Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey to date.

My career hasn’t evolved in a vacuum; it’s been shaped by the life I’ve lived outside of work, the challenges that stretched me, and the moments that forced me to grow in ways I never anticipated. Before I ever found my footing at GoDaddy, my wife and I were navigating a deeply personal journey—one marked by loss, hope, and the decision to build our family through foster care and adoption. The resilience we developed through that experience didn’t just transform our home; it changed how I show up professionally. It taught me patience, empathy, and the importance of fighting for people when the path isn’t easy. My story is a reminder that the strengths we bring to our careers often come from the hardest chapters of our lives, and that personal healing and professional growth are more connected than we sometimes realize.

My wife and I met at a crossroads, both bearing the scars of previous marriages. I walked in with a daughter—a little miracle. My wife, conversely, arrived carrying the heavy silence of infertility, her own dreams of motherhood crushed by biology.

We were two people with empty arms, staring down a future that felt terrifyingly quiet. But where biology closed a door, love kicked one open. We decided that if we couldn’t make a family, we would build one. We spent 11 weeks in parenting classes, learning the logistics of foster care, clinging to the fragile hope that one day, we might be called “Dad” and “Mom” together.

Thirteen months later, the silence of our home was shattered—beautifully.

It happened in a whirlwind. First, we were entrusted with two brothers from a rough corner of West Phoenix. Shortly after, their baby brother arrived. Almost overnight, we went from raising one child to four. Then, fate offered us one more chance to serve: a young, single mother in crisis. We walked her through her pregnancy, and when she couldn’t stay, her son remained. We grew to a family of seven.

We adopted all four boys. We signed the papers, changed their names, and promised them forever. But we quickly learned that you cannot simply love away the past; you have to walk through the fire with them.

We didn’t just adopt children; we adopted a mission to heal. We immediately surrounded them with therapists, services, and unwavering advocacy. We fought for their smiles, their sanity, and their futures.

Today, the house is no longer quiet. It is loud with the chaotic, beautiful noise of healing. We are a family forged not by blood, but by the refusal to give up on each other. Our lives were forever changed, turned upside down and inside out, but looking at them now—safe, loved, and home—we know it was all for the good.

When it comes to my career, there was a point in my GoDaddy journey when I genuinely considered walking away. After transferring into the Server department, I felt completely out of my depth. The technology didn’t click, no matter how hard I tried, and I spent more than a year feeling like I was wearing down everyone’s patience with my constant questions. It was an isolating and humbling season.

Everything shifted after my ADHD diagnosis. Finding the right medication was like flipping a switch—suddenly the information that once slipped through the cracks finally stuck. That clarity changed everything. To go from feeling lost and overwhelmed to now writing the documentation that helps others succeed has been one of the most meaningful turnarounds of my career.

How do you balance proactive planning with those unexpected fires that pop up in your role?

I come to work with a singular focus: to deliver my absolute best. My competitive advantage is planning. I ensure I’m completely dialed in on any incidents or roadblocks before I even clock in, so I never start on the back foot. This level of preparation allows me to attack the day with confidence and clarity.

How do you keep yourself motivated and inspired in your work?

At my core, my family is my “why.” They are the fuel for every challenge I tackle and the reason I strive for excellence every day.

My journey has been anything but ordinary. I’ve stood between the pipes as a semi-pro ice hockey goalie, where I learned to handle pressure, and I’ve educated minds globally as a zoology teacher, sharing a love for the natural world. For the last 11+ years, I have channeled that same energy into my career at GoDaddy.

I rely on a blend of learned generosity and a genuine zest for life to stay motivated. My background in athletics and martial arts instilled in me an unshakeable focus—the discipline to keep my eyes on the prize, regardless of the chaos around me. But it is my role as a father to children with special needs that has sharpened my professional edge. I have learned that while passion starts the project, it is unwavering consistency and routine that delivers the results. I bring that same dedication, structure, and heart to everything I do.

I’m incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a supportive team, including my leadership.

I’ve honestly never worked with a better group of people, and their support makes navigating my role so much easier.

How has your personal journey shaped the way you approach your work?

I approach my professional life with the same relentless spirit I pour into my family: with passion, dedication, and the deep satisfaction of a job well done. I have learned that true patience is a skill forged through experience, not just a personality trait. My goal is to bring that hard-won perspective and calm demeanor to every single customer interaction, ensuring that I meet their needs with the same care, persistence, and steady hand that I apply to the rest of my life.

If you had to describe GoDaddy’s culture in one word, what would it be and why?

Support. I have learned that true leadership isn’t just about managing work; it’s about supporting people. In this regard, I have been incredibly lucky. My leadership has made an indelible impact on my life, offering grace and understanding when I’ve needed it most. Raising a family with complex needs requires flexibility, and on multiple occasions, I have had to step away to tend to my children. Every single time, I am met with unwavering support.

In my honest opinion, this team is the best of the best. They have transcended the titles of “managers” or “bosses”, “colleagues” or “cohorts” to become true friends and allies. I say this with absolute certainty: I would not still be at GoDaddy today if it weren’t for their compassion. To J, S, and B —thank you for standing by me so I could stand by my family.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

After everything we have been through, we have learned to breathe deeply and embrace the joy of simply living. We fill our days with movement and discovery—hiking, fishing, and taking road trips to connect with our roots in my wife’s home of Minnesota and my native California. We made a vow to flood our children’s lives with positive experiences, to show them a world that is bigger and brighter than the one they came from. And looking at them now, I believe it has made all the difference.

Our children have grown into incredible individuals. Our daughter is building her own life in California with her boyfriend. Our oldest son is serving in the Army, stationed in Germany. In a twist of fate that makes us smile every time we think about it, our middle son has also enlisted and is heading to the exact same base in Germany. To know they will be together, brothers in arms and in life, is a comfort beyond words.

Our younger boys are thriving in their own arenas. While our son with autism still navigates daily challenges with social cues and understanding the nuances of the world, he has found his freedom on the field. He is a phenomenal athlete, channeling his energy into football, rugby, and track. Our youngest is also a stellar athlete, having spent nine years on the baseball diamond, dominating as a club-level pitcher.

Sports have become a cornerstone of our family culture; teaching them self-discipline, teamwork, and the vital lesson of working towards the greater good rather than just personal glory.

For all the travel and touchdowns, the best moment of the week is the simplest one. Every Friday night, the world stops. We order pizza, put on a movie, and just be. It is our time to exhale, to look around the room at this family we fought so hard to build, and feel nothing but gratitude. We are together. We are home.

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You’re more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

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Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey to date.

My career hasn’t evolved in a vacuum; it’s been shaped by the life I’ve lived outside of work, the challenges that stretched me, and the moments that forced me to grow in ways I never anticipated. Before I ever found my footing at GoDaddy, my wife and I were navigating a deeply personal journey—one marked by loss, hope, and the decision to build our family through foster care and adoption. The resilience we developed through that experience didn’t just transform our home; it changed how I show up professionally. It taught me patience, empathy, and the importance of fighting for people when the path isn’t easy. My story is a reminder that the strengths we bring to our careers often come from the hardest chapters of our lives, and that personal healing and professional growth are more connected than we sometimes realize.

My wife and I met at a crossroads, both bearing the scars of previous marriages. I walked in with a daughter—a little miracle. My wife, conversely, arrived carrying the heavy silence of infertility, her own dreams of motherhood crushed by biology.

We were two people with empty arms, staring down a future that felt terrifyingly quiet. But where biology closed a door, love kicked one open. We decided that if we couldn’t make a family, we would build one. We spent 11 weeks in parenting classes, learning the logistics of foster care, clinging to the fragile hope that one day, we might be called “Dad” and “Mom” together.

Thirteen months later, the silence of our home was shattered—beautifully.

It happened in a whirlwind. First, we were entrusted with two brothers from a rough corner of West Phoenix. Shortly after, their baby brother arrived. Almost overnight, we went from raising one child to four. Then, fate offered us one more chance to serve: a young, single mother in crisis. We walked her through her pregnancy, and when she couldn’t stay, her son remained. We grew to a family of seven.

We adopted all four boys. We signed the papers, changed their names, and promised them forever. But we quickly learned that you cannot simply love away the past; you have to walk through the fire with them.

We didn’t just adopt children; we adopted a mission to heal. We immediately surrounded them with therapists, services, and unwavering advocacy. We fought for their smiles, their sanity, and their futures.

Today, the house is no longer quiet. It is loud with the chaotic, beautiful noise of healing. We are a family forged not by blood, but by the refusal to give up on each other. Our lives were forever changed, turned upside down and inside out, but looking at them now—safe, loved, and home—we know it was all for the good.

When it comes to my career, there was a point in my GoDaddy journey when I genuinely considered walking away. After transferring into the Server department, I felt completely out of my depth. The technology didn’t click, no matter how hard I tried, and I spent more than a year feeling like I was wearing down everyone’s patience with my constant questions. It was an isolating and humbling season.

Everything shifted after my ADHD diagnosis. Finding the right medication was like flipping a switch—suddenly the information that once slipped through the cracks finally stuck. That clarity changed everything. To go from feeling lost and overwhelmed to now writing the documentation that helps others succeed has been one of the most meaningful turnarounds of my career.

How do you balance proactive planning with those unexpected fires that pop up in your role?

I come to work with a singular focus: to deliver my absolute best. My competitive advantage is planning. I ensure I’m completely dialed in on any incidents or roadblocks before I even clock in, so I never start on the back foot. This level of preparation allows me to attack the day with confidence and clarity.

How do you keep yourself motivated and inspired in your work?

At my core, my family is my “why.” They are the fuel for every challenge I tackle and the reason I strive for excellence every day.

My journey has been anything but ordinary. I’ve stood between the pipes as a semi-pro ice hockey goalie, where I learned to handle pressure, and I’ve educated minds globally as a zoology teacher, sharing a love for the natural world. For the last 11+ years, I have channeled that same energy into my career at GoDaddy.

I rely on a blend of learned generosity and a genuine zest for life to stay motivated. My background in athletics and martial arts instilled in me an unshakeable focus—the discipline to keep my eyes on the prize, regardless of the chaos around me. But it is my role as a father to children with special needs that has sharpened my professional edge. I have learned that while passion starts the project, it is unwavering consistency and routine that delivers the results. I bring that same dedication, structure, and heart to everything I do.

I’m incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a supportive team, including my leadership.

I’ve honestly never worked with a better group of people, and their support makes navigating my role so much easier.

How has your personal journey shaped the way you approach your work?

I approach my professional life with the same relentless spirit I pour into my family: with passion, dedication, and the deep satisfaction of a job well done. I have learned that true patience is a skill forged through experience, not just a personality trait. My goal is to bring that hard-won perspective and calm demeanor to every single customer interaction, ensuring that I meet their needs with the same care, persistence, and steady hand that I apply to the rest of my life.

If you had to describe GoDaddy’s culture in one word, what would it be and why?

Support. I have learned that true leadership isn’t just about managing work; it’s about supporting people. In this regard, I have been incredibly lucky. My leadership has made an indelible impact on my life, offering grace and understanding when I’ve needed it most. Raising a family with complex needs requires flexibility, and on multiple occasions, I have had to step away to tend to my children. Every single time, I am met with unwavering support.

In my honest opinion, this team is the best of the best. They have transcended the titles of “managers” or “bosses”, “colleagues” or “cohorts” to become true friends and allies. I say this with absolute certainty: I would not still be at GoDaddy today if it weren’t for their compassion. To J, S, and B —thank you for standing by me so I could stand by my family.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

After everything we have been through, we have learned to breathe deeply and embrace the joy of simply living. We fill our days with movement and discovery—hiking, fishing, and taking road trips to connect with our roots in my wife’s home of Minnesota and my native California. We made a vow to flood our children’s lives with positive experiences, to show them a world that is bigger and brighter than the one they came from. And looking at them now, I believe it has made all the difference.

Our children have grown into incredible individuals. Our daughter is building her own life in California with her boyfriend. Our oldest son is serving in the Army, stationed in Germany. In a twist of fate that makes us smile every time we think about it, our middle son has also enlisted and is heading to the exact same base in Germany. To know they will be together, brothers in arms and in life, is a comfort beyond words.

Our younger boys are thriving in their own arenas. While our son with autism still navigates daily challenges with social cues and understanding the nuances of the world, he has found his freedom on the field. He is a phenomenal athlete, channeling his energy into football, rugby, and track. Our youngest is also a stellar athlete, having spent nine years on the baseball diamond, dominating as a club-level pitcher.

Sports have become a cornerstone of our family culture; teaching them self-discipline, teamwork, and the vital lesson of working towards the greater good rather than just personal glory.

For all the travel and touchdowns, the best moment of the week is the simplest one. Every Friday night, the world stops. We order pizza, put on a movie, and just be. It is our time to exhale, to look around the room at this family we fought so hard to build, and feel nothing but gratitude. We are together. We are home.

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You’re more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

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At Henkel, our pioneers are driven by an unwavering spirit to explore, create, and transform possibilities into progress and improve life for generations to come. Learn their stories.

In this story, you will discover:

• Introducing Jen Rivera: A leader who empowers others to be innovators
• Putting the Care in Laundry Care: Jen and her team are driving innovation and growth with purpose
• Leading Beyond the Lab: Volunteer activities can build bonds in and out of the workplace
• The Roots of Caring: Jen’s values have inspired her work ethic and mentorship approach

Introducing Jen Rivera:

Jen Rivera, Director of Research and Development for Laundry Cleaning at Henkel North America, brings purpose and passion to every facet of her work. From advancing Henkel’s iconic brands, including all®, Persil® and Purex®, to investing in her team and community, Jen pushes boundaries to embody what it means to be a pioneer for good and make a tangible difference for consumers.

Jen shares what inspires her to be a pioneer for good

Putting the Care in Laundry Care

As part of the leadership team for research and development across Henkel’s laundry portfolio, Jen focuses on transforming products with a purpose-driven mindset. Her mission is to ensure Henkel’s laundry brands are the preferred choice for consumers seeking quality and trust.

On all® free clear, we are the technology leader in the sensitive skin care space. Our product is the top choice for consumers with sensitive skin needs and the #1 recommended laundry brand by healthcare practitioners.

Jen Rivera, Director of Research and Development for Laundry Cleaning at Henkel North America

Behind these accomplishments is a team culture of belonging and shared purpose. Jen strives to create an environment where colleagues feel welcomed, heard, and encouraged to share ideas freely.

Leadership is about listening to your team and understanding their needs so that we can collectively solve problems. My goal is to promote a culture of safety and comfort that empowers others to bring new ideas and innovate.

Jen Rivera, Director of Research and Development for Laundry Cleaning at Henkel North America

Leading Beyond the Lab

Jen’s leadership philosophy has been shaped by mentorship throughout her career. Her relationships with mentors and mentees have helped her navigate career growth, combat workplace stigmas, and learn valuable lessons to pass along to the next generation of innovators. Today, Jen actively mentors young professionals and speaks at events like UConn Stamford Business School and the Society of Women in Engineering, inspiring the future of STEM talent.

Cultivating empowerment is central to Jen’s mentorship philosophy and that starts with creating shared experiences beyond the workplace. Last year, Jen organized a volunteer day at the Ronald McDonald House, a home for families with children undergoing medical treatments at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut, where her team spent the day cooking and serving lunch.

Through this event, we grew closer as a team. We shared a purpose for helping others that we brought back into our professional relationships.

Jen Rivera, Director of Research and Development for Laundry Cleaning at Henkel North America

The Roots of Caring

Jen’s commitment to compassion began in childhood. Growing up playing sports, her dad was her biggest fan, cheering her on at every game. To show her appreciation, Jen brought her dad to a soccer match in Hartford, CT, where Henkel hosted an employee event as part of its sponsorship with U.S. Soccer Federation.

This blend of gratitude and sportsmanship has inspired Jen to give back, leading her to coach a Special Olympics volleyball team. The experience taught her important lessons, including compromise and communication, that she applies daily in the lab.

Motivated by experiences inside and outside the workplace, Jen is dedicated to leading with care. By creating shared moments, uplifting her team, and passing along lessons learned, she encourages others to embrace innovation and drive positive change.

KeyBank’s Key4Women program will host a free virtual webinar on March 4 aimed at helping women strengthen their financial confidence through practical, real‑life strategies.

The one‑hour event, titled “Financially Whole, Financially Confident: Insights from The Budgetnista,” will feature nationally recognized financial educator Tiffany Aliche, also known as The Budgetnista. The webinar begins at 1 p.m. EST / 11 a.m. MT / 10 a.m. PST and is open to the public at no cost.

Aliche, a former teacher turned financial expert, has helped more than two million women improve their financial well‑being and is the bestselling author of Get Good with Money. She is also known for championing New Jersey’s “Budgetnista Law,” which requires financial education for middle school students. During the webinar, Aliche will join Rachael Sampson, Key4Women’s National Director, for a conversation designed to help attendees make smarter financial decisions and reduce money‑related stress.

Participants will learn how to:

• Make confident money decisions
• Use money as a tool to support personal and professional goals
• Build budgeting habits that align with long‑term priorities

“Tiffany brings a rare blend of expertise, energy, and real-world wisdom to the topic of financial confidence,” Sampson said. “Her guidance is accessible, encouraging, and actionable—exactly what so many women need as they navigate financial decisions in work and life.”

Key4Women, founded in 2005, has generated more than $12 billion in loans to women-owned businesses and offers members access to advisors, education, and community support focused on financial wellness. Membership is free.

Those interested can register online here by March 3 or email key4women@keybank.com for more information.

Originally published by Mastercard
By Sophie Hares, Contributor

When Miray Kaplangi, 29, visited her grandparents in Istanbul, they would often pull out their smartphones and ask her to help them adjust their settings or check their bank balance online, small tasks that carried big anxieties.

Like many seniors, they had heard plenty of horror stories about people falling victim to online scams, making them hesitant to use digital banking, even though it could make their everyday lives easier.

It’s a trepidation many older people share as more of daily life moves online and as AI sends cybercrime into overdrive, with scams from romance fraud to phishing attacks now totalling trillions of dollars a year in losses. Estimating that more than half of older people globally have been victims of online threats, cybersecurity firm Avast says many still write passwords on a piece of paper and are more likely to click on suspicious links and share personal information.

Fraud isn’t limited to the elderly — in fact, recent surveys have shown that Gen Z is more likely to fall for certain scams than older generations are — but older adults have distinct needs around security, clarity and control. Banks and fintechs are responding with tools that balance independence and protection. For example, Greenlight’s Family Shield subscription plan in the U.S., with an optional Mastercard debit card, lets families receive real‑time fraud alerts and offers up to $100,000 in deceptive transfer fraud coverage.

Earlier this year, when Kaplangi, a Mastercard data and services consultant, recounted her grandparents’ anxiety to her Istanbul colleagues, they hit on an idea for how they could best use the time the company gives them to volunteer. By combining their finance knowledge and consulting skills, they could help their grandparents’ generation better understand digital banking.

They pitched the idea of financial literacy workshops for those over age 65 to a center for older people in the district of Besiktas. Just 10 minutes from the Mastercard office, the center offers activities designed to encourage people to pick up hobbies and develop new skills. After getting the green light, the five-strong volunteer team began drawing up a series of PowerPoints for their initial session.

When 25 seniors brought their smartphones to the first class, the Mastercard team members were relieved to know they had hit on the right topic but realized they needed to find ways to combat the distrust of online transactions many of the older folks had.

“There was a stigma toward mobile apps, like, ‘If I log in, then someone’s going to steal my money,’” Kaplangi says. “They were all scared and seeking reassurance.”

Starting with the basics, Kaplangi and the team designed visuals to walk people through how to register for online banking, set up secure passwords and biometrics and see their balances on-screen.

Next, they showed the older adults how to use their phones to turn off their payment cards, request changes to credit card limits and receive notifications when money was withdrawn from their accounts.

“Overall, the feedback was great,” Kaplangi says. “They said, ‘Our grandsons tried to show us, but it was never as detailed or visual as you guys have shown.’ They were hungry for more.”

More than just learning the online banking basics, the session was the first step toward integrating them into the wider digital sphere. Once they can confidently make payments online, older people can pay bills and use apps to have groceries delivered instead of struggling with bags as they shop around Istanbul, which is famously built on seven hills.

The project was recently recognized by Mastercard’s CEO Force for Good Awards, the company’s highest volunteering honor, and the volunteer team is planning to host regular sessions at the municipality-run center in Besiktas.

With fewer people over age 65 making payments and transactions online than any other age group, according to the Banks Association of Türkiye, there is plenty of room to expand projects that are carefully tailored to older individuals.

Recalling how one Besiktas participant had been the victim of a costly scam after using his bank card on an unsecured website, Kaplangi says future sessions will emphasize how to stay safe online.

Treading a fine line between scaring and protecting older people, the Mastercard team plans to highlight classic scams, show how to spot fraud attempts, and explain why password hygiene and two-factor authentication matter.

For Kaplangi and her colleagues, it’s rewarding to see the positive real-world impact of their efforts to help usher older adults into the digital ecosystem.

It’s also underscored why it’s more effective to give people like their own elders a big- picture view and help visualize their digital banking journey, instead of just tackling ad hoc problems: “It’s just enabled them to have confidence and convenience in their life.”

Continue reading here.
Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.