FINDING HER PASSION

Nadia Lazaro, MBA 2007
Senior Human Resources Representative
CUNA Mutual Group

For Nadia Lazaro, Human Resource Management can be described easily:   “It’s a passion.  Human Resources to me is being a liaison between employee and employer.  It’s about finding that middle ground and marrying the two.  In a way you are an employee advocate and yet you need to understand the company’s goals.  It’s that continuing challenge.  I am an HR Generalist and Manager and that means building relationships, which is exciting.”

Originally from Venezuela, Nadia moved to the United States shortly after finishing her undergraduate studies in Agro-Industrial Management.  While in school she developed an interest for Human Resources, however, continued her management focus because she wanted to focus her learning efforts towards business in order to be a better HR professional.  In 2002, she accepted a position at Tower Hill Insurance Group in Gainesville, FL where she worked as an HR Coordinator and HR Generalist.  After several years work experience in these capacities, she knew that she was ready to expand her functional knowledge of HR and broaden her overall business acumen.  The Wisconsin MBA specialization in Strategic HRM seemed the ideal fit for her as it would provide a topnotch HR program, was located in a city that had job growth opportunities for her husband, and was a great place to raise a family.    "Madison got a check-mark on all 3!"

Nadia joined the program in 2005 and interned with GE Plastics during the summer between her first and second year.  Although she received an offer to join the GE HR Leadership Program, she opted to stay in Madison and has been working for CUNA Mutual Group since her gradation in 2007.  "I was fortunate to find a company that thinks broadly about HR and where the function is truly valued." 

Looking back upon her experience in the program, Nadia reflected that "if I had to describe it in one word, I would say opportunities.  It will accelerate your career, open up opportunities, and make you a better professional.  You will be able to have an impact on the organization right away when you begin.  I enjoy the generalist side of HR and the program has made me a much better HR Partner.”