Nathalie Padilla

Manager of Finance and Information Systems, Finance and Administration

A former Washington Heights resident, Nathalie Padilla uses her role at Columbia to ensure she’s making a difference for her community.

Pursuing a Career in Finance

I knew I always wanted to be a finance person because I always felt like it was a very powerful role. When I started my career, I landed an opportunity in corporate America, and it fit at the time. In 2018 when I had my daughter, however, I started to feel like I wasn’t making a difference. I needed something that inspired me and that I actually enjoyed. I started to look for roles in different industries in which I could apply my finance background.

What I do now at Columbia gives me the opportunity to be a finance person, which I do actually enjoy, and allows me to work on projects that may actually have an impact on others. Plus, it’s really nice to work in the community where I grew up. I feel like I'm making a difference in our community and for our people.

Celebrating Her Heritage

We like to celebrate everything! If I finish a project at work, I’m celebrating (laughs). As part of the celebration, there’s always dancing. We also only speak Spanish when at home to teach our daughter the language. My family tries to visit the Dominican Republic once a year just because my family and my husband's family still live there. While we’re there, we enjoy the local food and like to do activities that highlight our culture.

One of the things I love about my heritage and my culture is the sense of community and family. When you’re meeting new people, they feel like they’re your aunts, uncles, and your neighbors. It's like a warm hug. I feel like it makes us so unique.

Finding Inspiration in her Family

My parents emigrated from this little town in the Dominican Republic called Yamasá, which not many people know exist. They left everything they knew behind to achieve the American Dream. I can’t imagine how hard that must’ve been for them. But, they worked hard and were able to see me and my brother become successful individuals in the world. Now that I’m a parent, I understand why they made the sacrifices they did. My daughter inspires me to be a better version of myself.

Supporting CUIMC during the Pandemic

It was very interesting starting at Columbia during the beginning of a global pandemic. Throughout everything, though, the team was wonderful in bringing me onboard and making me feel welcomed. Even the individuals cleaning and maintaining the buildings made me feel like I was walking into my home when I came into the office.

Because of the feelings of closeness, however, I would be worried at times for those working on the front lines. They were doing such fantastic jobs but they were also putting themselves at risk. I am so proud of what they accomplished.