Q&A with Regina Sheridan, Executive Vice President of People and Culture
Executive Vice President of People and Culture Regina Sheridan shares her career journey and advice for young professionals.
[September 16, 2024]
Tell us about your journey with Libra Group that led you to your current role today.
In graduate school, I studied International Affairs. A classmate suggested I volunteer at an event she thought would interest me. This was the first-ever Concordia Summit in 2011. I volunteered at the Summit and found it incredible and inspiring. I met Concordia’s founders, Nicholas Logothetis and Matt Swift, who later brought me on as an intern. When I graduated from my master’s program, I came to serve as Executive Director at Concordia during its early years. We started as a small team of 4-6 people. I am very proud to have followed Concordia’s growth and to see its impact today.
I later moved to the Libra Social Responsibility team, where we focused on growing and institutionalizing Libra Group’s philanthropic efforts. Before my current role, my last major project was helping transition Libra Social Responsibility into an independent 501(c)(3) foundation, Libra Philanthropies.
Today, I lead our People and Culture team at Libra Group, a role that allows me to work across functions, including our outstanding team of professionals in Libra Group’s global hubs over four continents.
How has your current role evolved?
As the name implies, my role focuses on the people of our Group, an international business group that has 20 subsidiaries predominately focused on 6 key sectors. Along with my colleague Camila, I oversee the flagship Libra Group Internship Program, which is very close to my heart. We provide opportunities to young professionals from around the world to work with different teams across our global ecosystem. They all gather in New York for a week of onboarding and then travel to one of our locations, where they get to experience working for an international company.
My team is passionate about career development and making everyone within the Libra Group ecosystem feel like a part of something bigger. From intern recruitment to creating a solid corporate culture, we aim to set people up for success.
What inspires you the most about leading the Libra Group Internship program?
When you’re around young people, you’re around possibility, energy, creativity, and contagious idealism. Our interns come from over 50 countries with very diverse backgrounds and have already accomplished great things; it’s motivating to think about what they will achieve in the future. I find joy in knowing we play a part in that. On the first day of orientation, interns are nervous and timid. By the time they complete their internship, they walk away more skilled, confident, and focused on their future goals. We hope they return to their home communities, such as Colombia, Greece, and Rwanda, and apply what they’ve learned from our business and philanthropic approach.
What advice would you give young people who are beginning their careers?
Push yourself out of your comfort zone. As someone I really respect says, “nothing of value comes easy.” I always advise our interns that they should expect to sometimes feel challenged and uncertain about how to do things. If you don’t feel uncomfortable at any point, you’re not growing. The more you grow, the more future opportunities open up to you.
How can someone grow and advance their career at Libra Group as you did?
Work hard and be flexible. Identify your superpowers and where you can add value. Libra Group is constantly moving forward and changing. Opportunities will present themselves – perhaps not always in the way that you think.
What keeps you busy outside of work?
My husband and I have three little ones under 7. We are always at a soccer game, recital, or school activity. We also have a big extended family in Mexico, the UK, and the U.S., and we travel often!
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