Welcome! I’m Manuela
A people-focused HR and operations professional, project manager and former mechanical engineer with a passion for inclusive leadership, system innovation, and team empowerment. With over 5 years of experience transforming processes in education, nonprofit, and multicultural environments, I bring strategic insight, empathy, and a commitment to meaningful outcomes.
👀 Explore my work, read my story, or get in touch. I’d love to connect.
My Story
I’ve always believed in challenging myself. Back in high school, I graduated with academic honours and set my sights on what many considered the most competitive universities in Colombia. I applied to two of them and was accepted to both. I chose to study Mechanical Engineering, a degree known not only for its difficulty, but also for the gender imbalance that came with it.
Being one of the few women in the room meant learning to speak up, literally and metaphorically. I had to find my voice, assert my ideas, and prove myself in an environment where I wasn’t the default look. That experience shaped my resilience and drive. I later worked as a Project Engineer at a consulting firm, where I supported projects bringing natural gas to remote communities, connecting people to electricity and hot water for the first time.
In 2015, due to personal circumstances, my partner and I made the bold decision to move to Australia. We arrived in Adelaide in early 2016, initially to study English and explore new professional horizons. We quickly fell in love with this city and the life it offered. Determined to make the most of this opportunity, I pursued further education, completing vocational studies in Project Management, followed by dual Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Global Project Management.
Like many newcomers, I juggled multiple part-time and casual jobs in hospitality and commercial cleaning while studying. But I didn’t stop there, I sought out every chance I could to join industry placements, eager to learn, connect, and understand Adelaide’s professional landscape.
When 2020 arrived, it brought immense uncertainty. We lost our jobs, but it also gave us space to rethink. My partner went back to study, chasing his dream, and I stepped in to support him, just as he had supported me. That same year, I found a role that, while not my ultimate goal, placed me in a dream organisation, one focused on helping young people transition to the next chapter of their lives.
Over the past five years, I had the opportunity to grow within an organisation where I explored different facets of my passion, people, purpose, and progress. Having recently closed that chapter. Now, I’m ready for the next chapter! I’m looking to explore new opportunities where I can continue to learn, lead, and contribute to meaningful, people-centred work that fosters connection with community and a strong sense of purpose that really makes a difference.