They say the eyes are a window to the soul. In Virginia Mellano’s case, her gaze offers a glimpse into something rare: a depth of feeling and clarity that speaks of someone profoundly aligned with what is good, honest, and human in this world. She carries a kind of quiet luminosity, the kind that doesn’t ask for attention yet draws people in. To encounter Virginia is to feel anchored. She is someone who listens fully, sees deeply, and meets the world with intentional gentleness.
Career & Journey
Virginia’s path began in Italy and led her to Utrecht by way of academic ambition and unexpected circumstance. She grew up in Italy, completed her master’s there, and had planned to build her future in Canada. But when the world shut down during COVID, the Netherlands became the place she landed instead. She adapted in the way she always has, with grace, curiosity, and a willingness to find meaning in whatever comes next. Her early years in HR at a startup taught her the value of agility, sincerity, and purpose-driven leadership. When acquisition brought rigidity and misalignment, she recognized the subtle internal nudge: This isn’t who I want to be, and this isn’t how I want to work.
Recast arrived like a recognition, a mirror of what she already knew mattered. What drew her in was not just the role, but the culture—a place that valued emotional intelligence as much as competence, where kindness wasn’t performative, and where “being human” wasn’t a slogan but a standard. The people reminded her of the founders who had shaped her early career: grounded, emotionally intelligent, and genuinely good. It felt like returning to the kind of work that aligned with her values, a place where humanity wasn’t negotiable.
Values
There is nothing performative about Virginia’s approach to people. She believes that if you advocate for authenticity, you must embody it. If you ask others to be vulnerable, you must show your own humanity first. Her work is guided by strong ethics, including kindness as a practice, empathy as a discipline, and emotional intelligence as a non-negotiable. It’s a way of being that others feel instantly, often before they can articulate it.
Impact at Recast
In her role as People Operations Manager for Europe, Virginia doesn’t simply support people, she also steadies them. She brings nuance to difficult conversations, lightness to heavy ones, and integrity to all of them. Her leadership is the kind that doesn’t announce itself; it’s felt. It shows up in how colleagues speak of her, in how they relax when she enters a room, in how even on her grumpiest days she still manages to make others feel seen. And just as she creates that grounding for others, she experiences it in return. Virginia recalls arriving at the office one morning in a terrible mood, overwhelmed by the stress of her impending move, only to find a handwritten note and small gift from her team wishing her well. The gesture was simple, but it shifted her entire day in an instant, a reminder that she is trusted, supported, and genuinely seen by the people she works alongside.
Colleagues describe her impact with remarkable consistency, and one reflection captures it clearly:
“What I admire most about Virginia is how she leads with empathy and authenticity. Virginia has a gift for making people feel heard and valued. She brings people together, builds trust, and turns ideas into meaningful action that strengthens our team and culture.”
– Melissa Burckhardt, Chief People Officer at Recast
Virginia’s presence reinforces what Recast strives for: a culture where progress matters more than perfection, where trust is built moment by moment, and where the courage to be human is considered a strength. Her influence is subtle yet transformative, the kind that shifts the emotional temperature of a workplace without ever trying to.
Human Connection
Beneath her professional poise lives someone tender-hearted, introverted, and profoundly sensitive. Virginia cherishes sincerity, sees beauty in imperfection, and gravitates toward relationships rooted in truth. She laughs easily, feels deeply, and gives generously. And although she often moves quietly through the world, she brings a grounding presence to the people lucky enough to know her.
At home, that grounding is mirrored back to her through the small circle she trusts most: her girlfriend, whom she describes as her greatest supporter and the person who has helped her grow and stay centered, as well as her cats, whose quiet companionship reflects her gentle, soulful nature. Virginia is candid about her own sensitivities and quirks, embracing them as part of what makes her human. It’s this mix of vulnerability, warmth, and emotional clarity that deepens her connection with others and gives her presence its unmistakable authenticity.
Closing Reflection
Virginia’s story is a testament to the culture Recast aspires to embody: a place where people show up whole, where kindness is a shared currency, where belonging grows from small, intentional acts of care. She reminds us that workplaces don’t become human by accident. They become human because of people like her—people who lead with empathy, live honestly, and offer others the courage to do the same.
Facilitated by Carolin Castro and Muzzammil Hasan as part of the Diversity Council initiative, the “People of Recast” series celebrates the stories and achievements that make our Recasters extraordinary.
