When you think of a leader who blends innovation, grit, and heart, you think of Celia Gianetti. As the Director of Talent Management & Recruitment COE at Mitsubishi Chemical America, Celia is not just driving change—she is architecting a new era of people strategy. She is the rare executive who can speak the language of the boardroom and the breakroom, and who earns respect through vision, results, and the genuine empowerment of others.
“Real leadership is not about control, it’s about creation, connection, and courage.” — A reflection of Celia’s leadership philosophy.
Disrupting the Norms
Celia’s career spans continents and industries, marked by bold moves and breakthrough results. Beginning in the high-pressure world of logistics in Brazil in the early 2000s—a time and place known for its complexity and volatility—Celia developed a sharp operational instinct, deep resilience, and a lasting appreciation for small improvements over time. In a male-dominated global logistics sector, she not only carved out her space but also built a path for others to follow. Her leadership philosophy centers around the idea that progress, not perfection, drives sustainable transformation.
Her early work managing $100M in spend at DuPont sharpened her business acumen and analytical skills, but it was her pivot into talent and organizational development that unlocked her true calling: transforming potential into professional growth and organizational effectiveness at scale.
As an immigrant in executive leadership and the first person in her family to go to college, Celia brings a deeply personal and strategic perspective to DEI, talent strategy, and leadership development. Her lived experience fuels her ability to create inclusive systems that are both scalable and sustainable. “I feel very lucky to have had leaders and mentors in my journey who guided me, corrected me when needed and more importantly, gave me the space to grow and spread my wings.”
“I focus on clearing the path—when that happens, breaking the ceiling is simply a byproduct.” — Celia Gianetti
Innovating for Impact
Celia is the architect of several enterprise-wide talent innovations. At the heart of her work at Mitsubishi is the design and execution of talent reviews and high-potential identification processes that bring clarity and accountability to succession planning. These efforts have enabled senior leaders to make smarter talent decisions and proactively build bench strength.
She also introduced the concept of Individual Development Plans (IDPs), shifting the ownership of development into the hands of employees. Her philosophy is clear: while the company enables growth through structure and support, it is the employee’s responsibility to seek out opportunities and chart their own path. In tandem, she led the transformation from annual reviews to a continuous performance feedback model, resulting in higher employee engagement and accelerated development.
Through real-world leadership boot camps, scalable learning platforms, and strategic coaching, she is developing leaders with the tools, confidence, and foresight to lead in a changing world. Celia doesn’t just enable leadership—she builds it, nurtures it, and ensures it continues to grow long after the programs end.
Under her leadership, internal promotions have increased, top talent retention is stronger, and business leaders are more deeply engaged in the growth of their teams. These are not just HR metrics—they are strategic levers for organizational agility and resilience.
Strategic Influence and Global Execution
Celia expertly aligns initiatives with business strategy, partnering with senior leaders to connect people and performance. She understands leaders prioritize developing talent, driving engagement, and safeguarding profits. Her fluency in business operations and leadership dynamics enables her to create pragmatic and impactful solutions.
Currently, she leads the Americas implementation of Workday Learning and Phase 2 of the Talent module rollout, enhancing talent insights and supporting development across the business. Her leadership in these initiatives reflects strategic foresight, inclusive engagement, and operational excellence.
What distinguishes her is her ability to coach and empower her team, fostering clarity and confidence for exceptional results. She challenges her team while being protective of their growth and well-being, adeptly knowing when to guide and when to step back. The success of these projects stems from her extensive systems knowledge and her capability to inspire commitment and focus on meaningful outcomes.
Beyond her functional excellence, Celia knows how to influence. Her presence in calibration sessions, succession discussions, and global forums ensures that talent is not just a line item—it’s a competitive advantage. With the depth, vision, and strategic precision expected of top enterprise leaders, she consistently translates talent strategy into meaningful business outcomes.
“The most powerful strategy isn’t built on consensus—it’s built on alignment, clarity, and a shared commitment to outcomes that matter.”
With her strategic acumen, global experience, and demonstrated ability to lead large-scale organizational transformations, Celia is poised to take on expanded enterprise leadership. Her track record of delivering measurable results, scaling programs across regions, and influencing at the highest levels makes her exceptionally well-positioned to shape and lead talent strategy on a global stage.
Looking Ahead
Celia is not slowing down. She is committed to shaping the future of talent through data, empathy, and innovation. She envisions building cross-border leadership pipelines and designing future-ready learning ecosystems that cultivate leaders who can unlearn as quickly as they learn—leaders who are agile, self-aware, and comfortable navigating the chaos and noise of real-world business environments.
Her focus remains on elevating underrepresented voices while empowering all employees to lead with clarity and resilience.
Celia Gianetti is more than a leader—she is a trailblazer. She redefines what it means to be strategic, human, and unstoppable. Her story is still being written, but one thing is clear: she’s building a legacy that lifts others as it climbs.
“Leadership is legacy in motion—what you build, how you lift, and who rises with you.” — Celia Gianetti
Beaconing Women Leadership
Celia feels that embracing their unique perspective is crucial for women aspiring to become leaders in business and social impact initiatives. They must surround themselves with a strong support network and connect with like-minded individuals.
“My story is about embracing challenges, seizing opportunities, taking space, and holding space for others as well.”
