Melanie was born and raised in New York with a family of law enforcement officers. From the beginning, she had a fascination with law and international policy.
“I loved learning about policy and human rights in high school. I was fascinated with the international policy and was first exposed to the reality of what was happening abroad through my father, who had worked with the Clinton Administration where they sponsored refugees from Africa. This opened my eyes to ongoing issues in the world as I became interested in how other countries function and how their laws (or lack thereof) are implemented. Live theater was also a stint during this time and it helped me gain confidence when presenting in front of large groups”
After staying in New York for undergrad, Melanie decided to head off to Boston for law school. From there, she found herself back in New York working in the Department of Labor, followed by an opportunity with a Labor Union in California. After seven years there, she continued her practice for a tech startup before she finally found herself at Taco Bell Corp.
“I’ve now been with the brand a little over two years and currently work in the legal department as Global Legal Director, Labor and Employment at Taco Bell, supporting international HR teams, our RSC HR teams and field teams.”
Melanie reports to the Global Chief Legal Officer, who leads a team of mostly women, which came as a shock when Melanie first got to Taco Bell. The industries she previously came from were male dominated.
“Early on in my career, most times, I would be in a room where I was the only woman. It was hard getting used to this and challenging to build confidence, especially when people who had 20+ years of experience were in that same room. I constantly had to remind myself of my worth, even if someone’s perceptions of me were based on my sex or age. I had to focus on showing up in an authentic way, and I let my work speak for itself.”
Melanie said the contrast of her prior experiences with those at Taco Bell helped her understand the importance of women lifting each other up, which isn’t always the norm in competitive fields like legal.
“I joined a predominately female team at Taco Bell, I was nervous due to my prior experiences. But I quickly realized through the interview process and my interactions with the team that the Taco Bell culture and mentality was completely different. Now, I get to be a part of a team that lifts each other up and supports each other in away that I’ve never experienced before. It is truly a group of amazing people.”
While Melanie sits on a team of powerful people at work, she also had trailblazers in her life that she has admired and given her the strength to continue pursuing her dreams.
“Ruth Bader-Ginsburg is my idol. She is such a bada** in all facets, standing on conviction and not caring about unpopular opinions, fighting till the very end for what she believed in. On a personal note, my sister is one of the most authentic people I know. She joined the police force at a young age, had to overcome so many challenges and show her worth in a male-dominated space... so there have been lots of parallels between her path and mine.”
Looking back at her career and the challenges she has faced, Melanie hopes that women everywhere find the courage to feel empowered to do what they want, no matter what society says.
“I have had to tell myself that this life is mine, and mine alone. If it does not fit my wants, then it’s something that I’m not going to entertain because I will do what makes me happy. There is always going to be someone out there commenting on my life and constantly questioning what I’m doing. I had to learn to drown out the noise because you don’t owe it to anyone but yourself to be happy. Someone else’s perception is not your problem because it is an inaccurate representation of your worth. So find a community you can rely on, put on blinders and go follow your passion, because it does not matter how other people make you feel about a certain thing. Stay true to yourself and there will be a light.”