Starting over in a new country is never easy. But doing it in a completely different profession, without formal training, and in a high-stakes industry? That takes a special kind of courage—and Nazarea Mira, a Certified HR Professional, now Managing Director of JustHired, has the story to prove it.
“Starting from scratch in a new country taught me humility, grit, and adaptability,” she shared in an interview with Financial Adviser PH.
Her journey from BPO operations leader to HR firm founder in a foreign land is not just inspiring—it’s a real-world lesson in reinvention, leadership, and believing in yourself when no one else has figured it out yet.
From Call Center Operations to Recruitment in India
Before she became an HR leader, Nazarea spent over ten years in the call center industry. She led teams, solved operational challenges, and gained deep experience in customer service and performance management.
But life took an unexpected turn in 2018 when she moved to India—and was offered a role in recruitment by a firm with Philippine and Indian operations.
“I had zero formal HR background,” she told Financial Adviser PH.
“I knew how to manage people and processes—but recruitment? That was entirely new territory.”
Despite the learning curve, she leaned into the opportunity. What she didn’t have in credentials, she made up for in grit.
Lessons From Starting Over
Nazarea quickly learned that resilience isn’t just about pushing through—it’s about adapting fast, staying grounded, and remaining curious.
“I had to learn recruitment from the ground up—understanding client expectations, market nuances, and how to deliver value. Every day was a crash course in HR.”
But the experience also taught her something deeper: leadership isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about being willing to grow through anything.
That mindset helped her not only survive—but eventually thrive.
Building JustHired From the Ground Up
After gaining traction in recruitment, Nazarea returned to the Philippines and founded JustHired, a firm built on the lessons she learned abroad.
She wasn’t just hiring talent—she was building a company culture that prioritized empathy, excellence, and long-term growth.
“That experience shaped how I lead today,” she said during her Financial Adviser PH interview.
“It gave me perspective. Now, I don’t just coach my team on KPIs—I coach them on resilience, mindset, and how to bounce back.”
What This Means for Aspiring Leaders
Nazarea’s story is proof that you don’t need the perfect background to lead—you need the right mindset. She didn’t have HR certifications at the start. What she had was initiative, the willingness to learn, and the heart to serve.
Her advice?
“Say yes to growth—even when it’s uncomfortable. Some of your greatest breakthroughs will come from places you never expected,” she told Financial Adviser PH.
