American Express' Monique Herena Named HR Executive of the Year
Monique Herena, Chief Colleague Experience Officer at American Express, has been named HR Executive of the Year by HR Executive. She graduated from Columbia University's Teachers College with a Master's degree in Change Leadership and is credited with reimagining human resources into the Colleague Experience Group to foster employee engagement and growth.
Herena was recognized for her innovative approach to professional development, employee experience, and change leadership in the age of AI. She has led numerous recent wins for American Express, where she put employees at the center of all company efforts with a vision of providing the best colleague experience to fuel growth.
In 2025, Herena received Teachers College's Distinguished Alumni Award for her impact on others in her field. She returned to campus last year for a fireside chat with students and alumni from the College's Social-Organizational Psychology Program, sharing insights that have shaped her success.