Acuity Brands is proud to celebrate and recognize our top talent. Each week in March, we will profile a female leader who is lighting the way for our associates, customers, and communities. We sat down with them to find out about their professional motivation and get a glimpse of who they are outside of the workplace.
Lucia Ortiz, Director, Human Resources, has been lighting the way at Acuity Brands for nearly 3 “very intense years.” Like many working parents during the pandemic, Lucia is still trying to balance her work life and home life. In fact, that is the greatest challenge she has ever faced. “Being a mother and finding the right balance between my work and my children’s happiness and expectations. They really don’t care about my title or my obligations; they just want me present in their lives.” This probably hits home for all working parents right now!
Although the pandemic has caused a lot of sorrow and pain, if you look hard enough, you may be able to find a few rays of sunshine trying to peek through. That is exactly what happened to Lucia. This year, in the midst of a pandemic, Lucia was promoted and tasked with overseeing the entire HR Operations for Mexico. Since she began with Acuity Brands, she positioned herself to tackle roles that prepared her to lead the HR team. “It is a big job, and I’m so happy they trust me to have this new role,” said Lucia.
Speaking of trust, having the ability to trust others is a trait Lucia believes every leader should have. “Leaders should trust in others and try to bring the very best out of everyone. The best leaders I have known in my career are those who took the time to know me, and that helped uncover my strengths that I didn’t even see in myself.”
To all the women leaders, Lucia leaves you with this piece of advice: “Do not self-sabotage yourself! Never question your ability to accomplish anything you want to do. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Believe in yourself and work hard to achieve your goals!”
What’s work without a little bit of play? Take a minute to enjoy these fun tidbits about Lucia!
Who are the 3 greatest living musicians, and why?
Michael Bublé, his songs are very romantic, and he’s great singer. Bruno Mars because I love his rhythm and coolness. And finally, a Mexican artist, Alejandro Fernandez. He has been my crush since I was 15 years old. Give him a try if you like romantic Mexican music!
If you could travel, where would you go and why?
Definitely Paris! I can't help it, I'm a romantic. The food, the ambiance, the people, the language, everything!
What would you do if you were invisible?
If I were invisible, I would travel to as many places as I could for free! Being able to enjoy the breathtaking sights and sounds around the world offered without a price tag, thanks to my magical powers, would be amazing.
