2022
LEADERS Worth Watching
TM
INTERNATIONAL
AWARD
LATINO
Victor Verastegui
Vice President–NYL Direct Head of Insurance Operations
Help the Next Generation of Leaders Reach Their “Dare to Dream” Potential Growing up in a lower-middle-class family, I lived in a world of constraints and perceived obstacles. Like many Latino families, my parents did a great job creating a loving supportive environment, but sharing among four kids required making choices. Fortunately, my parents instilled values in me, such as commitment, accountability, courage, and humility. More important, they taught me how to set priorities and strive to achieve them. The ability to set clear goals and prioritize them has helped me succeed in my career. My top priority is being a good father and husband. I believe that professional success starts in the home. Communication, curiosity, and empathy are required for a strong family life and mirror what is required in a successful career. Having a strong family based on clear communication and clear expectations permits me to dedicate the time required to meet the demands of leading an organization. My second priority is to be a good leader. Trust and relationship-building are fundamental requirements of leadership, requiring an investment in asking questions, listening, and demonstrating empathy. My third priority is to maintain a growth mindset by continuously expanding my knowledge base and skill sets to reach my full potential, and having the courage to accept failures and learn from them. I attribute my success in life to a strong family foundation built on mutual respect, open communication, and active listening, but that is not the case for everyone. Many of my peers I grew up without positive role models, access to resources, or even the luxury of exploring an education, which can often be secondary to the more basic needs of the family. I was also fortunate to have mentors who offered counsel and allowed me to learn from their experiences. Mentorship also offered a mechanism for feedback to ensure I remained on track and focused. Access to strong mentors with shared experiences helped me to appreciate my capabilities and push beyond what I believed possible. From busing tables at age 14 to becoming the head of operations for a Fortune 100 organization was beyond my comprehension. However, foundational support and mentorship allowed my “dare to dream” potential to become a reality. Today’s leaders have an opportunity and responsibility to support the next generation of Latino leaders by getting more involved in mentorship programs and by becoming sponsors. We can offer advice, share experiences, listen to, encourage, and redirect emerging leaders, as they navigate the unfamiliar road to success. Accomplished Latinos are in positions to help close gaps for those who did not have supportive foundational structures. Most important, we should serve as role models and coaches to help others to achieve their full potential.
www.womenworthwatching.com
Education: Bachelor’s degree, business administration–accounting, University of Texas at Austin Company Name: New York Life Industry: Insurance Company CEO: Ted Mathas Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York Number of Employees: 11,000 Your Location: Tampa, Florida Words you live by: Be humble, accountable, and courageous. Who is your personal hero? My father, for instilling in me the importance of family, hard work, and deferred gratification What book are you reading? Knowledge and Decisions by Thomas Sowell What was your first job: Busing tables at a BBQ restaurant Favorite charity: Trevor Project Interests: Fitness, travel, and reading or listening to books Family: My wife, Tina (27 years), and sons, William (26) and Nicholas (21)
2022 First Quarter
65
