As we build towards celebrating International Women's Day, we are shining a light on some of the amazing women who are associated with WorldCC Foundation, such as El Mendoza, from the Philippines who is a Senior Compliance Manager and Founder of Pay It Forward for the Kids. With her experience in the legal field and earth necessities such as power generation, water utility, and renewable energy industries, she committed to making the world a better place - one clear and robust process at a time.
Check out our interview with her, that features in our Book of Inspiring Women, 2024.
WorldCC: Describe your professional background and story
El: My journey starts with humble beginnings. At 16, I left my hometown and moved to Manila in search of opportunities. Since I was underage, I started working as a house helper and babysitter. Through hard work and perseverance, I earned my college degree in five years, with the support of my older sister. During and after college, I worked as a urine collector for a drug testing company. Eventually, I was hired as a Legal Secretary at a law firm, where I honed my skills in the legal field. After two years, I transitioned to a Paralegal role at AES Corporation, a power generation company, which allowed me to return to school for a Paralegal program accreditation. I worked during the day and attended classes during evenings and weekends. Talk about U-turns; I pivoted in my career and pursued a job related to my degree three years later. After three years, I made another significant career change and moved to a water utility company as an Office Supervisor.
In 2019, I embarked on a life-changing journey and moved to the USA. With all the uncertainties, leaving everything behind was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. I was unemployed for the first nine months after arriving in California. But things changed when a leader I had worked with in the Philippines introduced me to EDF Renewables. That connection led to my first job in the USA as a temporary Administrative Assistant. After three months, I was converted to a full-time employee. With my Paralegal background, I was given the opportunity to become a Contracts Administrator and was promoted to Contracts Manager a year later. Another door opened within EDF, and I took on the role of Compliance Manager. As I continued to learn and open myself to new heights and challenges, I took a new role outside EDF after four years. In January 2024, I started work as a Senior Compliance Manager at Cypress Creek Renewables.
WorldCC: Tell us about two personal achievements and contributions through your career
Written by Marty Crotty, previous President of AES:
I met El in 2014 when I was the President of the Asia Region for the AES Corporation based in Manila, Philippines. El was the Ethics and Compliance Paralegal, and she always brought energy, positivity, and a contagious attitude that uplifted the entire team. She had a very positive and uplifting influence on the other members of the team. She also had an impressive work ethic with a drive for personal improvement. As an example, while she was working full time, she was also going to school in the evenings to get her Paralegal accreditation. Among her accomplishments at AES were creating and implementing a records filing and document management system for the legal team and managing ethics and compliance training for plant and head office employees. She came up with the caption "Safety is the engine, and WE are the key that starts it".
Of all the accomplishments that El has had, the most impressive one was in May of 2023 where she facilitated a 'Pay It Forward for the Kids' event for the children in her hometown in the Philippines. She led an effort to garner support from friends, family, and co-workers to make donations for the cause. The team she led was able to feed 560 people, provide school supplies, hygiene kits, toys, books, clothes, water bottles, etc. The pictures I've seen from this event are spectacular.
WorldCC: How have you encouraged long-term resilience within your organization or beyond?
El: Resilience begins with fostering empathy and understanding toward others, creating a safe and supportive environment for all. By practicing patience and acceptance, we can build stronger, more positive relationships. I always remind people that I don’t give to get something in return; I give to inspire others to do the same. Giving back is my way of expressing gratitude and sharing my blessings, especially with children. That’s why I founded 'Pay It Forward for the Kids' in the Philippines, an initiative dedicated to supporting and inspiring children to pursue education, believe in their dreams, and invest in their futures. My mission is to help break the cycle of poverty in our society, step by step. Giving reminds us of our privilege, fostering a sense of humility and generosity, and spreading kindness has the power to create a ripple effect of positivity. For me, advocating for oneself is equally important. It's about recognizing our worth, standing up for our needs, and living authentically. When we do this, we're better equipped to support and advocate for others. I believe that success is never out of reach when we help each other along the way.
Find out more about WorldCC Foundation's incredible cohort of Inspiring Women in our 2024 Book.