Restarting Her Career—Twice!

We’re featuring monthly interviews with IR employees across the globe that demonstrate Ingersoll Rand’s values at work.

Laura Romano, senior manager of data and analytics, shares her experience immigrating to the United States and re-starting her career and the resources that made it possible. Laura is part of the Pricing, Demand Generation and Commercial Excellence organization and a member of a global team solving complex business challenges and leading data transformation for the company.

Laura Romano photo

1. Please share a brief summary of your career path. What is your current role? What do you enjoy most?

I joined Ingersoll Rand in 2013 as a junior financial analyst for the Industrial Technologies & Services (ITS) Americas business, and it changed my life. The opportunity at Ingersoll Rand was just what I needed to highlight what I was capable of achieving after joining the workforce in a new country. After a few years in the finance department, I took a role in operational excellence, solving problems and digging into data and analytics. From there, I joined the services sales enablement team, which gave me a new understanding of the business from the sales perspective.

My current role is senior manager of data and analytics, and it is a great next step after all the different functions I’ve been a part of. This is a global role across all the different businesses, giving me the opportunity to learn how to be a good leader, which is the most exciting part of my work.

 

2. What attracted you to Ingersoll Rand and how long have you been with the company?

I knew an engineer at Ingersoll Rand who shared his positive experiences with the company and I applied for my first role without hesitation. At the end of 2020, I took a management role for data and analytics in another company. At that time, I thought it was the natural and right move for me since I wanted to grow in that space. But not even a year later, I was back at Ingersoll Rand. I am very grateful that I got another opportunity to be back in this company; I missed the people I worked with every day, the culture of belonging and most especially the mentoring circles that helped me become the professional I am today.

 

3. How has your time at Ingersoll Rand helped you grow, personally and/or professionally?

Being able to go from finance to operational excellence to marketing and now data and analytics has given me a broad understanding of the business. I have met so many different people with so much knowledge along the way. On a personal level, having moved here from a different country, it meant that most of my friends were made at work, and I have met some great people. I’m a member of the HOLA inclusion group and love sharing my culture with others who are interested in Hispanic/Latinx leadership and advancement opportunities.

 

4. Tell us about a project you took ownership of or something you led that makes you proud.

When I first took the role in services sales enablement, I was simultaneously helping the testing of a new data and analytics project for ITS. Shortly after, the marketing manager leading that project took an exciting new role within a different business unit in the company, leaving the leadership position of the project open. It was a no-brainer for me to try to fill in her shoes and do my best at leading this data transformation journey. That was one of the best experiences I have had with this company.

 

5. What advice do you have for people to feel like they belong at Ingersoll Rand?

Find your allies, find the people that want to help you grow and achieve your full potential. There are so many people at Ingersoll Rand that will coach you, teach you and guide you along the way.

 

6. Describe the culture at Ingersoll Rand and how you feel included.

I come from a family of immigrants and business owners. My grandparents, on both sides of my family, emigrated from Italy to Argentina after WWI and WWII. They worked hard to start their businesses and provide for their families. That culture of hard work and ownership has always been a part of who I am, so when I hear “acting like owners” it hits home for me. That is why I always find opportunities to learn and grow from people willing to share their knowledge and help you, even if it means taking time from their busy schedule. That mentality to me is what being an owner is. Instead of thinking, “this is not my job,” people at Ingersoll Rand go above and beyond to help others grow, which will in turn help the company grow.

 

7. If you are a member of an underrepresented group, what challenges did you face? How did you overcome them?

I am a proud Latina, born and raised in Argentina, and I came to the US. a little over 10 years ago. My biggest challenge was re-starting my career, but having people who believed in me had the biggest impact in my personal and professional life.

 

8. What are your career goals? How is Ingersoll Rand helping you to achieve them?

My goal has always been continuous learning and growing with every role I am in. If I stop learning, I try to look for projects or assignments that would give me that, and it has always worked in my favor. At Ingersoll Rand, there are formal programs, mentoring circles projects outside of your day-to-day roles that will always give you the opportunity to learn something new.

 

9. What piece of advice would you give to others who are working to achieve their professional goals? 

It is all about learning something new. Don’t be afraid of jumping into a new project that might seem “too big” or “too scary,” to lead or participate, those are the moments where you grow the most. Not every opportunity comes in the way of a new role or promotion, sometimes collaborating with other teams cross-functionally in a company-driven initiative will help you get the experience you need. Make sure you know your priorities and what matters most to you, so you can achieve the work-life balance you desire.

 

We thank Laura for her time, leadership and ownership mindset, as well as many contributions to Ingersoll Rand’s inclusive culture.