Monica Guadalajara

Brand, Culture & Operations Leader | Marketing, Partnerships & Global Growth | Ex-Gusto

Mexico City, Mexico

About

I work at the intersection of brand, culture, and operations — helping companies build meaningful experiences while scaling sustainably. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve worked across luxury, fashion, beauty, media, and global technology companies, leading brand initiatives, partnerships, product launches, and culture-driven programs. At Gusto, I supported the expansion of the Mexico entity and led cross-functional initiatives across culture, operations, and team experience in a global, remote environment. My background combines public relations, brand building, and partnerships with strong operational execution — allowing me to connect creative vision with scalable, business-driven results. I’m currently exploring opportunities in brand, marketing, partnerships, and hybrid roles where culture, experience, and growth intersect — particularly within global or remote-first companies.

Experience

  • Global Culture & Operations Partner at Gusto
    Dec 2021 - Dec 2025 · 4 yrs 1 mo

    • Contributed to the setup and scaling of Gusto’s Mexico entity, acting as a key link between local teams and U.S. leadership. • Led cross-functional initiatives across culture, operations, and team experience in a global, remote-first environment. • Advised leadership on organizational structure, team dynamics, and performance. • Designed and implemented processes, dashboards, and internal systems to improve operational efficiency. • Acted as a key connector between people, operations, and leadership, balancing strategy and execution.

  • Product Innovation & Brand Development at OH!GANICS
    May 2021 - Jun 2023 · 2 yrs 2 mos

    •Developed new product concepts, including B2B opportunities for hospitality and new market segments. • Coordinated cross-functional efforts across product, brand, and marketing. • Managed vendor relationships and led workspace redesign aligned with brand identity. • Acted as a key operational partner, ensuring alignment, problem-solving, and execution across teams. • Coordinated brand campaigns and photoshoots, ensuring creative and operational consistency.

  • Celebrity Relations & Luxury Brand Activations at Sweet Ad & Public Relations
    Nov 2009 - Sep 2012 · 2 yrs 11 mos

    • Led PR and brand strategies for global brands such as Carolina Herrera, Puma, Nestlé, Moroccanoil, and H.Stern. • Built relationships with media, celebrities, and influencers, driving visibility and positioning. • Executed high-profile events, launches, and campaigns aligned with brand strategy. • Managed large-scale activations including Carolina Herrera events and Shakira fragrance launch in Mexico.

  • Public Relations and Social/ Cultural Editor at Grupo Expansión
    2006 - 2009 · 3 yrs

    • Produced editorial content covering high-profile cultural, social, and political events in Mexico and internationally. • Led interviews and features, including a column on philanthropy and social impact leaders. • Coordinated international photoshoots and managed relationships with celebrities and public figures.

  • Public Relations Specialist at Marketen Experiential Marketing
    2004 - 2006 · 2 yrs

    • Supported PR and marketing initiatives for brands including Moshi Moshi and Tous. • Assisted in the execution of large-scale music festivals across Mexico, including Marlboro MX Beat. • Coordinated logistics, artist relations, and event production in multi-city environments.