Meet Ana, member of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and Women at Criteo

From Colombia to the US, Ana has quite a few stories to tell. In this article, we’ve delved into her life story and talked about creativity, Latin American heritage, her views on allyship, her involvement as part of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, and so much more. We hope you enjoy getting to know Ana as much as we did! 

Can you tell us a bit about you?  

Hi there! I’m Ana Romero-Tschann from Colombia. When I’m not busy building frameworks, providing program management support, and creating infrastructure for our GTM organization, you can catch me diving into the world of art, enjoying the latest Almodóvar film, and eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first baby with my wonderful wife! 

What did you want to be growing up?  

Growing up, I dreamed of becoming an architect or interior designer, following in the footsteps of my creatively inclined family. I always thought that was the right path for me. But life is always full of surprises and, as it turned out, life had other plans in store for me. So, after a few twists and turns, I got my master's degree in project management, which ultimately brought me to my current position as Senior Strategic Planning Manager at Criteo. 

Where do you hope your career will lead you? 

I strive to maintain an open mind, always attuned to my interests and strengths. This approach has allowed me to explore and excel in various roles at Criteo over the past 9+ years. I find that the work I’ve done and the relationships I’ve built here are now leading me to consider two potential paths for the future; either as a Director of Strategic/Transformation Initiatives or as a Chief of Staff. 

Can you tell us a bit about your professional journey? How did you get where you are today? 

My journey has been full of twists and turns, marked by testing, learning, and personal transformation. When reflecting on my path, I find myself going back to my days as a student in Graphic Design when I was living in Boston (US). After getting my degree and gaining some practical experience, I understood a few important things: 

• I love graphic design.
• The early 2000s economic crash meant I needed to position myself and value my skillset across different industries to secure sponsorship. 
• For non-US citizens, the sponsorship process is intricate, requiring proof of unique skills not found in the US job market. So, it would be hard to prove this during an economic downturn. 

From here on out, I decided to pursue a master's degree in project management, which I could pair with Graphic Design or apply to other industries. I eventually secured sponsorship, and the same foundation that sponsored my work visa also funded my green card. I spent over five years in the non-profit world before seeking new challenges, now with the flexibility of a green card. This brought me to Criteo, where a friend had joined, and they were expanding their mid-market LATAM team. Nine years ago, I became the first salesperson for the Mid-Market LATAM team in the Boston office. Today, I work in the Go-To-Market organization for the Enablement Excellence team, focusing on strategic planning, project managing major projects, establishing frameworks, and building GTM infrastructure and operational excellence. On top of my project management skills, my Latin American roots were seen as a real plus and helped me secure my initial role here at Criteo.  

What do you love the most about your job?  

There are several reasons why I feel motivated to get up and start my day each morning! First, I love the organizational skills my job requires as I thrive on creating order out of chaos and boosting productivity and efficiency. Second, innovation; which is another passion of mine. As a creative person, I am always open to change and stimulated when thinking out of the box to unlock creativity and unleash new ideas. Third, making real connections! Collaboration and relationship building are also essential to me. I’ve been working with a coach and discovered that two of my top Clifton strengths are Woo and Relator. These strengths guide me in both my personal and professional life, where I love collaborating with others, building strong relationships, and fostering a team-oriented environment. 

Are you part of any ERG here at Criteo?  

Yes, I’m part of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ Pride Community, and Women at Criteo.  

What made you want to join?  

A friend first told me about Criteo, and I had a Green Card that allowed me to work anywhere at the time. I was eager to find an opportunity that would let me tap into innovation. The tech industry was booming, offering continuous growth, evolution, and learning—exactly what I was looking for. As someone who loves to keep learning and evolving, the dynamic nature of the industry and the company immediately caught my attention. During the interview process, I felt a strong connection to the company’s culture and the people I met. I knew I'd have colleagues I would enjoy working with, which was a significant factor in my decision to join the team. And it remains a major factor as to why I like working here today. 

Can you tell us a bit about your involvement? What kind of projects do you take part in?  

I like to be involved in panels sharing experiences and thoughts with others. Encouraging folks to speak up, share experiences with others, and feel empowered. The last couple of panels I participated in were: 

• Conexión Latina: Navigating the Latinx Experience in Advertising: ‌a panel that included Geraldine Nieves from Criteo, Jeffrey Bustos from IAB, and Yasmin Rodriguez from L'Oréal to discuss: 
• The evolution of Latino representation in advertising 
• ‌Navigating challenges specific to the Latino community, such as language barriers, cultural sensitivities, and negative stereotypes 
• ‌The future trajectory of diversity in advertising 
• Leaning Into Kindness - A Conversation with Women@Criteo Members: a panel focused on generating open and honest dialogue around identifying opportunities for us to lean into kindness to support each other and build each other up.  

I’m also a participant in the EmpowerU program: a six-month initiative designed to empower individuals from underrepresented minorities in the U.S. who aspire to grow and make significant contributions within Criteo.  

Allyship is the new buzzword you see everywhere when it comes to DEI. What does it mean to you? How can we achieve genuine allyship at work? 

To me, Allyship involves engaging in active listening during interactions to ensure every voice is heard and valued. It includes consistently checking in with colleagues to maintain open communication and support. Being an ally means fostering a culture of inclusivity and support where everyone feels valued and respected. It is about recognizing and celebrating both big and small achievements from our colleagues. What’s key is having a work culture where we prioritize programs that aim at uplifting our employees’ voices and providing growth opportunities.  

When talking about allyship, does what people expect from an ally vary depending on their community and challenges? 

Generally, there are several fundamental aspects of allyship that people expect across different communities like fostering an inclusive culture, leading with empathy and getting support from your peers, respecting others’ voices and experiences, and practicing active listening. Also, implementing policies that prioritize work-life balance and mental well-being, as well as offering flexibility when dealing with personal matters or difficulties, is crucial. While there are specific nuances for each community that should always be considered. To me, starting with these basic expectations allows us to understand and meet individual needs more effectively. 

If you had unlimited resources, where would you invest to make workplaces genuinely more diverse, fair, and inclusive? 

I would invest in programs to upskill individuals from minority groups, empowering them to develop their career paths toward leadership roles. By providing targeted training and development opportunities, we can help bridge the gap and ensure that diverse talent is equipped with the skills and confidence needed to excel in leadership positions.