Empowering Growth: Michelle Gudiño Prestamo’s Career Journey at ASICS
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Michelle Gudiño Prestamo is always learning. Whether she’s taking public speaking courses through Toastmasters, training for a marathon, dipping her toes into speaking French, or learning the basics of Excel, her mindset has always tended towards growth.
“I am always looking for different ways to learn,” said Michelle. “If I see something that I can take advantage of to make me more valuable, I will always knock on the door and try it.”
That mindset has helped her grow her career in HR as well. When she moved to the U.S. from Venezuela in 2014. She joined staffing and recruiting firm Adecco, where she helped support footwear and retail brands like Nike. But in 2019, when she saw ASICS was hiring a bilingual Human Resources Specialist, she knew it was the opportunity she had been waiting for. Michelle’s first language is Spanish and she was longing for an opportunity to work in HR — and to use her native language — in a more meaningful way.
“It was perfect, because at that time, I wasn't able to use much of my language," said Michelle. When she joined Asics in 2019, her background became an asset that helped her connect with the diverse population at Asics’ Byhalia Distribution Center in Mississippi.
Since then, Michelle’s journey at Asics has been defined by growth, constant learning, and dedication to her career. In six years at Asics, Michelle has been promoted three times, most recently in August 2025 to the role of Distribution Center Human Resource Manager.
Her journey has not been without setbacks. In 2020, Michelle was temporarily furloughed due to Covid right around the time she discovered she was pregnant. She received a relief grant from Two Ten to help her stay afloat, her first experience on the receiving end of the services she now regularly promotes to her colleagues at Asics.
"You never know when you are going to be in it,” Michelle said, about receiving help from Two Ten. “You think that you will be fine and that you are all covered, but you never know what unexpected things could come along your way.”
Michelle has also leveraged another Two Ten program, Upskilling Grants for Women in Footwear, to further her career growth at ASICS. Since 2023, she has completed four courses in the HR field, including Excel for Beginners, Strategic Human Resources Leadership and Essentials of HR Analytics.
“Having access to these courses and classes has helped open my eyes to the things that I could be working on to close some gaps,” Michelle said. “It has also helped me own my development. With my recent promotion, I'm now able to put into practice some of the skills and learnings that I have received through these courses.”
Though she’s achieved so many of her goals, she still embodies that sense of curiosity and eagerness to learn every day in her role at Asics.
“I'm always raising my hand and asking ‘What do you need support with? How I can help you?’ Because it's what keeps me engaged and motivated,” Michelle said. “I'm not just sitting and waiting for things to come my way; I'm always inquiring. And I think that will probably take me to the next place.”
Courses Michelle took through Two Ten’s Upskilling Grant Program:
Excel for beginners (EdX)
Human Resources - Women in Leadership
Strategic Human Resources Leadership (Cornell University)
Essentials of HR Analytics (Cornell University)