Maricela Pena
About Maricela Pena
Maricela Pena is an HR Business Partner at General Mills, specializing in Commercial Finance & Legal, and NA Supply Chain, with extensive experience in HR and recruitment.
HR Business Partner at General Mills
Maricela Pena serves as an HR Business Partner at General Mills, focusing on Commercial Finance and Legal. She also holds the position of HR Business Partner for the North America Supply Chain in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area. Her responsibilities involve collaborating with these departments to enhance HR functions and strategies.
Previous Experience at General Mills
Before her current roles, Maricela Pena worked in several HR positions at General Mills. From 2015 to 2018, she was the HR Business Partner for Brand Management, Experience, and Consumer Insights in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area. Prior to that, she served as an Associate HR Manager in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 2013 to 2015. She also had a brief stint as an Associate Human Resources Manager Intern in 2012.
Education and Expertise
Maricela Pena has a robust educational background. She earned her MBA in Organizational Behavior from the Georgia Institute of Technology - Georgia Tech College of Management from 2011 to 2013. Before that, she achieved a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from The University of Texas at Austin from 2001 to 2005.
Career at Peak AdComm and Havas
Maricela Pena's early career included roles at Peak AdComm, Inc., where she was a Senior Recruiter from 2008 to 2011 and a Recruiter from 2007 to 2010 in New York. She also worked at Havas as a Client Account Executive from 2005 to 2007.
Professional Achievements
Maricela Pena led the HR integration efforts during a significant merger of two major business units at General Mills. She also implemented a new talent management system that improved employee retention by 15%. Additionally, she is certified in Advanced Conflict Resolution and Mediation from the American Management Association, and served as a keynote speaker at the 2022 HR Tech Conference, discussing the future of HR analytics.
Volunteer Work
Maricela Pena volunteers as a career mentor for underrepresented groups through the Minneapolis Career Development Network, where she provides guidance and support to individuals aiming to advance their careers.