Today we’d like to introduce you to Fiorella Melloh.
Hi Fiorella, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Im originally from Lima, Peru. I came to the USA when I was 18 years old. At first my English was basic and It took me a while to get used to the American culture since I was pretty much born and raised in Lima. I was also in the third semester of the university when I came to visit my parents who decided to settled in Florida in the pursue of the American dream. However, my grandmother from my mom side passed away and from that point on it was hard for me and my sister to stay by ourselves in Peru. This is when my parents decided that we had to stay in Florida so we could be together. When I was 20 I got married but decided to continue my studies. I was able to transfer Peruvian university credits into American university credits so it only took me another year to complete my business administration degree. I graduated with a Bachelors on 2008 and then obtained a Masters in Communications in 2012. Things didn’t workout in my personal life so decided to go on separate ways. After that I started my Banking career and have been in Banking ever since. I also lived in New York for 5 years away from my family who currently still live in Florida. Those 5 years were some of the most difficult years in my life. It was another cultural shock to move so far away but I saw it as a career sacrifice that would Pay off in the long run. New York taught me to be stronger and also was able to meet my true soulmate who is now my husband. I recently moved back to Florida to be closer to my family and settle down. My work experience in New York helped me gain that financial stability that most young recent grads dream off. I’m now a Vice President at JP Morgan Chase. Sometimes when I look back at my early years I never thought I would get this far. Despite working in the Corporate World, I have an entrepreneurial spirit. Me and my Husband started pet sitting for the past 3 years. We love animals and enjoy their company. We always treat them like they are family. This side project made me realized how much I would love to have something of my own. I think we never stop learning and craving for the next challenge. Last year was a great year because I had the wedding of my dreams and we traveled to Kenya and Tanzania for our Honeymoon! It was definitely a dream come true. Never listen to someone who tells you that your dreams are impossible. I truly believe that manifestation and working towards what you want is the key to success.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life is never easy. There are always those bumps and hard times. I think being separated from your own surroundings from what you are used to be placed in a completely different culture, language and setting is very hard. I sometimes think what my life would have been if I would have stay in Peru. I had a life built there with friends and other relatives that I don’t speak or see anymore.
Then having to move from city to city is also hard. You can make really good friends in one place but sometimes you lose the connection because life goes on and people get busy. Also for me learning to be independent was hard. I was so attached to my parents that I missed them so much at first. But realized that was part of growing up. Back on 2019 when I was living in New York I had a car accident. Who would have thought that while crossing the street on my way from work to my apartment a car didn’t see me and when he was backing out into the main road he hit me. This was probably the worst time in my life. I was in shock, depressed and devastated. I had to go to therapy to heal physically and mentally. Even 2 years after the accident I’m still healing. Likely, I’m here to tell my story. This was a life event that change my life and the way I think about life. I always thought nothing bad will happen to me but the truth is sometimes unexpected things happen which can shake you to help you grow and learn something new. Life is not perfect. Sometimes we have good times and sometimes we have bad times. All we can do is learn and keep moving forward.
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 currently work as a Vice President at JP Morgan Chase in the Data Delivery Home Lending space. I focus on managing technical projects related to different types of client data thru the various bank system applications.
I am pretty agile and have a mentality of figuring things own. I work well with others and I’m a team player.
Previously, I worked as a consultant in New York and had the opportunity to support different prestigious international Banks in the city. I think my years of experience in New York gave me the expertise and confident needed to be a strong and competitive candidate.
I am proud of my hard work throughout my career and profesional work ethic. Working with different companies allowed me to be flexible and adapt to change.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I know a lot of people talk about having a mentor in their careers. I never had one. However, I always asked questions and reached out to people who I knew could offered me some advice. I remembered before I decided to apply for jobs in New York or even started thinking of moving there I reached out to some of my friends who were in the industry and some of them referred me to other friends. This way I got a sense of what to expect and helped me to make good decisions. If you really want something, sometimes you have to do your own research, ask questions, reach out to people and never give up.
Contact Info:
- Email: Orellafab@gmail.com
- Instagram: Orellafab
- Facebook: Orellafab
- Other: https://r.rover.com/eAN9TQ
