Francis Hondal (MBA ’94, BBA ’88), a seasoned corporate leader and former executive at American Express and Mastercard shared her insights on leadership, career growth and global business strategy at FIU Business as part of the Wertheim Lecture Series. The event, held February 19, 2025, brought together students, alumni, faculty and advisory board members eager to gain wisdom from Hondal’s extensive 35-year career.
“I have been incredibly fortunate to build a career that I truly love, one that has challenged me,” said Hondal. “It has really enabled me to develop personal and professional growth. It's taken me around the world to a number of really amazing places, and it's given me the opportunity to manage great businesses within large and complex organizations.”
(L to R) Faiyaz Hack (BBA '04), director of strategic operations and technology, NextEra Energy; Belkys Hack (BBA '07), human resources director, Lennar; Francis Hondal (MBA '94, BBA '88) board member, Bath & Body Works and Equitable; and Alan Gonzalez (MBA '01, BA '97) IT director NextEra Energy, FIU Board of Trustees.
Hondal shared her purposeful approach to career planning that led to making pivotal decisions that shaped her journey, from working at a local bank to climbing the ranks at American Express, navigating the 2008 financial crisis and becoming president of loyalty and marketing services at MasterCard.
She underscored the importance of embracing challenges and taking calculated risks, recounting how she stepped in leadership roles traditionally held by more seasoned executives.
“I made the decision that fear, and uncertainty would not be my driver,” said Hondal. “I wouldn't wait for what many of us do throughout our careers until ‘I feel like I'm ready,’ like I'm perfectly ready to make this move. I would treat the whole opportunity, frankly, as a learning experience.”
(L to R) J.R. Steinbauer, Jr., vice president, Steinbaur Associates and member of the FIU Business Real Estate Council; Jose Manuel Diaz (BBA '86) principal, Compass Office Solutions and member of the FIU President's Council; and William Hardin, dean of FIU Business.
She also candidly shared a personal professional failure she referred to as “the Big Fail,” a boardroom presentation held halfway around the world, that did not go as planned—and how she rebounded from it.
For students, her message of overcoming failure resonated deeply.
“How she was able to bounce back with that and actually progress in her career, further beyond that, I think was big for me,” said Ash Emmott St. Onge, a sophomore studying finance.
Hondal reflected on her transition to serving on public boards, including at Bath & Body Works and Equitable Holdings. She emphasized the significance of staying intellectually curious, seeking feedback and embracing challenges as learning opportunities.
“I learned that career movements are not linear, and that every decision that we make has an impact, whether we know what it is or not,” said Natalia Garcia, a Master of International Business student. “What I also learned was to have more confidence within what we already know and to search more within that, and that's what we're actually looking for.”
During the Q&A session, students asked about overcoming setbacks, navigating virtual work environments and pursuing international careers.
As she closed, Hondal left students with guiding principles for career success: define a personal vision, take ownership of professional growth and maintain a growth mindset.
“Life is short,” she concluded. “Chase impact, not titles.”