Veronica Rodriguez Is an Example at TelevisaUnivision and Beyond

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“Nina, tienes que comer!”

That’s what Veronica Rodriguez’s grandmother would often say to her as she plowed through her homework without taking breaks. When she got home from school, she didn’t change out of her uniform, she didn’t watch television, and she didn’t eat until she got all of the work done. Some things never change.

“My personality is still the same in every aspect of my life,” says the executive vice president, associate general counsel, and global head of corporate mergers and acquisitions at TelevisaUnivision, Inc. There, she’s a hardworking and impactful leader, an example to her peers, and an advocate for Latina lawyers everywhere. She joined the media company in 2021, bringing over 18 years of experience helping global companies adjust to changing market conditions on Wall Street.

But before becoming a shining example to others, Rodriguez didn’t have to look too far to find a role model to emulate. She grew up always wanting to be like her mom, who raised Rodriquez as a single parent while pursuing a PhD and doing it all with a smile on her face.

“You view deals from a different lens in-house. I learned to wear two hats, you’re really a businessperson and you’re a lawyer, and to be successful you have to be both.”

Veronica Rodriquez

Both her mom and dad, political refugees from Cuba, who experienced the loss of their country, their possessions, and their freedom, always told her, “They can take everything away from you, but they can’t take away your knowledge.” Those words, her mom and dad’s constant support, and her mom’s career success inspired Rodriguez to aim high.

And that she did. She went on to attend Rutgers University, her mom’s alma mater, graduating with high honors and getting her law degree from Hofstra University. She began her career at Dewey and LeBoeuf in 2005, engaging in general business law practice, with an emphasis in mergers and acquisitions, securities regulation, corporate finance, and reporting obligations of public companies. 

When Rodriguez first arrived at Dewey and LeBoeuf, she says the biggest challenge she faced was imposter syndrome, feeling like she didn’t belong and wasn’t good enough to be in her role because of where she came from.

“Do you know how many times I was on the phone with really brilliant people, and I knew the answer to issues we discussed, and I didn’t say anything?” she says.

She’s not alone. According to a 2020 KMPG study, seventy-five percent of more than 700 executive women surveyed reported having personally experienced imposter syndrome in their careers. And women of color are doubly ailed by these feelings due to both their gender and ethnicity.

In a white and male dominated industry, where Rodriguez was not a common name and carried unfair assumptions, she also saw how women of color were not assumed to be competent unless they proved it. Despite feeling like she had to work harder than her counterparts, Rodriguez continued to make great strides at the firm and in her career, leaning on the perseverance and grit her mom imprinted on her.

In 2012, she took her expertise to Paul Hastings, where she was recognized in the Legal 500 Private Practice Powerlist as one of the leading M&A lawyers in the US with a specialist focus on Mexico in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. She was also recognized as one of the top 100 female lawyers in the US practicing M&A in Latin America and in the Legal 500 Private Practice Powerlist as a Next Generation Partner in 2019 and a Rising Star in 2020. On top of those achievements, she received the Empire State Counsel designation from the New York State Bar Association for an outstanding pro bono contribution.

In 2021, she decided to step into her current role at TelevisaUnivision, in hopes of serving and giving back to her community by advancing the company’s Latino-focused mission. She says the company, which has been a staple in her household since childhood, has given her a chance to grow in her profession.

“You view deals from a different lens in-house,” she says. “I learned to wear two hats, you’re really a businessperson and you’re a lawyer, and to be successful you have to be both.”

“Right now, TelevisaUnivision is in a transformational period. We’re trying to grow and expand, and to be able to combine two global companies, this role couldn’t have been a better fit.”

Veronica Rodriquez

In the past year, she’s helped the company close a multibillion business combination with Grupo Televisa, creating corporate governance practices for the combined company and setting legal and business strategies. “Right now, TelevisaUnivision is in a transformational period,” she says. “We’re trying to grow and expand, and to be able to combine two global companies, this role couldn’t have been a better fit.”

Internally, the executive also serves as assistant secretary to the TelevisaUnivision board of directors. When the executive isn’t focused on being a strong pillar for Latinos at work, she volunteers her services at nonprofits. She also promotes DEI initiatives as co-chair of the Latin America Sub-Committee at the Vance Center, board member of the Violence Intervention Program, and as a supporter of Abogadas MX and PODER25.

“Innovation is born from ideas, and to get the best ideas you need people in the room with different experiences,” says Rodriguez. “Without a diverse group of people, you cannot innovate, and if you can’t innovate, you can’t compete with others in the industry.” With these efforts, she hopes to “open doors for others that I had such a difficult time opening myself.”

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