Nefferty Santiago's Journey from NJIT to Top 50 Women Leaders of New York City

Nefferty Santiago ’95, ’99 still remembers her first days at NJIT as part of the Educational Opportunity Program’s (EOPs) eight-week academic bootcamp, which introduced her to the rigors of academic life. 

“Coming from a small all-girls Catholic high school in Union City, attending NJIT was a culture shock,” she said. “EOP was intense — living on campus, maintaining a rigorous schedule even sharing a hallway phone to call home. But EOP provided me with a community. I was with other Latino students and that brought me comfort. EOP provided me with a strong academic foundation plus the bonus of community and lasting friendships.”

Santiago went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering later pursuing her master’s in engineering management from NJIT. She’s currently the Head of Business Resiliency for the Americas at Marsh McLennan, a Fortune 500 company and the world’s leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. 

Before joining Marsh McLennan, Santiago served as the business continuity officer for Prudential International Insurance. Earlier in her career, she worked for AT&T and Verizon Wireless where she gained her expertise within crisis management, business continuity, risk management and corporate governance.

This summer she was, once again, honored and included among the Top 50 Women Leaders of New York City for 2025 by Women We Admire. 

Santiago’s parents immigrated from Ecuador for better opportunities and the wish of leaving their daughters the inheritance of an education. Their unwavering belief in the power of education shaped her path. One of the guiding principles she carries from her upbringing is the saying: “Si vas hacer algo, hazlo bien hecho, sino no lo hagas,” meaning “If you’re going to do something, do it really well; if not, don’t do it at all.” 

From her Ecuadorian roots to her EOP classmates to her NJIT professors, Santiago has had the privilege to have many mentors, but one that stood out to her was Professor Harold Deutschman. 

“I was not a good test taker and when I struggled academically, Dr. Deutschman saw potential in me,” she recalled. “He offered me a job tutoring pre-college STEM students. That experience boosted my confidence, and at graduation, he personally handed me my diploma, shook my father’s hand and said, ‘You can be proud of her.” That moment reinforced the power of mentorship. His support empowered me to keep working hard.”

Deutschman retired in December 2013 after 45 years of service. During his tenure, Deutschman did research in the area of transportation systems. He also helped pioneer the pre-college programs here at NJIT, mentoring students to enter college and pursue STEM careers. In 1999 he received the prestigious White House Award for Mentoring Minorities to Careers in Engineering, presented by President Clinton.

My aspirations have always been driven by my family values.

Coming from a small mostly Latin community in Hudson County, navigating the corporate world at the onset of her career was challenging. “You feel very small starting out, often the only female and non-Latin in the room,” she said. “It was difficult and competitive.”

“However, I have never reflected on how I navigated the environment as a Latina until we talked about this interview. My aspirations have always been driven by my family values. We were encouraged to dream big, and that nothing comes free – you work hard and always give 100%,” she said. “As a first-generation Latina, I relied on the skillsets I learned from navigating two worlds, the Latino and the American. Not losing sight of these skillsets and our Latino heritage is important for me and my husband. We strive to instill the same traditions and values in our daughters – strong work ethic, perseverance and resilience.”

She learned to pick up on nuances that you only learn from bringing different cultural backgrounds together. “Understanding norms from different backgrounds helps me connect with people and lead with empathy. I lead with the heart, but also with the data – because that's the engineer in me. I aim to inspire and lead through example by working hard, showing compassion, and overcome challenges through solutions grounded in fact and purpose.”

Her defining career moment happened during a trip to Santiago, Chile when asked to present to a joint venture — in Spanish. Although fluent, she had never delivered a fully technical presentation in Spanish. Developing the content in English, translating every word, rehearsing obsessively, panicking quietly, she showed up. 

After a two-hour session, the CEO approached her and said, “Tell your parents they must be very proud - you don’t have an accent.” Her proudest moment? “Mami y Papi, lo hice bien!” - Mom and Dad, I did it well!

Santiago, born and raised in Hudson County, visited South America by herself for the first time, and exceeded expectations during that presentation. “It was a pivotal moment that connected my culture, career, education and upbringing,” she said. “It fueled my drive to excel in my chosen career path, feeling confident knowing I had something to bring to the table, and I was bringing it to Latin America, where my roots are.”

 “What do I think about being a role model? That's a difficult one for me because I look to role models myself. But I can see how my journey might inspire others,” she said. “It is important for me to set a good example for my family, my daughters and to represent my culture with pride.”

“When I think about being a role model to other Latinas in STEM, it makes me think about my journey, what I have learned along the way and how to best pay that forward. Latinas continue to be vastly underrepresented in technical fields. To this day, there are times I am still the only Latina in the room.”

She emphasizes there is still a lot more work to be done to increase the number of Latina women in engineering industries, as only 2% make up the workforce. 

“I am compelled to do more, to advocate more, to champion and further exemplify the core values taught to me at NJIT – excellence, integrity, social responsibility, collaboration and courage. “ 

Her advice to young Latinas pursuing STEM? 

“As an introverted girl starting at NJIT, I never imagined I would be leading in a career that I am passionate about. Being interviewed by my alma mater is a full-circle moment; it is an honor and deeply humbling. It’s a reminder that with courage, determination, and a good support system, anything is possible. 

“Success rarely follows a linear path. Expect bumps along the way, don’t be discouraged. Making mistakes is part of the journey—and that’s okay. Your heritage is your superpower—embrace it. Pursue your dreams with relentless passion. Rely on the strong foundation you inherited as a Latina, and then pay it forward to inspire others.”