to do the same. I recommend younger and less experienced employees focus on their goals. Do your research, identify opportunities, and go for it!”
