You pass them in the halls, see their faces on Teams calls, and exchange emails. You know their job title and department and might even know their extension by heart. But do you truly know who you’re working with? Get to know Rebecca Guerrero, one of the Managing Directors on our Healthcare team and Tandym’s Employee of the Month for September 2024!

Who are you?

I’m originally from Florida. I grew up there with my parents and two brothers (one older and one younger). My whole life I’ve been into martial arts, specifically Krav Maga, boxing, and Kenpo – which is a form of martial arts. In high school, I was really into rugby. I became my high school’s team captain and when I went to Florida State University for college, I joined their team as well. After a year, I decided to leave rugby to take part in FSU’s Marine Officer Training Program. After being medically discharged, I shifted my academic focus to psychology with a business minor. I wanted to do something with HR / recruitment, which is how I eventually came to join Tandym. After college, I worked in Florida for the company, then I volunteered to move to California to work out of the Culver City office. Ultimately though, I ended up joining the NYC office. I currently live on the Upper West Side with my cat Roxie – only a 20-minute commute from the office!

Are you more of a dog person or a cat person?

I am actually both! I’ve had both dogs and cats my entire life. I’m pretty much a fan of any fluffy animal ever. Right now, I’m a cat person because it’s the more ideal pet to have living in New York City and at this point in my life. Cats are so self-sufficient that when I work long hours I don’t have to run home to walk them. Even when I travel, it’s easier for someone to stop by and feed the cat or even babysit them for a weekend than a dog. One day when I get a bigger place though, I’ll get a dog again.

Who were your heroes / inspirations growing up?

For me, it’s got to be my dad. He’s originally from Colombia and moved the U.S. when he was around 7 years old and was able to reconnect with family in New Jersey. When he got here, he dealt with a lot of discrimination and prejudices all while trying to learn a brand-new language. But through it all, he not only persevered – he thrived. He graduated high school and college, which was a big accomplishment in his family. He went on to earn his CPA and eventually became the CFO of a company. His drive, grit, and relentless hard work are all truly inspirational. He’s someone I try to emulate every day.

You’ve had a long day and all you want to do is sit on your couch and watch something to take your mind off work. What’s it going to be?

I’m going to be honest with you: I’m more of a reader. I’m just not the best at watching or keeping up with shows or movies. I usually just reach out to friends for recommendations. For example, a bunch of my friends told me to watch “Suits” on Netflix. It was okay, but not really my cup of tea. Right now, I’m re-watching the show “Vikings”, which is more my speed and genre. I was a big “Games of Thrones” fan. But after the way the final season ended, I was so turned off by that entire story / world that I didn’t even bother watching the prequel spinoff. I just don’t trust them anymore.

Did you find Tandym or did we find you?

Tandym found me! I was four months away from graduating college and already began applying to a bunch of jobs that seemed right up my alley. I even went further and threw all my information on LinkedIn just in case. Soon after, Tandym’s Director of HR reached out to me for an interview. They talked to me about joining the firm and explained the staffing industry as a whole, which I’ll be honest I never knew existed. The funny thing about it is that I wanted to get into HR because I liked the idea of recruitment. The kicker that sold me was that she presented it as “HR without doing all the heavy paperwork”. 8 years later and I’m still here and loving it!

If you could only eat one cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

It’s got to be Italian. It’s a comfort food. If you think about it, any time of year there’s a different type of Italian food that’s meant for that season. I just love all the different dishes, especially spaghetti and meatballs which is my go-to home-cooked meal. It just reminds me of home. Plus, pizza is amazing. I mean, I just had it for dinner last night.

What was it like to win Employee of the Month and what advice would you offer to others striving for the title?

Funny story: I didn’t know I won for almost the entire day. I was at a conference during the Town Hall when it was announced. I didn’t realize until later that afternoon when I signed onto Teams and saw that I had 40 missed messages. I was like, “Uh-oh. What the heck happened while I was away?” I figured I was jumping back on to put out a bunch of immediate fires, but it was a very pleasant surprise to find out otherwise. It’s truly an honor and even better that it’s because I’m being recognized by my peers.

My advice to anyone striving to be Employee of the Month or even just being a better worker is simply that hard work and dedication are the foundations to get you there. But don’t stay in your little silos either! If all you do is come in, stay to yourself, get the minimum done and clock out, then you need to understand it’s more than that. Jump on calls to listen in on things. Help your coworkers when you see them struggling. Get out of your comfort zone a bit! It comes a bit natural to me, but that doesn’t mean you can’t leverage your specific skillset to get more out of your day-to-day and to add more value to yourself and the company. Give it a try.

If you had to choose someone on your team to hand the AUX cord to, who would it be and why?

That’s an easy question: it’s John Scammell. He and I both love rock music, especially alternative rock music. Our desks are right across from each other, so we’re always talking about different bands.

You’re an integral part of the company’s DEI initiatives. What makes you so passionate and how would you like to see it grow?

I’m passionate about it because I believe in making this world as equitable as possible for all. I’m a Jewish, bisexual Latina. It’s quite evident that I have a lot of minority characteristics that would fit into many of the DEI groups. I’m lucky enough to not have any of those held against me in my professional career here at Tandym and I want to make sure everyone at the firm feels the same way and has the same opportunities. No matter how unique you might be, it won’t stop you from succeeding here. That’s the ultimate goal. It’s all about making it easier for all people to be seen.

If I handed you a plane ticket right now to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Well, I just checked off a bucket list destination when I visited Scotland last year. Right now, it’s got to be Colombia. I’ve never been, and I’ve always wanted to go. I’d love to retrace my father’s childhood and visit all the places he knew growing up. Plus, the music, the food, the culture… I need to go soon!

What are your goals for 2024 and beyond?

The same as it is every year. I want to keep growing in every aspect of my job. My biggest competition is me from the year before. I always want to be better than I was.

The zombie apocalypse has just hit Tandym. What’s your first move?

I’d get to my apartment on the Upper West Side as fast as possible, grab my go bag, and head straight to the woods. Yes, I have a go bag. Well, it’s technically my camping bag, but it just happens to be sufficient enough for this situation. It has a rope, hunting knife, flint, iodine tablets, axe, shovel, hammer, waterproof matches, a tarp, minor handle tools, and I also have three sleeping bags. I’ll invite anyone who can handle themselves in a situation like that to join me, but they have to eat meat. We’ll be doing a lot of hunting!