“Advocate for other women,” Noelle Perez from Samsung

Meet Noelle Perez, Head of US Media & Performance Marketing at Samsung Electronics America, where her deep expertise in strategy, digital innovation, and operational excellence help her to thrive as a leader. Noelle’s track record of building high-performing teams and delivering award-winning campaigns have led her to be recognized by the Shorty Awards, Digital-Out-Of-Home Awards, and more. She is a trusted advisor to executives and peers alike and is known for driving transformation, fostering collaboration, and shaping brands and their consumers in meaningful ways. 

Noelle met with Morgan James, Content Marketing Specialist, SiriusXM Media, to discuss how no career path is smooth, but it’s about taking those moments and letting them refine you, not define you. From big to small mistakes, Noelle’s advice is exactly what young professionals need to hear about how to handle them with resilience. 

Listen to the full interview below and then check out some highlights from the conversation.

Work with your team.

Highlight: “I realized that working in an organization, especially at that young age or when you're starting out, it's not just about yourself—you're working with a team. And so, it's really critical to have that relationship, to take people along with you, and to make sure that you're getting that feedback. Because we're always so focused on the outcome. But sometimes progress over perfection is really, really more important than the actual outcome.” - Noelle Perez

Find opportunities to add real value.

Highlight: “I focus on understanding the culture, the manager's expectations, the team dynamics before I say yes. And so, the shift has led me to better opportunities where I can add real value and make an impact. For those who are starting out, don't compromise by taking a role just because the company name looks good. You have to be intentional, have a plan for where you want to go, what skills you need to build to get there, and never lose sight of your full value or worth.” - Noelle Perez

Own your mistakes.

Highlight: “I think everyone can recover from any mistake, no matter how small or big. But for me, the key to recovering from a mistake is to own it. And then you have to learn from it, and then move forward without letting it define you… Mistakes can feel enormous in that moment, but they're really just small points on a longer path. What matters most is how you respond, but be accountable. And ask yourself what you'll do differently next time, and then keep on going.” - Noelle Perez

Find the feedback loops.

Highlight: “I actually went back to that VP, and I acknowledged a mistake. I knew that I should have brought them in early. And what I realized is it would have been so much easier for me if I did that. But you're starting your career, and you're just wanting to focus on success. And so you tend to overlook some of these aspects that are really critical, which you will learn over time. And then, I guess most important is, ‘how did it change me? What did I do? How did I plan for it moving forward?’ You try to have open communication, you have those feedback loops. It's always good to communicate or overcommunicate, is what they say. But now, with that plan, it's helped me to make less mistakes and to be really successful in the things that I do moving forward.”

Advocate for other women.

Highlight: “I think as women in the workplace, we're too often expected to accept roles that men don't have to. Sometimes it's about lower compensation or there are expectations with women being more nurturing… I choose leadership because of my kids, especially for my daughter. I want her to see that women can lead and it models what's possible. My mom showed me this, and so I'm passing it on to my kids. What I do think should happen more is that we women should advocate for more executive roles and advocate for one another. I think that's also going to be critical for women in the workplace.” - Noelle Perez

Celebrate the small wins.

Highlight: “One of the lessons one of my mentors had taught me early on in my career is the power of small wins. When you're starting out, and you're young, and you're wanting to prove yourself to everybody, sometimes you set the bar really high and you forget to celebrate those small wins. And she told me that, ‘Hey, posting a job description on a job board is a win, going through all your emails after back-to-back meetings all day and being able to respond is a win.’ And I was like, really? But then over time, you realize that some of these small wins are really, really critical and motivational for a lot of people. And that's how it shaped me as a leader.” - Noelle Perez

Noelle’s advice highlights the importance of believing in yourself, not taking little moments for granted, and becoming the example you always wanted to be. If you want to hear more conversations like Noelle’s, check out the Pass the Mic page.

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