Manny Montalvo was a teenager from a middle-class family in Puerto Rico who says he "took a chance on Bryant when Bryant took a chance on me,” Now, he's the senior vice president of global business development for L’Oreal, the world’s largest cosmetics company with $30 billion in annual revenue, where he "went to a new climate, culture and language, sight unseen, knowing no one, but having a strong desire to learn and succeed.”
Things were different in the 1990s, Montalvo says. “There was no social media or FaceTime or even cellphones to help you stay in touch with friends and family.” He found support in his roommate, Christopher, and his roommate’s family, who included him in holidays and other times when most students went home.
“Not only did my finances limit my ability to hop on a plane back home during the school year, but I also had a double major, which meant extra classes, and I wasn’t on full scholarship, so I had to work.” Montalvo often had the campus to himself in those off times, where he found friendship in an unexpected place – from a couple of maintenance workers in the Bryant Center. “Something I’ve learned is that titles don’t matter,” he says. “We all have a role to play, and everyone deserves respect. At the end of the day, leadership is serving others.”
“Without Bryant, without Career Services, without that first job, I wouldn’t be where I am today. The impact of Bryant is immeasurable.”
Montalvo credits Bryant’s Career Services Office with setting him up for success. “They helped with my resume and interview skills and brought recruiters to the campus. Without Bryant, without Career Services, without that first job, I wouldn’t be where I am today. The impact of Bryant is immeasurable.”
When the opportunity came to join L’Oreal, an international company with a commitment to diversity and social responsibility, he jumped at it. “My time with L’Oreal has been life-changing,” says Montalvo. “I’ve worked in many different brands and companies under the L’Oreal umbrella, and it’s afforded me the opportunity to experience many different countries and cultures.”
Most recently, Montalvo has served as the general manager for the professional products division based in Mexico, where he successfully navigated the challenge of the COVID pandemic. “To succeed, we must find opportunities in the midst of crises,” he says. “Our e-commerce and digital business in professional products accelerated during the pandemic, but we remain committed to supporting the salons and stylists, whose businesses suffered when forced to lock down. Recognizing partnerships and being grateful is so important in business and life.”
After seven years in Latin America, Montalvo is headed to New York for his latest promotion to senior vice president for global business development. “In life and business, you’ll experience peaks and valleys. Ask yourself in the deepest valleys what you can learn from that experience, and it will ensure you hit the highest peaks.”
