MY CAREER IN SIX SPOTLIGHT

Ana Paula Aceves

Vice President, Foundry

Mastercard LAC

Sharing her career journey by answering the six questions below.

Who or what has been your biggest source of inspiration throughout your career?

My dad was probably my first role model. Growing up, I watched how hard he worked, how much he loved what he did, and how committed he was to creating opportunities for the people he loved. He taught me that if you work hard, care deeply about what you do, and stay true to your values, many of the other things tend to follow.

Later, I found another important source of inspiration in the women around me. The women in my family and successful female leaders who were also present partners, mothers, friends and mentors. Seeing them made something very real for me: we don’t have to choose between ambition and a fulfilling personal life.

They showed me what was possible, and that has shaped both the life I want to build and the example I hope to set for other women.

Would you say your success is primarily due to luck or hard work?

Both. I think success is a combination of opportunity, hard work, and what you choose to do when the two meet.

I consider myself very lucky. I’ve had managers who believed in me, people who advocated for me and opportunities that changed the direction of my career. I would never discount the role they have played, but I’ve also always been willing to work hard, take on difficult challenges, and keep going when something isn’t working. I don’t give up easily. When I see a problem, my instinct is to find another way to solve it.

Luck has opened some important doors. Hard work, resilience and the willingness to walk through those doors, especially when I didn’t feel completely ready, have helped me make the most of them.

What is the driving force behind your career aspirations?

I want to have a positive impact. Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to make a difference in the organizations I’m part of, in the people around me and, hopefully, at a much broader scale over time. I’m a dreamer by nature. I tend to look at what something could be rather than simply accept what it is today. I believe change is possible, and I love difficult problems where the answer isn’t obvious.

Ultimately, I want to keep putting myself in positions where I can influence meaningful change, bring people together, and turn ambitious ideas into something tangible. If I can look back at my career and know that I left some things — and some people — better than I found them, I will consider that success.

If given the chance to do one thing differently in your career, what would it be and why?

I would enjoy the journey more. Early in my career, I was so focused on growing and reaching the next milestone that whenever I achieved something I had worked hard for, I would almost immediately start thinking about what came next.

I wouldn’t change my ambition. It’s an important part of who I am. I’ve learned that a career is about much more than promotions or milestones. It’s also the people you meet, what you learn, the mistakes you make and the experiences you have along the way.

If I could talk to myself as an intern, I would tell her: keep dreaming big and working hard, but enjoy the ride as much as the milestones. Take the time to celebrate how far you’ve come before deciding how far you want to go next.

What was your most favourite job/role and why?

My current role leading Innovation (Foundry) for Mastercard in Latin America and the Caribbean. The role genuinely energizes me. I get to constantly learn, think about the future, challenge assumptions and explore how emerging technologies can solve real problems.

We are living through an extraordinary period of technological change. AI and other emerging technologies are shifting how we live and work at a speed we haven’t experienced before, and I feel incredibly privileged to have a front-row seat to that transformation.

What excites me most is that I don’t only get to observe it, I get to play a part in shaping what comes next and turning new possibilities into tangible outcomes.

There is rarely an obvious answer or an established playbook, and I love that. I get to learn every day while helping shape a future that is still being written.

Do you have a favourite motto or quote that guides your professional life?

Early in my career, a manager gave me advice that changed how I thought about leadership: “You’ve proven what you can accomplish yourself. Now your success is about what you can help others accomplish.” That has stayed with me.

Today, one of the responsibilities I take most seriously is being the best manager I can be for my people — understanding their aspirations, challenging them, advocating for them and creating opportunities for them to grow.

I believe people often choose their managers as much as they choose their roles, and I don’t take that trust lightly.

Today, my team is one of my greatest sources of inspiration. Seeing someone grow, gain confidence or achieve something they didn’t think they were ready for is one of the most rewarding parts of leadership. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about being the person who shines brightest. It’s about helping the people around you shine.”