Roxana Rotundo: Inspiration to overcome all obstacles
If I could describe my sister Roxana Rotundo just in one sentence, it would be: Take the risk to overcome your limitations, believe that you can do it!
Talking to my sister when she was leaving for MIPCOM in France, we realized that her first festival was in 1992. It’s easy to say, but that’s 29 years in an industry she loves and respects. We were very surprised by that number, and I analyzed her career path, which began in Venezuela, when she took Geraldo Rivera’s successful talk show to broadcast television and started distributing content in the Latin American region, until she moved to Miami in 1997. With her ups and downs, and great learning during these years, she is currently CEO of VIP 2000 TV, a content distributor for the Hispanic market and producer of original content, with a strong emphasis on the production of unitaries in the region.
One of my sister’s most beautiful achievements is being the Chairwoman of the Board of WAWA, a project that she actively initiated during the pandemic and that allowed the Association to take a great turn, incentivizing different events to consolidate the connection between its members, despite the limitations of COVID and that managed, with wonderful teamwork, to give WAWA a great exposure and international recognition.
In such a complicated 2020, Roxana never gave up her positive energy, and with their digital events, the associates found a place of escape to continue developing professional activities. WAWA became our family, therapist, group of friends, well, it was a time when we laughed, cried and prayed for those who are no longer with us.
Today, when we begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel, when little by little the face-to-face events begin, we value more what WAWA represents in each one of its members. And as Roxana has always said, the greatest assets of our business are our clients, friends, suppliers and, in conclusion, every professional that makes this industry grow. That is why I know that Roxana Rotundo’s leadership of WAWA will always be remembered.
As many may know, Roxana suffered from severe hearing loss. She successfully underwent two cochlear implants that allow her to learn to hear again, a long and complicated process, which she overcame mainly because of her great positivism and dedication, demonstrating that every limitation can be pushed aside to create a change and a better world.
From that experience, she works actively and is the first Latin American woman member of the Board of Directors of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), whose mission is to be a bridge of connection with Hispanics who, like her, were uninformed about their disability.
During the pandemic and together with some friends, they produced the documentary We Hear You, telling their stories and creating an informative space that allows for international outreach and education on this topic.
I can conclude saying that my sister is someone who considers the importance of the value of the word, she is an admirable woman who fills me with pride and to whom I have great professional respect. Roxana is for me a SUPER WAWA, she may lack one of her 5 senses, but she is more than empowered.
With love, Rosalind Rotundo
