Yasmel Rodriguez Grows into Leadership over 18 Years at Eaton

Yasmel Rodriguez drives supply chain innovation and acts as global leader for Eaton’s VAMOS ERG

Yasmel Rodriguez, Global Leader, Eaton’s VAMOS ERG (Photo by Daniel Lozada)

BY BILLY YOST, HISPANIC EXECUTIVE

Yasmel Rodriguez is the definition of what growing a career within one organization can look like if you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone. Nearly nineteen years ago, she started as a customer service representative, and nine roles later, she is now the integrated business planning leader (IBP) for the Electrical Sector, Americas at Eaton, an intelligent power management company.

Rodriguez is part of Eaton’s supply chain team, helping to drive the transformation of the function. As the IBP leader, she supports the shift to a new operating model under the IBP framework. This cross-functional planning approach aligns strategic, operational, and financial goals, enabling the organization to make better decisions and execute more effectively across the enterprise.

She has earned a reputation for blending deep technical expertise with exceptional cross-cultural leadership—a strength shaped in part by the personal growth she experienced after relocating to the United States from her native Dominican Republic in 2021.

Yasmel Rodriguez, Eaton

(Photo by Daniel Lozada)

“To continue growing my career path with Eaton, I needed to relocate to the US,” Rodriguez explains. “My whole life, my support system, and my network were in the Dominican Republic. Moving here meant my family and I had to adapt to a new culture, learn how to navigate daily life in a completely different environment, and rebuild a sense of home.

“It was a humbling experience that reminded me how many small things we often take for granted when we’re in a familiar place,” she adds. “But through that transition, I discovered resilience, adaptability, and a deeper cross-cultural perspective—qualities that have not only shaped me personally but also strengthened the way I lead and grow in my career.”

Yasmel Rodriguez, Eaton

(Photo by Daniel Lozada)

It wasn’t just a challenge for Rodriguez. Her husband and school-aged children made the move with her, each facing their own adjustments. Together, they embraced unfamiliar customs and new routines, leaning on one another as they built a sense of home in a place that once felt foreign. Over time, those challenges turned into moments of growth and connection.

Today, Rodriguez says her family feels completely at home. They often return to the Dominican Republic for vacations and to reconnect with loved ones, carrying their roots with them while fully embracing the opportunities of their new life in the US. That journey of adaptation, she notes, has strengthened not only her family but also her ability to lead with empathy, resilience, and a global perspective.

“Every time we go back, I ask my kids if they’d want to stay,” Rodriguez says. “They always say it’s fun to visit and reconnect with family and friends, but their home is here in the US.”

That isn’t to say Rodriguez’s family has downplayed their heritage. They’ve held strongly to their cultural connections, such as their food, holidays, and language in their home.

After relocating to Pittsburgh, she has helped guide other families in settling in smoothly.

“That experience is what pushed me to be part of VAMOS and take on a leadership role,” she says. In her role as leader of Eaton’s employee resource group VAMOS, Rodriguez amplifies Hispanic voices, fosters cultural awareness, and advocates for the professional development of Latino talent, championing inclusion, connection, and cultural pride.

“My role in VAMOS provides me a way to stay connected to my roots and culture,” Rodriguez explains. “It’s an opportunity to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds, and I firmly believe in promoting equality, a sense of belonging, and sharing the rich and vibrant cultures of the Hispanic and Latino community. The role gives me the opportunity to network with other business units and better understand how to build bridges across our communities.”

Yasmel Rodriguez, Eaton

(Photo by Daniel Lozada)

Back to her day-to-day role, Rodriguez said enabling and driving the transformation of Eaton’s supply chain will be her primary responsibility for the foreseeable future. The company, a global organization with revenues of nearly $25 billion in 2024, has responded to industry disruption and the shock of the pandemic by driving innovation across its organization, especially in supply chain.

Eaton’s supply chain launched an idea incubation lab, a hub that allows its four thousand functional associates worldwide to submit and develop new process improvements, technologies, and business concepts. It is a way to collect ideas and nurture them through rigorous evaluation, and potential piloting, validation, and commercialization.

Rodriguez said her focus will continue to be on helping the Electrical Sector, Americas grow in the market by anticipating customer needs, proactively allocating resources, and rethinking process innovation. She is equally committed to being a better people leader, fostering growth, engagement, and collaboration across her teams.

That means modeling the kind of life and priorities she wants for her own people. Rodriguez places a high value on spending quality time with her family and friends, showing that true leadership includes connection and care.

“I get so much joy and meaning from seeing my family and friends healthy and happy,” Rodriguez says. “Feeling their love and support for me—it’s what truly makes me feel fulfilled.”

Rodriguez leadership influence spans operations, people, and communities—making a lasting impact wherever she leads.

Hispanicexecutive.com