Some people climb the ladder. Others quietly build something more durable — a reputation for adding value, leading with humanity, and knowing exactly who they are in every room they enter.
Joel Paulino is the Senior Director of Marketing overseeing Go-To-Market, Performance Marketing, and Social Media for Verizon's value brands. His scope is expansive — five brands, more than 20 social channels, and a mandate that connects strategy to execution across some of the most competitive segments in telecom. But what stands out about Joel isn't the title. It's the intentionality behind how he got there, and how he leads now that he's here.
In this conversation, Joel talks about the self-awareness that's driven his career, what it means to show up authentically in spaces that weren't always built for people like him, and why his most important reset still happens in a hammock at the beach.
Wellth: Tell us a bit about your role, and what excites you most about it.
I’m the Senior Director of Marketing overseeing Go-To-Market, Performance Marketing, and Social Media for Verizon’s value brands. My role connects business and product priorities to marketing strategies that capture growth opportunities in the market.
The scope spans translating strategy into execution through Go-To-Market, driving measurable results across performance channels like Direct Mail, Email, E-tail, and affiliate programs, and leading Social across five brands and more than 20 channels.
What excites me most is the breadth and impact of the work. The variety keeps every day dynamic, and the ability to influence both strategy and execution across multiple brands makes the role both challenging and energizing.
Wellth: What’s one money move that helped you get here?
Self-awareness, understanding my strengths and the value I uniquely bring to a team, company, or business challenge. Winning teams require each player to own a distinct role. I’ve learned to clearly articulate where I add the most value, which has helped me step into roles that are the right fit.
Once in the role, I apply that same mindset to my team, understanding their strengths and development areas and shaping my leadership approach around what the team needs most. That alignment is what drives collective success.
Wellth: Who was the first person in your world you told about the new role, and what was their reaction?
The first people I told were my childhood friends in our WhatsApp group. We’ve been close for over three decades and talk almost every day, sharing life updates, business moves, and plenty of memes. They’ve always been incredibly supportive, and I keep them updated on every new role, usually recruiting them as consumers of whatever brand I’m working on.
They were genuinely excited and proud. They’re great at reminding me to pause and celebrate the wins. And, of course, after the congratulations came the inevitable question about how they could get a discount.
Wellth: What's one value or principle that guides you in your career?
To show up as my authentic self and lead as a human first. It’s easier said than done, especially when there aren’t always many visible models who look like you, speak like you, or share your background. But I’ve learned that I do my best work when I fully embrace who I am.
I’ve also seen that authenticity creates trust. In environments that can sometimes feel transactional or impersonal, leading with humanity goes a long way.
Wellth: How do you celebrate your wins, whether big or small?
Historically, I’ve had a tendency to move quickly to the next challenge rather than pause to celebrate. I’m wired to keep building. But I’ve learned that constantly chasing the next milestone can lead to burnout, so I’ve been more intentional about creating space to pause and reflect.
One way I celebrate now is by giving myself permission to step away from goals entirely. My reset is simple: time at the beach with my hammock. No agenda, no productivity, minimal phone use, just presence. Any time of year, I find a way.
Wellth: What advice would you give someone looking to follow a similar path?
Add value. In every context, look for ways to contribute meaningfully. Don’t wait to be asked or directed to share your perspective. Take the initiative.
Put yourself in the shoes of the customer, the business leader, or the stakeholder. Understand their challenges through their lens, and then find ways to help solve them. Your life, academic, and professional experiences give you a unique point of view. When applied intentionally, that perspective can create real impact.
Make sure your voice is heard and consistently bring value to the table.
