Hi there,

I’m Melisa and I’m a Collaboration Catalyst.

A results-driven project management professional with multicultural education and experience.

The facts

  • Born in Paraguay, now living in San Diego, CA

  • Got my first masters in the UK (MSc in Project Management), now working on a MS in Information Systems

  • Bilingual - Spanish is my mother tongue

  • Beyond work, I’m

    • an auntie to the most precious niece on planet Earth

    • a big Formula 1 fan

    • a devoted Conan O’Brien enthusiast

    • a traveler (20 countries and counting!)

    • a dog person

    • a firm believer in Colin Firth as the true Mr. Darcy

    • someone constantly striving for self-introspection and personal growth

Why I call myself a Collaboration Catalyst

I stumbled into the field of project management over 10 years ago, almost by chance, and that’s when I discovered my true professional passion: being the driving force behind getting things done.

Although I’ve been an accountant and an English teacher, when people ask me “What’s your profession?”, I always describe myself as a project manager.

When managing a team I take on various roles - an orchestra conductor, a communicator, a therapist, a trusted partner in crime, a foreseer of roadblocks, a knowledge absorber who synthesizes intricate details into shared understanding, a leader who is not afraid to stick up for integrity, and many others.

What truly excites me is the opportunity to bring diverse components together to achieve a shared objective.

  • Led a USD 1.5 million nationwide project with Paraguay's Central Bank and 17 commercial banks, modernizing a 75-year-old manual process in alignment with country laws.

    Crafted comprehensive project plans from scratch, defining deliverables, outlining scope, schedule, and budget. Coordinated and managed resource allocation for 2000+ action items with over 200+ stakeholders, assigning responsibilities accordingly.

  • Led a 10+ member team overseeing a USD 1M VISA Market Development Fund (MDF) portfolio, managing contract negotiation, operations, legal, marketing, and reporting. Implemented a 5-year plan, overseeing 10K annual POS device commercialization, new business affiliations, and nationwide financial workshops.

  • Managed the creation and rollout of Android mobile apps for secure contactless VISA card payments across 10 commercial banks. Developed and supervised a phased schedule tailored to each bank's needs, ensuring milestone achievement and successful completion.

  • Spearheaded an annual program in close collaboration with the IT, Business, and Operations departments to drive increased product transactions and elevate customer satisfaction levels

  • Planned and implemented project management practices for a key business model change project at an advertising agency.

  • Engaged with over 15K current and prospective customers through multiple communication channels including in-person meetings, phone calls, LiveChat, and email to understand their academic and financial needs to enhance their customer journeys and ensure a memorable experience.

  • Played a role in the ideation, planning, development, and successful launch of an online news media platform in Paraguay

Some of my work

Download my CV

Let’s chat.