Determination, positivity, and the courage to ask for help: the keys to success for a leader who is transforming a traditionally male-dominated industry.
In a country where only 4% of executive positions are held by women, Melanie Leiva Saprissa represents more than just an exceptional statistic. At 38, she became the first woman to hold the position of General Manager of an insurance company in Guatemala. But her story is not just about breaking corporate glass ceilings; it is about patiently building a professional identity without sacrificing feminine authenticity, motherhood, or personal balance.
Melanie grew up in a home where love was the constant. With two brothers and being the only cousin on her mother's side, she learned from an early age to take her place in a predominantly male circle. But it was her mother who sowed the most important seeds of her character.
"My mom always made me feel special. She always believed in me, in my dreams, and in my education," Melanie recalls. That loving mother was also deeply persevering, especially when her daughter wanted to give up ballet during difficult times.
Ballet was much more than just an extracurricular activity. For 25 years, starting at the age of four, Melanie trained in this artistic discipline. Today, with the perspective that comes with maturity, she recognizes that this experience shaped her in ways she did not understand at the time: it taught her discipline, structure, femininity, and, perhaps most valuable of all, how to lose gracefully.
"As I've grown older, I've come to appreciate more and more what ballet meant to me," she reflects. "For many years, I would say, 'Mom, ballet isn't for me anymore. I want to do something else.' But she was very persistent with me, telling me not to give up, that when things got tough, that was when you had to bring out your best."
While other girls dreamed of becoming doctors or teachers, Melanie played at working in the insurance industry. Her father, with nearly four decades in the sector, was her first inspiration. She accompanied him to the office, attended events with him, and saw his role as something aspirational.
"Having that dream from a very young age, I think, always gave me the clarity to work in the present on something I aspired to in the future," she explains. That early clarity translated into a 15-year career in the industry, rising to the top position.
But Melanie insists on something fundamental: passion for what you do is non-negotiable. "We have to find a career or devote ourselves to something we really like and are passionate about, so that we can truly live it in a natural, authentic way and enjoy it."
When she took on the role of General Manager, Melanie experienced the most challenging moment of her professional life. It wasn't just the responsibility toward the company; she felt the weight of representing an entire gender.
"There were very high expectations. There was a woman, and she was young, to fill a role. I put so much pressure on myself mentally, thinking: I have to be the best, I have to do well, I have to prove that it can be done, and I have a responsibility to women not to let them down."
Those first few months were devoted almost exclusively to work. She talked to her husband, she talked to her children, and she immersed herself 100% in her new responsibility. Looking back, she recognizes that it was probably necessary, but also that it was not sustainable in the long term.
If there is one lesson Melanie wants to convey to other women, it is this: balance does not mean dividing your time 50-50 between work and family. Balance is dynamic, it has seasons, and it requires constant communication with your support circle.
"Sometimes we think that balance means dedicating 50-50 of our time to our family and our work, but that's not necessarily the case. It can be a phase. If you're in a rigorous training program that's going to last three months, you dedicate yourself to that full-time, but that doesn't mean you don't have a balanced life."
What is essential, according to her, is communication. Ask for help. Raise your hand without shame. "The more communicative we are with our support group, whether it's your mom, your husband, your children, we're going to feel that release of saying, 'I need help.' And there's nothing wrong with asking for help."
One of Melanie's most powerful insights concerns feminine leadership style. She has observed how many women believe that in order to be heard, they must speak, act, or even dress in a more masculine way. She completely rejects that idea.
"Wear your pink blouse if you like it and you want to be feminine and wear high heels. Add that to it. In the end, this isn't a competition between men and women. This is how we complement each other as men and women."
Melanie has been fortunate to work with exceptional male leaders who gave her space, valued her voice, and embraced her leadership style rather than trying to mold it. That experience taught her that respect is not demanded through imitation, but earned through authenticity.
Respect is something we all have to earn, regardless of the position we hold or the power we wield.
When asked how she would describe herself without mentioning her job title, Melanie talks about positivity, empathy, and the ability to dream big. "I believe in seeing the glass as half full rather than half empty. Wherever there is a complicated situation or a bump in the road, I tend to see it as an opportunity."
But she is also honest about her weaknesses. The main one: constant, almost obsessive self-criticism. "I constantly evaluate myself every day. It was like a performance evaluation checklist: what I did well, what I did wrong. You could have said this differently, why didn't you handle this meeting this way, why did you say this to your daughter?"
That harsh inner voice is something she actively works on. She has learned to transform her bedtime conversation, to be kinder to herself, to understand that constantly punishing herself adds no value.
His other weakness is the flip side of his positivity: wanting to solve not only his own problems, but everyone else's as well. "I'm always constantly searching for ways to solve someone else's problem. And the truth is, maybe that person just wanted someone to listen to them."
There is a redefinition of fear in Melanie's philosophy that is liberating. Instead of seeing it as an enemy to be avoided, she considers it a sign of growth.
"Fear is often a very good thing to have, because it means you are experiencing something new, which makes you feel uncertain and, after a while, a little uncomfortable. And if you don't feel that in your life, then it means you are in a very comfortable zone."
Those nerves before an important presentation, that discomfort when facing a new challenge, are not signs that something is wrong. They are indicators that you are growing, that you are alive professionally.
Melanie has two children: Rafa, who is 11, and Sofía, who is 9. She had her first child at age 26, after three years of marriage. Motherhood, she admits, turned her life upside down in ways that no one can prepare you for.
"No one prepares us to be mothers. It's not something that someone gives you a course on and then you're ready. We learn every day."
What she has discovered over time is that her children do not need a perfect mother who is present every second. They need quality over quantity. They need real presence when they are together.
Sometimes you're on a call or in a virtual meeting and your child is talking to you. What has worked for me is to say: I want to listen to 100% of what you want to tell me, but right now I can't listen to you 100%. Give me five minutes to finish this call because I want to give you my full attention.
There is a moment that perfectly illustrates his internal struggles. On a particularly difficult day, he arrived home and parked his car. He felt like crying. And he made a decision: "I'm going to take three minutes, but I'm going to count them, before I go into my house. Because I think I need to regulate myself before I go in and see my children bathe and have dinner with my family."
It's not about putting on a mask and pretending nothing happened. It's about breathing, giving yourself that little bit of space so you can be your best self for those waiting for you inside.
Fifteen years of marriage have taught Melanie that relationships also need intentional attention. She recently read about the importance of dedicating at least one hour a week to your partner, not to discuss household logistics, but to genuinely connect.
"Often, the romantic conversations we once had turn into conversations about logistics: what are your plans for tomorrow, who is picking up the child. Be very careful in that regard."
Playing a board game, cooking together, remembering why they fell in love. Small acts of reconnection that keep the relationship alive beyond the roles of parents and providers.
When asked where this path is taking her, Melanie talks about purpose. Not about additional titles or achievements, but about leaving a mark.
"For me, the most important thing is to be able to inspire other people. No matter how small, I want to leave a mark on every person who works with me or has been part of my team. 'I learned this from Melanie, Melanie challenged me to learn this new thing, she gave me a position where I could thrive.'"
And at the macro level, its purpose is linked to transforming the culture of insurance in Guatemala. To make more people understand the importance of protecting their assets, of making decisions in advance, of thinking about future generations.
This conversation reveals truths that transcend the corporate world:
Know your strengths and strengthen them even more. Don't obsess over your weaknesses. Knowing what tools you have at your disposal allows you to excel where others will not.
Fear is a compass, not a barrier. If you don't feel nervous, you're probably too comfortable. Growth thrives on discomfort.
Asking for help is smart, not weak. No one gets to the top alone. Communicate your needs to your support circle.
The balance is dynamic. There are seasons when one role demands more. That doesn't mean you've failed in the others.
Don't try to be masculine to be respected. Your femininity is a strength, not an obstacle. Lead from who you truly are.
Transform your internal dialogue. Replace your nightly checklist of mistakes with morning gratitude. Be kind to yourself.
With your children, quality over quantity. Being truly present for short moments is worth more than being distracted for hours.
And when things get tough, remember Melanie's mantra: "Everything will pass. "
Because women who move mountains don't do so by denying their fears or limitations. They do so by acknowledging them, asking for help when they need it, and waking up every morning with a purpose greater than themselves.
