Today we’d like to introduce you to Melina Carrillo.
Hi Melina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Huaraz, Peru in 1970. When I was 6 weeks old, my hometown was destroyed by an earthquake, two hours after the catastrophe. I was rescued alive. 70,000 people died, and not too many babies survived. Huaraz is a small city surrounded by snow mountains and located at 10,000 feet above sea level. When I was 10 years old, I was involved in a deadly car accident, three passengers died inside a Volkswagen beetle.
I survived with no injuries. One of the passengers was my mother, she passed away. My life completely changed after this sad event. A year later after the accident, I joined my school chorus. I was one of the five kids who were selected to sing Christmas songs. We end up recording three albums with records on sales our first year. We were on TV and radio shows in Peru. I became famous in my hometown but I didn’t know. I realized this later in life.
I finished high school when I was 15 years old and moved to the capital city right after. Studied accounting at a private university and worked as an accountant for about 8 years. I became a vegetarian when I was 22 years old. My entire family became vegetarian influenced by my father who become a Hare Krishna. We are all still vegetarian.
I was married by 27 and got a divorce when I turn 30. I used to work for my ex-husband and end up jobless. It was 2000, a critical moment in Peru.
The economic and political crises made me move to America, all I had was $800, My first job was selling lemonade at Bayside Market place, three weeks later I was promoted to a server. Later took a job as a server on a brand new yacht. My goal was to have a degree in America. Joined FIU in 2006 and finished a Masters’s in Hospitality management in 2008 with a great GPA.
Worked for 11 years at the Hyatt Regency Miami in different management positions. looking for a better schedule and pay made me move back to the yacht company joining the sales department where I currently work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My life hasn’t been easy since I lost my mother at 10. we were 4 children, being the oldest made me very independent.
I also suffer from partial hearing loss, some people think I don’t speak English when I cannot hear what they are saying. This has been challenging performing any job or being in any social setting. I am looking forward to getting hearing aids one day.
Leaving in the US with no family has been challenging, especially when it comes to special dates such as Christmas, birthdays, or any holiday.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work in sales at one of the bests Yacht Charter companies in South Florida. I mostly work with hotel partners, destination management companies, and brokers.
Due to my hotel experience, I focus on booking corporate events. I love my job, I am able to create experiences for local guests and groups coming to Miami, they are able to enjoy food and drinks with the beautiful views of the Miami waters and the Biscayne Bay.
I am currently leading in sales at the company and I am sure I will continue moving the numbers up.
So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me at work is to keep learning and evolving, things keep changing quickly. If I keep thinking or acting the same way, nothing will improve personally or professionally.
I constantly have to remind myself not to take things for granted and appreciate what I have. Try to see value and beauty in people and things.
