By Gloria Romano-Barrera 

Born and raised in Bucaramanga, Colombia, Alba Baylin, Vice President, Stakeholder and Community Management, The Coca-Cola Company, North America Operating Unit, aspired to work for Coca-Cola when she was young. Castillo Baylin recalls hearing her mom talk about Roberto Sweida, a successful Cuban immigrant who arrived in the United States with $40 in his pocket and followed his dream, the American dream. 

Inspired by Sweida, she moved to the United States at 18 years old. Despite dreaming of becoming a reporter, Baylin pursued a hospitality management career. While it was not a reporting career where she would travel around the world sharing news, she crossed paths with the hospitality industry working for Hilton and Hyatt combined for 10 years. Fast forward, 23 years later, Baylin is the Vice President of Stakeholder and Community Management, Coca-Cola North America Operating Unit. In this role, she leads stakeholder partnerships, philanthropy strategy, community marketing and engagement, nonprofit board placement, employee volunteerism and disaster relief. 

Baylin takes pride in all her accomplishments and service to the community. Previously she was Vice President of Customer Marketing for North America Foodservice customers. Prior to this position, she served as Hispanic Marketing Group Director in North America, leading the Company’s largest-ever Hispanic-focused marketing program for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This program won multiple awards for digital and social media. 

“I started in project management, and had the opportunity to plan our projects, our programs, and literally got to see the world through the eyes of Coke, managing multiple global events, FIFA, be part of these programs or Olympics and multiple things around the world literally,” she shares. “For the last three years, I had the honor of leading the stakeholder and community management, which is the role that I have now. Our purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. And my team and I work very closely with the communities, the community that we call home, to bring our purpose to life, to engage with the community to invest in the community, and to work side by side with our communities.” 

Baylin has been recognized by Ser Padres Magazine as one of 25 Latina Executive Moms Making a Difference. In 2019 she was inducted into Delta Sigma Pi as the National Honorary member of the year. The following year Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality Management named her 2020 Distinguished Alumnus. She is a strong advocate for community service and serves on the boards of the Georgia State University Foundation, the Woodruff Art Center’s Alliance Theatre, Junior Achievement of Georgia, Leadership Atlanta and UnidosUS Corporate Board of Advisors. 

Baylin holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida International University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. Baylin is married to Marc Baylin and is a proud mom to her 10-year-old daughter Sofia.