Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet Mariana Viana
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and all month long we’re celebrating across our organization and with our employee resource group ¡HOLA!, the Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Awareness. Today, meet Mariana Viana, Project Manager, Integrated Projects, New York State Electric & Gas.
Tell us a little about your role at Avangrid.
I worked for nine years in Brazil with Neoenergia and now more than 3 years with Avangrid. I arrived in the United States in 2023 and started working as a Lead Engineer on the Operational Excellence Team at United Illuminating in Orange, Conn., where I met many great people, built lasting friendships, and began learning more about the American electric utility sector. After two years, I moved from Connecticut to Rochester, NY and joined the NYSEG Projects Integrated Team as a Project Manager under the Transmission Line Deficiencies (TLD) Program, where I am responsible for transmission line construction projects across the NYSEG service area. This has been a great opportunity to meet new people, expand my network, and become even more connected to our business.
What has been one of the most meaningful professional challenges you’ve faced, and what helped you overcome it?
Deciding to move from Brazil to the United States was a big challenge. It was not only a move between countries, but also a significant personal and professional transition. On a personal level, the culture, food, and weather are quite different, especially for someone like me who came from Northeastern Brazil, where the weather is warm year-round. Professionally, even though I have always worked for companies within the same group, the methodologies are different. Adapting to a new regulatory environment, electrical system, processes, and ways of working were all challenges that I needed to learn and overcome over the past few years. However, what helped me the most during this journey were the people. From the very beginning, I felt welcomed and supported by Avangrid employees. Everyone was friendly, understanding, and always willing to help, not only new coworkers but anyone in the company.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you personally?
As a Brazilian, Hispanic Heritage Month is a meaningful opportunity to celebrate and share the rich diversity of Latin American cultures, histories, and traditions. For me, it is a chance to highlight Brazil’s unique contributions to the world through our culture, music, food, values, and the warmth of our people. It is also an opportunity to share experiences, learn from others, and recognize the positive impact that Hispanic and Latino communities have on our society. I am proud of my heritage and grateful for the opportunity to celebrate it with colleagues and friends.
Can you share a tradition, value, or lesson from your heritage that has shaped who you are today?
Coming from Brazil, we have many traditions, values, and life lessons that we can share with others. One of the most important values for us is the importance of family and community. I learned that success is not something we achieve alone. It comes from supporting one another, celebrating together, and helping each other through life’s challenges. Another value that has shaped me is resilience. Brazilians are always looking for ways to overcome uncertainty with optimism, determination, and creativity. I would also highlight the hospitality of Brazilian people. We are known for our warmth, kindness, generosity, and inclusive spirit.
Is there a family story, cultural experience, or influential person that has had a significant impact on your life?
One experience that has had a significant impact on my life was relocating from Brazil to the United States. It was much more than a professional move. It required me to adapt to a different culture, language, and way of working, making it a journey of growth, learning, and personal development. Being away from my family taught me the importance of staying connected to my roots, while building a new life helped me develop resilience, independence, and adaptability. At the same time, the support and kindness I received from colleagues and friends reminded me of an important Brazilian value: people and relationships matter. Their encouragement helped me navigate challenges, build confidence, and grow into the person I am today.
How has your cultural background influenced the way you approach your career, relationships, or leadership style?
My Brazilian tradition and background influenced my leadership style and taught me the importance of building strong relationships. In Brazil we really value personal connection, trust and collaboration. I believe the results come from everyone’s collaboration, and I try to create an environment where all my coworkers can share ideas, ask questions, support each other, remain positive and encourage each other with the same focus on results.
If you could share one message about the Hispanic/Latino community with your colleagues, what would you want them to know?
I would want my colleagues to know that being Hispanic or Latino is about much more than geography or language. We come from many different countries, cultures, traditions, and experiences, yet we are connected by shared values such as hospitality, family, optimism, and resilience. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and I believe we have a lot to learn from one another by embracing and celebrating our differences.
