My road back to Rhode Island
As native Rhode Islander, I always knew I wanted to work and raise my family in the state. But when I graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in merchandising and design, I couldn’t find a job here that was right for me. So, I moved across the country to Los Angeles to work for Hanna-Barbera Productions and then moved to New York, where I worked for 14 years at Viacom.
Over the years at Viacom I held several positions, but ultimately became vice president for distribution. As vague as that title sounds, in practice it meant that I got to lead a group of incredibly talented individuals with expertise in varied backgrounds to develop well-rounded strategies and bring in the best business partnerships. I loved working with brilliant people to craft a strategy that addressed the challenges Viacom faced across its distribution network.
It was that experience, and passion for working with a diverse group of talented people, that ultimately led me to my work with the State of Rhode Island. One year in to Gov. Gina Raimondo’s first term, the state was looking for a chief marketing officer. I thought my background fit the job description, so I decided to throw my hat into the ring and ultimately got the job to lead the effort. Although the first few months were rough-and-tumble, we ended up pulling together a great team that developed the “Fun-Sized” ads that many Rhode Islanders are familiar with today.
I am proud to say that tourism is on the rise and – under Governor Raimondo and her Commerce team -- that nearly 30 companies have decided to relocate to the state or commit to growing their presence here. One of those companies, of course, was Infosys. In November 2017, Infosys committed to open a Design and Innovation Center in Providence and hire 500 Rhode Islanders, a great win for the state.
Although I loved working for this administration, when I heard about the Design and Innovation Center lead position, I knew I’d found my next calling. This Center and my job are all about bringing together a talented group of individuals and forming partnerships with the government, businesses, and academic institutions in the state to create a new generation of technology and design talent in Rhode Island. It feels like my entire career prepared me for this job and now I have the opportunity to make a profound difference for my community.
It’s hard to overstate the opportunity Infosys is bringing to Rhode Island. One of the biggest technology services companies in the world is here in Providence! The unique partnerships Infosys has already formed with Rhode Island School of Design and its recently announced partnership with the Community College of Rhode Island will benefit Rhode Islanders for years to come.
The Center itself is focused on design-thinking — enabling our young, energized employees to break through the clutter and create visionary new applications and technology designed to change the way millions of people interact with the world around them. This Center is set up like a start-up, albeit one with the resources of a global corporation and Infosys has offered my team unparalleled support as we develop the unique skillsets necessary to serve our clients. Even though I am only a few short weeks into my tenure, I can see the positive impact this company is already having on the community.
Infosys is committed to Rhode Island and will continue to make important contributions to the state. I, for one, am grateful, because it’s allowed this native Rhode Islander to do what she couldn’t do after graduating from college: live, work, and raise my family in the state I’ve always called home At Infosys, we’re just getting started here in Rhode Island. You won’t be disappointed by what comes next.
Lara Salamano is the Providence Design & Innovation Center lead and senior digital strategist at Infosys. She previously served as the chief marketing officer for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.