Meet the PROS: Marcela Pasten, Pipeline Creation Team
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, our Latino and Hispanic PROS are sharing how their experiences and culture have influenced their careers.
Meet Marcela, a proud Oaxaca and Mexico City native, and the Senior Marketing Events Manager for the PROS Pipeline Creation Team, where she leads our global corporate events for the Travel team. Celebrating an impressive 24-year tenure at PROS, Marcela’s passion for people and strong commitment to culture, inclusion and our core values has had a lasting impact at PROS, most notably co-founding UNIDOS, PROS employee resource group championing Latino and Hispanic advancement and inclusion. One of her most memorable moments at PROS? Sitting front-row in the jump seat for the landing at Abu Dhabi International Airport, invited by the pilot, on a flight for an RFP.
Let’s get to know Marcela!
Tell us about your journey to PROS.
I first joined PROS on the Development team working as an Executive Admin before transitioning to Product Management and completing my degree in Business Management. At that juncture, my role extended to managing communication initiatives for PROS Revenue Management (RM) products, sharing PROS’ unparalleled track record, proven processes, and cutting-edge software solutions. As the sole Airline Marketing member, I spearheaded the creation of our first product brochures.
My involvement with our annual conference, Outperform, marked a pivotal milestone in my career at PROS, which I would later go on to lead for many years. I had the amazing opportunity to transform this event from a user’s conference to an industry conference, becoming the largest gathering of Revenue Management professionals with participants representing over 40 legacy airlines globally solidifying our position as industry leaders.
As the business transitioned, I took on all PROS industry events, including Outperform, President’s Club, B2B tradeshows and Travel events year over year. Today, I’m focused exclusively on Travel events to highlight PROS legacy of over 30+ years as a leader in the space and highlighting the innovative solutions we now have in the airline industry.
How has your culture influenced/shaped your values and work ethics?
My professional ethics have been profoundly influenced by my father’s commitment to tirelessly completing every project, regardless of the challenges encountered. My grandfather, a lawyer, instilled in me a strong sense of punctuality and accountability. While I proudly embrace my Hispanic heritage, I firmly reject any stereotypes, such as the notion that Hispanics are habitually tardy.
In my family, one of our core values is treating every individual with the utmost respect, irrespective of their position within an organization’s hierarchy. We firmly believe in extending the same level of respect to the cleaning crew as we would to the CEO, recognizing the intrinsic value of every person.
What’s your favorite cultural tradition you enjoy celebrating?
The Day of the Dead holds a special place in my heart as one of my cherished celebrations. It revolves around profound themes of family, ancestral reverence, and the art of sharing.
In Mexican culture, there exists a unique embrace of the concept of death, an intricate dance with the inevitable. Its vivid portrayal in the iconic figure of La Catrina and the notion of a vibrant existence beyond the mortal realm, exemplified notably in the lesser-known movie “Book of Life,” which, though not as widely recognized as “Coco,” captures the essence beautifully.
I grew up in a world where Day of the Dead altars were meticulously planned, comprising seven layered arrangements. Bread was lovingly baked and generously shared, and candles were handcrafted with care, all contributing to the richness of our tradition.
How do you integrate elements of your culture into your daily work routine or projects?
Being a Mexican-Native living in Texas has proven advantageous for my projects. My bilingual fluency, rooted in the Latin-derived Spanish language, helps communication with international vendors in my global events. When reviewing posts and documents, I always consider their ease of comprehension for non-native speakers, ensuring clarity and accessibility.
What Latin dish best describes you and why?
Chapulines! Original from the state of Oaxaca like my roots. Small but mighty – they have so much protein, and I have so much to give.
Tell us more about UNIDOS and how you helped co-found this employee resource group (ERG).
Back in the early 2000s, PROS hired several people from the University of Monterrey, Mexico. At the time, we had an informal ERG and support systems in place to help incomers get established, i.e. where to buy certain items, how to get a credit card, buy a car, etc.; and most importantly, build a sense of familia.
Years later in 2017, Carlos Parra and I were asked to spearhead the founding of UNIDOS after the PRIDE and Blaze networks were founded. Before I knew it, I found myself translated to my past experience on how to really help adjust and support advancement and proportionate representation at all levels of the Hispanic/Latino communities. In our first meeting, we learned how to make killer Micheladas!
Share an experience that’s had a significant impact on your personal or professional life.
Years ago at iFest, my family was celebrating Mexico here in Houston to find out the Folkloric Ballet of Tuxtepec was performing. After the first performance we chatted with the dancers, and they missed most the food. They could not dance very well eating hamburgers. (Let’s say these Mexican natives had some folks who had never ridden an elevator for example.) The next day, my mom and a neighbor brought trays for 60 people with traditional rice, beans, tortillas, eggs, etc. to the dancers as well as for the Orchestra that joined them. We became friends with some of them, and later, I hired them to do a surprise performance when I got married. One of the dancers now lives in Austin and has funded “Oaxaca Arte en Movimiento” being one of the most traditional Folkloric Ballets in Texas. They celebrate la Guelaguetza annually.
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Learn more about our inclusive PROS culture on our Careers page and become a part of our growing team by applying to our open roles. Follow #lifeatPROS on LinkedIn and Instagram for more stories from the bright minds powering PROS around the globe.