Karina Heffel
C- Level Executive Assistant | Global Business & Culture Liaison | EN–ES–PT
Buenos Aires,Argentina
Summary
đź’Ľ About Me
I’m a Senior C-Level Executive Assistant with 15+ years of international experience across healthcare, government, automotive, and pharmaceutical sectors. For over a decade, I’ve partnered with global leaders in multinational environments—offering strategic support, operational clarity, and a human touch.
🌍 Trilingual in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, and a dual citizen of Argentina and the U.S., I bring a global mindset to every professional interaction. My years living and working in the U.S. shaped me into a cultural and operational bridge—while my Argentine roots inspire adaptability, warmth, and resilience.
📚 Currently expanding my strategic lens through Global Business studies, I’m deepening my ability to anticipate risks, identify opportunities, and support executive decision-making with insight and foresight.
✨ As founder of LatAm Executive Voices, I’m creating spaces for mentoring and storytelling, amplifying the voices of Latin American Executive Assistants and building bridges across leaders, cultures, and generations.
🤝 I´d like to connect with leaders and teams who value strategic partnership, cultural intelligence, and authentic collaboration.
Let’s build something meaningful together!
Karina Heffel
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Languages
Spanish
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Portuguese
Upper intermediate (B2)
Websites
Accomplishments
- Redesigned CEO´s calendar and planning system, reducing scheduling conflicts by 30%, ensuring 98% punctuality and aligning 12+ international trips, 6 Board meetings, and 20+ internal leadership events with zero scheduling overlaps.
- Planned and executed 15+ Executive Team and Board meetings, ensuring 100% on-time starts and delivering 20% cost savings through vendor negotiations and streamlined logistics.
- Coordinated travel for 10+ international trips, ensuring full visa compliance and reducing booking turnaround from 5 days to 2 days, enabling faster decision-making.
- Upholding 100% confidentiality, drafting discreet, time-sensitive responses within 2 business hours on average.
- For the 5th consecutive year, coordinated participation of a team of eight executives from South America, Asia, Middle East, and Europe and the company's presence at the CPHI in Europe, optimizing costs through vendor negotiation, coordinating stand design, managing budgets, and overseeing travel and hotel arrangements for all attendees.
Work History
Executive Assistant to CEO
BIOSIDUS
Buenos Aires
06.2019 - Current
- Manage CEO's complex day-to-day activities, including advanced Outlook calendar coordination, meeting preparation and yearly planning.
- Organize Executive and Board meetings, integrating logistics, catering, and technology for global participation.
- Organize travel arrangements for international trips, handle visa compliance, itineraries, and expense reporting.
- Liaise among Board members, Executive Team, HR, Finance, and Legal Counsel to align priorities and strategy.
- Handle confidential correspondence and communications, ensuring discretion and timely, accurate response.
Executive Assistant to Vice-president & Board of Directors
General Motors Argentina
01.2019 - 06.2019
- Ensured seamless Board and VP operations during international visits through proactive calendar management, multilingual communication, and executive meeting preparation.
- Coordinated domestic and international travel arrangements, local events and meetings, expense reports, and supervised intern assigned to the area.
Executive Assistant to Sales & Commercial Operations
General Motors Argentina
03.2017 - 01.2019
- Assisted Sales Director (ISP - International Service Personnel) with day-to-day business activities, managing professional calendar, international tax documentation, and housing expense payments, monthly reconciliations.
- Coordinated travel, hotel, and telecommunication resources to enable effective decision-making.
- Facilitated monthly Franchise Operation Meetings, maintaining communication with a network of 50+ official dealers to align GM Sales initiatives.
- Reviewed all departmental documentation for compliance with company policies and best business practices prior to Director sign-off.
Executive Assistant to Regional CFO
General Motors Argentina
02.2015 - 03.2017
- Managed personal and professional agendas for the Regional CFO, including travel coordination, hotel reservations, and expense reporting with emphasis on ISP reconciliation submissions.
- Provided personal assistance with immigration, tax, and medical processes to ensure seamless relocation support on international assignments.
- Organized and executed financial operation meetings, seminars, and corporate events on-site and via telepresence, in coordination with IT services, ensuring logistical excellence.
- Drafted and translated financial reports, presentations, and complex communications in English and Spanish to facilitate executive decision-making and enabling CFO decisions impacting budget.
- Conducted Spanish-English translations of relevant local financial news articles for the CFO, a non-Spanish speaker.
Aftersales Services Manager
Fraga Automotives S.A.
Buenos Aires
02.2014 - 02.2015
- Managed post-sale operations at a Chevrolet dealership, ensuring delivery of high-quality customer service aligned with General Motors Standards of Practice, CRM platforms, and dealer management systems.
- Directed a 12-person service team, increasing customer satisfaction and sales metrics 30% in one year.
- Improved operational efficiency by streamlining workflows and staff allocation during peak periods.
Adjustments Specialist & Bilingual Counselor
Texas Guaranteed SLC
Austin, Texas
10.2007 - 02.2013
- Certified federal student loans, ensured compliance, and represented the organization in telephone hearings.
- Counseled Spanish-speaking borrowers on preventing defaults, maintaining high satisfaction.
Translator - Communications Department
Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services
Austin, Texas
01.2007 - 12.2007
Bilingual Office Assistant & Medical Interpreter
Multnomah Co. Health Dept.
Portland, Oregon
01.2001 - 12.2006
Executive Admin Coordinator
ICAC- CFC- SENASA
Buenos Aires
01.1997 - 12.1999
Education
Associate Degree - Global Business / International Trade
University of Belgrano
Buenos Aires, Argentina 03.2024 - Current
Course - Medical Marketing
UAI
Buenos Aires, Argentina 01.2023 - 11.2023
Certificate - Medical Interpreting And Translation
Portland Community College
Portland, Oregon 05.2001 - 05.2002
Skills
- Microsoft 365
- Teams
- Trello
- Canva
- SAP
- DHR
- LCR
- NSLDS
- Copilot
- ChatGPT
- Gemini
- Cybersecurity awareness
Professional Development
- Leadership & Communication, Santander Open Academy, 2024-2025
- Business & Strategy, LinkedIn Learning, 2023-2025
- Diversity & Inclusion, SafetyCulture, 2025-01-01
- PM Kick-Off, PMI, 2025
Quote
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
Steve Jobs
Technical Skills
Microsoft 365, Teams, Trello, Canva, SAP, DHR, LCR, NSLDS, Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Cybersecurity awareness
Timeline
Associate Degree - Global Business / International Trade
University of Belgrano
03.2024 - Current
Course - Medical Marketing
UAI
01.2023 - 11.2023
Executive Assistant to CEO
BIOSIDUS
06.2019 - Current
Executive Assistant to Vice-president & Board of Directors
General Motors Argentina
01.2019 - 06.2019
Executive Assistant to Sales & Commercial Operations
General Motors Argentina
03.2017 - 01.2019
Executive Assistant to Regional CFO
General Motors Argentina
02.2015 - 03.2017
Aftersales Services Manager
Fraga Automotives S.A.
02.2014 - 02.2015
Adjustments Specialist & Bilingual Counselor
Texas Guaranteed SLC
10.2007 - 02.2013
Translator - Communications Department
Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services
01.2007 - 12.2007
Certificate - Medical Interpreting And Translation
Portland Community College
05.2001 - 05.2002
Bilingual Office Assistant & Medical Interpreter
Multnomah Co. Health Dept.
01.2001 - 12.2006
Executive Admin Coordinator
ICAC- CFC- SENASA
01.1997 - 12.1999
Interests
Creative writing
Reading
International Business
Outdoor Activities
Travel
Social causes
Mentoring
Learning new things all the time!