Meet Margarita Baquero, Lift UP Panelist

11 hours ago
3 min read

Margarita Baquero is a strategic business leader with extensive experience managing global teams, driving digital transformation, and improving operations through data analytics and automation. She has delivered impact for leading Fortune 500 companies including Otis Elevator, RTX, and United Technologies, where she modernized systems and developed go-to-market strategies for innovative products. Margarita also brings a deeply relatable personal story to her professional journey. In an UP coffee she shared that she had tried to apply a project manager's structured thinking to the work of family and home, only to conclude there are simply not enough hours in the day to "do it all." That realization led her to design systems at home, just as thoughtfully as she does at work. She intentionally built a team of support, outsourcing and reshaping expectations so her family life and career could both be sustainable.

We'll hear stories like these at our Reginite & Celebrate Event during our Lift UP panel moderated by Sarah Cody, Director of Public Relations at Middlesex Health, author and three-time Emmy Award-winning media professional. Sarah will guide the conversation as Margarita and fellow panelists Meredith Pickett and Katie Lucca share the real behind-the-scenes of returning, juggling caregiving, and building a path to a sustainable and fulfilling career.

Attend to hear the stories of triumph and inspiration! Read on to learn more about Margarita's impressive career. Margarita's leadership spans engineering, product management, program management, and strategy. She has led global teams of 165 people and guided organizations to achieve significant results in cost savings, as well as generating millions in new revenue. Margarita’s technical and analytical expertise enables her to connect data, automation, and business strategy in practical, results‑driven ways.

Margarita holds an Executive MBA from Indiana University (Bloomington, IN), a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, and a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering from Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. She is SAFe, Agile, and Scrum Product Owner certified, reflecting her commitment to continuous learning and modern leadership.

Mentor & Connector

Margarita learned about Untapped Potential in 2020 and has since engaged deeply in the community through networking and interviewing events, skillUPs, and peer mentorship. She has introduced several colleagues to Untapped Potential: one friend she referred was successfully launched as a candidate in 2024, while another completed training programs that led directly to new employment opportunities. Inspired by an AI session, she is currently completing the MIT Applied AI & Data Science Certificate, strengthening her ability to connect analytics and AI with enterprise‑level decision‑making.

Engaged in leadership and community impact, Margarita served on the OTIS HOLA Employee Resource Group Board, founded and led the Pratt & Whitney Hispanic Leadership Forum Advisory Board, and has served on the Prospanica CT Board of Directors. Margarita brings a global, inclusive lens to her work. She lives in West Hartford with her husband and daughter.

See prior lift each other up panels to see the breadth and unique stories that open minds and doors. The panel is a special feature of our Mentor Mingle celebrating 10 years of Untapped Potential!