Get to Know – Fatima Giammarino

Can you tell us about your career journey and how it has shaped you?

I celebrated 21 years with Verizon, a journey that has provided me with incredible opportunities. My career began humbly as a temporary greeter in a Verizon retail store, which soon led to a part-time position in customer service. Recognizing the value of continuous learning, I decided to leverage Verizon’s tuition assistance benefit to earn my Master’s in HR. 

I worked in Operations before I secured my first HR role as an HR Analyst. An exciting chapter unfolded when I relocated to Chandler, Arizona, to work as a recruiter at the call center there. This was a pivotal time, as the company was establishing dedicated recruiting teams, and I was excited to be part of that evolution.

Upon returning to New Jersey, I spent several years working in disability and leave administration. I then decided to take a risk and broadened my experience by moving into an HR Business Partner role, where I had the privilege of supporting diverse teams including Finance, Product Development, Supply Chain, Marketing, and even HR. Approximately eight years ago, I found my true passion when I joined the Benefits Strategy and Design team.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have been guided by many supportive leaders who consistently encouraged my growth. Starting my career in an entry-level position is something I’m immensely proud of, and it has significantly shaped my perspective. I often find myself considering the impact of our decisions on store and call center employees, ensuring our strategies are grounded in their reality.

Looking back, each role has significantly contributed to my development of leadership skills. This continuous improvement is fueled by curiosity and eagerness to keep learning. I find joy in sharing my experience and mentoring colleagues within Verizon’s Leadership Development program, often sharing insights from my own career. I also truly value my team and the impactful benefits work we’re able to lead.

What’s one wellbeing initiative or trend you’re particularly passionate about right now?

One wellbeing trend I’m really excited about right now is how much more focus we’re putting on mental health and emotional wellbeing at work. For a long time, there’s been this stigma around mental health, even though we all know it seriously impacts how employees feel, how productive they are, and how engaged they stay.

So, it’s fantastic to see companies moving past just basic EAPs. They’re now offering more comprehensive, integrated, and super accessible resources – things like virtual therapy, coaching, mindfulness programs, and even training for managers to build a truly supportive environment. It’s not just about helping people when they’re in crisis; it’s about building healthy mental habits for everyone. That’s how we create a genuinely healthier and more resilient team.

How do you foster a culture of health and wellbeing within such a large organization like Verizon?

One of the most important ways to foster a culture of health and well-being is by offering a holistic approach to well-being that addresses physical, mental, emotional, career and financial well-being. We coined it Your Best You and it’s a part of our daily life at Verizon with our North Star goal of providing resources that empower employees to thrive everyday. We have strong leaders that believe that this is critical for V teamers and actively advocate on behalf of our well-being goals. We communicate and offer supportive benefits to help our employees. We have over 300 well-being champions to help promote our amazing benefits throughout the organization. We know that well-being looks different for everybody which is why we have robust offerings to inspire employees to be their best selves in their own way.

What are you most looking forward to in your role on the NEBGH Board?

I’m most looking forward to contributing to the strategic direction of NEBGH as well as engagement and participation opportunities.  I hope to leverage my professional network to assist in membership growth. My career has taught me the critical importance of networking, and I see this as a fantastic platform to collaborate with other passionate leaders. Promoting NEBGH’s brand and influence resonates strongly with my commitment to driving impactful change in the benefits space.

I’m so excited to join a board that is dedicated to advancing health and benefits strategies, and I’m confident that my diverse background and commitment to improvement will allow me to make a meaningful contribution.  I’m also looking forward to learning from fellow board members as we continue to navigate the complexities we face in benefits.

What’s a hobby or activity you enjoy?

I recharge and disconnect by reading.  I joined a book club over a year ago and we meet at a different NJ restaurant every 6 weeks.  Over the last 5 years I have read over 255 books!  I mostly enjoy contemporary fiction, suspense and romantic comedies.