By Nicolette Mena, International Program Specialist, Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP)

My name is Nicolette Mena, and I am an International Program Specialist at the Commerce Department’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP). I have worked at CLDP for almost four years, primarily focusing my efforts on the South Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and Latin America regions. Before joining CLDP, I served as a volunteer for the U.S. Peace Corps in the Republic of Georgia. There I started the Wonder Women Club to teach Georgian girls and women about global women’s history. I went to college in California and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a focus on Business Law and a minor in International Politics. I later studied abroad in Vienna, Austria, where I earned a Master of Art’s in International Relations focusing on Irregular Migration.

I grew up in Orange County, California, with two older brothers, loving parents, and several pets. I feel very fortunate to have grown up with many strong female leaders who encouraged me to push myself to succeed, but the greatest inspiration in my life has always been my father who immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador. Growing up where I did, I was always made aware of the fact that I was different, so because of that I am very proud to be a Latina with Salvadoran, Puerto Rican, and Mayan heritage. My culture also instilled in me selflessness, which sparked my desire to be part of something greater than myself and eventually directed my career path to the Department of Commerce. At CLDP, I can honestly say that I feel empowered to apply my unique perspective, education, skills, and desire to give back as a public servant, where I am lucky enough to get to work to create and foster conditions for economic growth and opportunity for communities at home and abroad.

Today, when I am not overseas implementing technical assistance to improve the legal environment for business worldwide, I wear multiple hats to advance women’s economic empowerment in programmatic, administrative, and policy capacities. I am honored to serve as CLDP’s representative. And I am humbled by the opportunity to have contributed to the authoring of the first-ever interagency U.S. Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security and to serve as CLDP’s representative for the G7 Women’s Ministerial, Organization for Women in International Trade, and the International Trade Administration’s Select USA Global Women in Tech program. I have also written and contributed to multiple proposals that directly fund Women’s Economic Empowerment programming around the world.

The important work I have done with CLDP to empower women has led me to believe that women’s leadership is not just about ensuring there are more women at the table when decisions are made, but about advocating most loudly for those who cannot advocate for themselves and stepping aside to allow them to shine once they have found their voice. Personally, I was lucky enough to have found that at the start of my career with CLDP through my former supervisor, Arezo Yazd, who saw my potential and gave me a platform to launch from. I know many women have come before me and paved the way without recognition, so I constantly encourage women in my life to challenge themselves to forge their own path forward, even in the face of great difficulty.

I believe that women’s history is America’s history and having more women in leadership, especially women of color, ensures diversity of thought, greater equity, and unparalleled resilience.

This blog post is part of a series showcasing the women leaders from across the U.S. Department of Commerce in honor of Women's History Month.