Melany Bustillo’s story began in La Paz, Bolivia, where she grew up until age 5. She was raised in northern Virginia in Fairfax County by immigrant parents who encouraged her to be proud of her Hispanic heritage and be a valued contributor to her community. 

“They sacrificed their lives... in hopes to give me a future full of opportunities,” she said of her parents. “Everything they have given me is because of their work ethic that they have passed on to me along with gratitude and giving back. They taught me to never take anything for granted.”

After high school, Melany moved to Philadelphia to attend Temple University and has been in the city ever since. She graduated from Temple’s Fox School of Business in 2016, with a BBA in Human Resource Management and Accounting, and was in the top 5% of her class. 

After graduating, Melany accepted a job with Cigna as part of their Underwriting Leadership Training and Risk Assessment (ULTRA) program. 

From the moment she joined Cigna, Melany was determined to find a way to promote diversity. Within a year with the company, she was advanced to being part of the core team of Cigna’s Hispanic Colleague Resource Group (CRG), where she is tasked with launching initiatives that increase the understanding of particular needs within Cigna’s customer segments. 

In addition to the progress she has made in her career, Melany has made numerous contributions to the Philadelphia community. Her focus right now is engaging in projects to increase Latino college graduation rates.

She currently serves on the board of Prospanica – the Association of Hispanic Professionals, as the Education Officer where she has been an asset in executing highly regarded professional development programs including the Annual Employee Resource Group (ERG) Leadership & Diversity Summit. Melany plays a key role in ensuring the program continues to be a success and is a meaningful experience for all involved.

“I truly believe that we rise by lifting others and success to me means that I have been able to make a difference in someone else’s life,” she said. 

In June 2018, Melany was one of the five women under the age of 40 honored in KYW’s “Rising Star Edition.” It was an honor she was proud to receive, but one that also motivated her to continue the work she’s doing. 

“I see myself continuing to progress in my career and break the glass ceilings of corporate America,” she said. “I also aspire to continue to give back to my community in every opportunity I can.”