Horizontal Management and a Focus on People: Gisella Yaksetig’s Hallmark as the New JAO Human Resources Manager

With over 25 years of experience in international organizations, she steps into the leadership of Human Resources at JAO. A lawyer, marathon runner, and padel enthusiast, she champions an open-door management style built on active listening, empathy, and team empowerment.

A solid organizational culture is built on mutual trust and the shared conviction that human talent is the cornerstone of any achievement. Guided by this premise, Gisella Yaksetig joins ALMA as the new Human Resources Manager—a professional with an outstanding track record in human capital management within international organizations.

A lawyer graduated from the Universidad de Piura holding a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Law from American University’s Washington College of Law, she discovered after her first steps in labor law that her true vocation lay at the core of institutions: their people. Her career path led her to serve as Head of Human Resources and Director of Administration at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC/CEPAL) in Chile. Additionally, she worked as an HR Officer at the World Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) in Washington, D.C., and the World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome, along with recent strategic consultancies at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

“I am passionate about ALMA’s purpose; I find it profoundly interesting. I had a sincere interest and curiosity about working in an international organization with a dynamic unlike any other in the world,” she confesses when examining the reasons that motivated her to take on this role at the observatory.

First Year at ALMA: Building Bridges and Strengthening Trust

The institutional goals for her initial phase are already mapped out. Her management priority points toward consolidating internal bonds within the observatory, ensuring that every collaborator feels supported by her unit.

“During this first year, my ultimate goal is to build trust, both within my own team and from Human Resources outward to management and all staff,” she explains. Meanwhile, she highlights how vital it is for employees to perceive her department as a strategic and unconditional ally: “We want to be seen as a service that is fully available for the various needs they may have, based on the role each individual fulfills in the institution.”

To achieve this, she extends a direct invitation to all members of the observatory: “The Human Resources team is always available to listen first, and from there, propose solutions and continuous improvement actions.”

Closeness and Service as Management Pillars

Leadership roles in international organizations require the Human Resources department to operate as a strategic partner to the staff. For Gisella, the key lies in conceiving this function from an internal customer service perspective. “What motivated me to dedicate myself to Human Resources was the closeness and interaction with everyone in an organization. It is a function where service is central,” she explains.

When defining herself professionally, she describes herself as a generalist expert in labor relations, compensation, and organizational development. However, she stresses that technical competencies lack impact if they are not exercised through humane and participatory leadership. Her management style steers away from classic vertical frameworks to embrace a collaborative methodology: “I always lead from a place of listening and empathy. I work in teams, never alone, and I seek to motivate and uplift my collaborators through empowerment and trust.”

Beyond the Desk: Marathons and the Importance of Roots

Outside the demands of the organizational sphere, Gisella nurtures an active personal life where discipline and family bonds hold a prominent place. High-endurance physical activity is one of her great passions. “Sports are central to my life, and I practice a lot. I run marathons and play padel,” she explains, demonstrating that the resilience and perseverance required for high-level competition are values she applies daily in her professional life.

Despite her vast international experience, which has led her to live in capitals across the Americas, Europe, and Africa, her roots remain intact. When asked about her place in the world, she answers without hesitation: “I always like to go back home, to my nest, with my family in Piura, Peru. Specifically to a beach called Colán.” It is in that coastal corner, along with an unalterable tradition of taking an annual family trip every July, where she recharges her energy to face challenges like the one she takes on today at ALMA.