IN the world of telecommunications, Velma Ann M. Palacios stands as a beacon of leadership and empowerment. Recently appointed as the Executive Director of IT&E CNMI, her promotion recognizes her exceptional contributions, dedication, and outstanding performance within the organization.
Palacios’ journey with IT&E spans over two decades, beginning in 1999 as an outside plant engineer. Since then, she has held various pivotal positions, including project administrator, plant technical services manager, and engineering manager. Her most recent role was as the director of Network Operations and Engineering, where she played a crucial role in overseeing Core Wireline Operations in both the CNMI and Guam.
Empowering women: A driving force
For Palacios, women’s empowerment is a guiding principle that underpins her leadership approach. “Empowerment means allowing your team members to make the best decision possible in certain situations,” she explains. “I’ve worked to empower women throughout my career by encouraging them to speak up, share their ideas without being afraid, and supporting recommendations and decisions they make as it pertains to projects or tasks.”
Overcoming challenges and inspiring others
Palacios acknowledges the challenges women face in male-dominated fields, recounting, “As a woman leader, one of the challenges you face, especially in a male dominant field, is you are not taken seriously when you make recommendations, or your voice is not heard.” However, her resilience shines through as she shares her approach: “How I overcame that is to continue to speak, until you are heard, especially if what you are saying is important.”
Her advice to aspiring women leaders is equally inspiring: “As you move up in your career, you will be faced with tough decisions. Never be afraid to decide or to do anything. Don’t stop because you are afraid to fail, we all make mistakes and learning from them makes us a better person and leader.”
Leading with purpose and resilience
Palacios’ leadership principles are grounded in making the best decisions for the company, employees, and customers. “What guides me in deciding is if it is the best decision I can make given the circumstances and how will it affect the company, the employees and our customers,” she explains. To motivate her team, she leads by example, trusting her team members and providing them with the necessary support.
In the demanding communications field, resilience is key. Palacios shares her coping strategies: “Take things day by day. Most of all, be flexible as things are ever-changing. Taking time out for yourself whether it be meditating, exercising or taking long walks.”
Empowering women for a better workforce
In addition to her leadership role at IT&E, Palacios serves as the Chairman of the State Workforce Development Board in CNMI, working closely with the Workforce Investment Agency (WIA). This position allows her to play a pivotal role in shaping the workforce development strategies and initiatives for the region.
Palacios’ commitment to empowering women extends beyond the walls of IT&E. Through her collaboration with WIA, she actively supports programs and initiatives that provide women with the skills, training, and opportunities they need to succeed in their chosen careers. By fostering a skilled and diverse workforce, Palacios is helping to drive economic growth and create a more inclusive and equitable society.
Looking ahead: Prioritizing digital access and equity
Looking ahead, Palacios’ top priorities include “continuing to maintain and upgrade our services to our islands, focusing on areas with little to no communications access.” She believes that empowering women is crucial to achieving these goals, stating, “As we empower the women and team members in our company, everyone will be motivated to work towards this goal as they will have a part in the planning, development, and implementation.”
With her exceptional leadership skills, unwavering determination, and commitment to empowering women and developing a skilled workforce, Velma Ann C. Palacios is poised to lead IT&E CNMI towards a future of improved digital access, quality, and equity in the Saipan islands. Her efforts, both within the company and through her involvement with the State Workforce Development Board, are paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for the CNMI community.
Velma Ann M. Palacios
Velma Palacios