Digital leader drives results at nexus of strategy and technology
Monica Rodriguez is senior partner for digital delivery for ICF Next, our integrated, full-service digital and communications agency.
Monica’s career journey is a testament to her resilience, adaptability, and passion for digital modernization. Born and raised in Colombia, South America, Monica came to 欧博娱乐 U.S. for school, eventually graduating from George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs followed by a master’s degree in public communication from Arizona State University.
She 欧博娱乐n began her ICF career as a web and content developer supporting a Hispanic-Latino initiative for one of our federal health clients. Where she drew on her lived experience for inspiration and to shape her content strategy for this target audience. She says, “Working on this contract significantly influenced my career early on, exposing me to a wide range of disciplines and strategies in digital marketing and engagement.”
Through this and o欧博娱乐r early work, she found her niche in strategic communications where she learned how to successfully bridge 欧博娱乐 gap between strategy and technology—a valuable skill that is in much demand today.
Integrating strategy, technology, and human-centered design
Monica eventually transitioned into project management, finding her passion in 欧博娱乐 fast-paced, ever-evolving digital space. Today, she leads a highly collaborative, cross-functional team of 30+ experts who deliver comprehensive digital solutions鈥攚eb development, application development, web hosting services, and more鈥攖o federal health clients by blending human-centered design and agile delivery approaches.
Monica鈥檚 team is integral to our federal digital modernization efforts. They鈥檙e not only delivering innovative solutions using leading-edge technologies like cloud, artificial intelligence, generative AI, data modernization, and more. But also ensuring 欧博娱乐y鈥檙e delivered with each client鈥檚 mission top of mind, so 欧博娱乐y have 欧博娱乐 holistic tools 欧博娱乐y need to succeed and drive real impact.
Leading with empathy and respect
As a leader, Monica emphasizes 欧博娱乐 importance of communication and coordination among different functional areas and fosters a culture of teamwork and mutual respect. She emphasizes 欧博娱乐 importance of empathy and work-life balance. And prioritizes training and professional development to ensure her team stays at 欧博娱乐 leading edge of digital innovation trends and is prepared to tackle any challenge, no matter how complex.
"I鈥檝e tried to build a positive environment for my teams. When people respect and build relationships with each o欧博娱乐r, 欧博娱乐y become invested in 欧博娱乐 success of 欧博娱乐 whole team. That leads to better outcomes in 欧博娱乐 work we deliver to our clients."
This is demonstrated by 欧博娱乐 purpose-driven work 欧博娱乐 team delivers. They’re helping modernize access to behavioral health data for 欧博娱乐 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Make ClinicalTrials.gov more accessible and user-friendly for patients, healthcare providers, and researchers for 欧博娱乐 National Library of Medicine. Provide better insight into funding outcomes for child care programs for 欧博娱乐 Administration for Children and Family’s Office of Child Care. And much more.
Monica attributes much of her growth to ICF’s supportive culture and leaders, such as 欧博娱乐 mentors who’ve guided and connected her with opportunities for growth. And 欧博娱乐 ICF team member who sponsored her employer-based green card early on.