2014 HACR Corporate Observer Issue 3

HACR

ELECTS NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

HACR

RESEARCH INSTITUTE UPDATE

AIDA ALVAREZ

WALMART BOARD MEMBER FEATURED IN THE WALMART LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW SERIES

CORPORATE OBSERVER

VOLUME 17, NO. 3 2014

EMPLOYMENT 路 PROCUREMENT 路 PHILANTHROPY 路 GOVERNANCE

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS, Now that 2014 has drawn to a close and we start a new year, I want to thank you for your continuing support of HACR. We value your commitment, and our entire team is working diligently to help advance Hispanic inclusion in Corporate America.

The HACR Research Institute (HRI), led by Dr. Lisette Garcia, recently released the 2014 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index (HACR CII). The results of the 2014 HACR CII are optimistic and indicate that more than 25 percent of this year’s returning participants have improved their rating. Moreover, participation and retention rates have improved since the first HACR CII was conducted in 2009, reflecting a growing commitment to diversity and Hispanic inclusion. The HACR CII provides a comprehensive measurement of the business practices and strategies of the Fortune 100 and HACR Corporate Members around HACR’s four pillars: Employment, Procurement, Philanthropy, and Governance.

In 2015, the HRI will release two more important studies: Identifying Opportunities for Hispanic Inclusion in STEM

Careers, funded by Merck & Co. and the Merck Foundation; and the 2015 HACR Hispanic Procurement Report, funded

by Walmart. Over the past year, we have also highlighted leaders who advocate for Hispanic inclusion, through the support of Walmart. This issue of the Corporate Observer features interviews from Aida Alvarez, Pat Pineda, and Lisa Garcia Quiroz.

I’d like to thank all of our supporters for the warm welcome I received when I joined HACR nearly 7 months ago. Working closely with our board of directors, our partners, and our staff, I’m confident about what we will accomplish in 2015. I hope to see everyone this spring at our 23rd Annual Symposium, The Power of Hispanic Inclusion™, in Atlanta, GA at the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead from April 27-28!

Best Wishes for 2015,

Cid Wilson President & CEO

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Margaret Moran League of United Latin American Citizens HACR Board Chair Guarione Díaz Cuban American National Council HACR Board Vice Chair Ronald Blackburn-Moreno ASPIRA Association, Inc. HACR Board Treasurer Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr. United States Hispanic Leadership Institute HACR Board Secretary Janet Murguía National Council of La Raza HACR Immediate Past Chair Angel Zuniga American GI Forum of the United States The Honorable Rubén Hinojosa Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Inc.

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CORPORATE OBSERVER

CORPORATE OBSERVER The Honorable Lincoln Díaz-Balart Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, Inc. Dr. Antonio R. Flores Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Amy Hinojosa MANA, A National Latina Organization Martha Montoya National Association of Hispanic Publications Cecelia Espenoza National Hispana Leadership Institute Rafael Fantauzzi National Puerto Rican Coalition Manuel “Manny” Gonzalez National Society of Hispanic MBAs Ignacio Salazar SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc. Javier Palomarez United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The Corporate Observer is a publication of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR). HACR’s mission is to advance the inclusion of Hispanics in Corporate America at a level commensurate with our economic contributions.

Cid D. Wilson President and CEO Vanessa Bowling Executive and Operations Assistant Emma Etheridge Programs and Initiatives Manager Dr. Lisette Garcia Director, HACR Research Institute Kevin Klich Senior Manager, Finance and Administration Jason D. León Senior Director, Corporate Relations, Communications, and Programs Cecilia Majors LCDA Program Manager Ariana Solis Gómez Communications and Programs Associate

2015hacr HISPANIC ASSOCIATION ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

23rd annual hacr symposium: the power of hispanic inclusion™

HACR.ORG

ATLANTA GEORGIA THE RITZ-CARLTON, BUCKHEAD

4.27.15-4.28.15

WALMART LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW SERIES

WALMART LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW SERIES The history of Latin America is packed full of influential people: artists, politicians, reporters, economist, and entertainers. One of the most prominent Latinas who has made a resounding impact is the Honorable Aida Alvarez, the first Hispanic woman to serve in a President’s Cabinet.

El Latino American Newspaper was fortunate enough to sit down with Ms. Alvarez to hear about her rise to success and her thoughts on Hispanic inclusion in Corporate America.

AIDA ALVAREZ BY: NORMA CONDREAY

“We need to be a part of our collective future. The responsibility largely rests on us to advocate, to engage, to excel, and to demonstrate to everyone that we can make a difference. ” the city. Thankfully they were resilient and determined to succeed. My parents never gave up on their dreams for themselves and their children.

New York was not a welcoming place for Puerto Ricans in those days. Even though Puerto Rico is part of the United States and we are U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans were treated like outsiders who had no business coming here. At best we were accepted as long as we knew our place, which was definitely not at the front of the line. I was an “A” student but when I indicated that I wanted to attend college the school principal called in my mother.

She made it clear that college was not an option for me.

El Latino American: Can you tell us about yourself: where were you born and where did you go to college?

Alvarez: I was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, we moved to New York when I was nine months old. My mother was 16 and my father was 23. Imagine how hard it was for two young parents with a baby to deal with the harsh realities of life in 4

CORPORATE OBSERVER

I was not about to give up on my goal of college. I maintained my grades, applied for a National Science Foundation grant, and was introduced to an organization called Aspira. Aspira provided the college counseling that was missing at my school.

It focused on Latino youth aspiring to fulfill their dreams of college, but lacking the know-how or resources. Thanks to Aspira I got the opportunity to attend Harvard College on a full scholarship.

El Latino American: What was your career path and what were some of the highlights along the way?

Alvarez: I began my career as a journalist for the New York Post where I won a Front Page Award. Later I became a reporter and anchor for Metromedia Television which is now Fox TV. While there I won an Associated Press Award for Excellence and received an Emmy Award nomination for going undercover with guerilla soldiers during the war in El Salvador and producing a week long television series.

I had been wanting to become a public servant. Having risked my life for a story I decided that changing careers was not as big a risk as I had feared. That transition happened when I was asked to head the Public Affairs Department for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. An unlikely opportunity arose when Bear Stearns offered me a job as a Vice President in Public Finance.

What followed was a position in public finance at First Boston. In the meantime I had become involved in national politics.

Then San Antonio Mayor, Henry Cisneros, asked me to help him launch a National Hispanic Agenda, convening Latino leaders from around the country. I never imagined at the time that I was on my way to fulfilling my dream to become a public servant – at the national level!

WALMART LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW SERIES Presently I serve on the Board of Directors of Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. I’m also on the boards of Progreso Financiero and Zoosk. I recently stepped off the Union Bank board.

As Chair of the Latino Community Foundation in California I continue to strive to create opportunities for Latinos. I also have the honor of being a Commissioner on the board of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and a Governor on the Board of the San Francisco Symphony.

El Latino American: Which of these careers stand out to you as something you enjoyed or that was most meaningful to you?

Alvarez: I have been blessed with many opportunities and I’ve tried to make the most of each one. I’ve always had the love and support of my parents and I’ve been guided and sponsored by outstanding men and women. It is so true that it takes a village to succeed. No one gets there without the help of others.

I’ve enjoyed every stage of life, every career but if I had to pick a single accomplishment it would be serving as a Cabinet member in the Clinton Administration. I was the first Latina to hold a Cabinet position. The opportunity to travel with the President and the First Lady, to sit in on high level meetings to discuss the future of this great country – nothing can compare to that experience.

I will always treasure that opportunity.

El Latino American: What advice from a mentor or peer really impacted your career?

Alvarez: In college I was contemplating taking a year off from school. I sought the advice of one of the Deans. She said it was perfectly fine to take the time off but, “remember, always keep your options open. When you walk out of a door, make sure you can walk back in.” I never did take the year off. But her words stayed with me. I have had many different jobs and when I was being considered for the Cabinet all of my previous employers were interviewed. They all gave me positive reviews. I had walked out the door but never shut it behind me.

making a significant contribution. Along the way a mentor can guide you but it’s important to have a sponsor who can advocate for you. When that closed door meeting is being held, where futures are being decided, you want a sponsor who will step up and champion your promotion.

Alvarez: I think I’ve said it all. Education is important as is the desire to climb to the top, to do all the hard work, to make a difference. Identifying sponsors who will advocate for you is essential for helping people through the pipeline. And of course we must always stay connected to the community.

El Latino American: Could you share some of the advocacy and inclusion efforts in which you have been involved, especially those focused on Hispanics?

El Latino American: What does it take to be a leader in Corporate America?

Alvarez: Throughout my life I have championed diversity and inclusion, especially for Hispanics. As a journalist I won a Front Page Award for a week long series on “New York’s Latins” focusing on the rich diversity of our Hispanic community. While an investment banker I created Latinos for a Better New York, which provided forums for civic engagement between Latinos and the city’s decision makers. I have also served on the Diversity Advisory Board for Deloitte Touche and while at the Small Business Administration (SBA) I championed diversity, tripling SBA guaranteed loans to women and doubling them to minorities. At Walmart, Union Bank, and other boards I advocate for inclusion and I am also involved with an effort called Champions for Change, advocating for diversity, especially for women, on corporate boards. I support the vision of the Latino Corporate Directors Association, whose goal is to expand Hispanic representation on corporate boards and as chair of the Latino Community Foundation, I strive to have Hispanics included at every level of opportunity in California.

El Latino American: Moving forward, what do you see as some of the most effective strategies to increase Hispanic representation in Corporate America?

El Latino American: What would you recommend for Hispanic professionals on advancing and succeeding Corporate America?

Alvarez: Education is key. As Hispanics enter the professions, especially business, finance, and law, they have greater opportunities to move into Corporate America and up the ladder.

Once in the C-suite, that is Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Operating Officers, they are most likely to be attractive candidates for board positions. Those of us already on corporate boards can advocate for the value they bring to a company. Corporations are eager to create more diverse boards.

Alvarez: You have to excel at your job and that means going beyond the job description and the stated goals to

El Latino American: What specific suggestions do you have for increasing Hispanic representation?

Alvarez: You must stand out above the crowd in your chosen profession and make yourself indispensable by making a unique contribution.

El Latino American: What should HACR be doing to advocate on behalf of Hispanics?

Alvarez: HACR is doing an excellent job. They have been really working hard on providing value and increasing awareness on the lack of Hispanic inclusion in Corporate America. The Corporate Inclusion Index (CII) survey for example, helps to identify areas where there are opportunities for increased Latino representation. So when a company participates it provides them an assessment of how they are doing and gets them thinking about what they could be doing better.

El Latino American: What is your company doing to create more opportunities for the Hispanic Community within Corporate America?

Alvarez: Companies like Walmart have identified top Latino talent, individuals who are up and coming in their careers but are still involved in Hispanic Employee Resources groups, and are working with national organizations like the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. These partnerships are critical for helping to develop talent that can contribute to the company.

El Latino American: Hispanics are increasingly important for the future of America, what message do you have for those individuals raising our future leaders?

Alvarez: We need to be a part of our collective future. The responsibility largely rests on us to advocate, to engage, to excel, and to demonstrate to everyone that we can make a difference.

But the main thing is we need to take charge care of our own future. Voting, participating in meetings, and expressing our opinions on what is going to affect us and our family life.

CORPORATE OBSERVER

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HACR COALITION MEMBER NEWS

ASPIRA AWARDED MAJOR GRANT AND CONTRACT AND LAUNCHES FORD DRIVING DREAM IN CHICAGO ASPIRA was awarded a $1 million

In 2014, CHLI honored former House Majority Whip Eric Cantor, Senator John Cornyn, music producer Emilio Estefan, and Michel Camuñez, former assistant secretary of commerce.

grant by the AT&T Foundation under

On October 8, 2015, CHLI will celebrate Hispanic Heritage

its Aspire Program to significantly

Month at the Annual International Affairs & Trade

expand ASPIRA’s model Youth

Symposium in Washington, D.C. The symposium highlights

Development Program (AYDP). The

how Hispanics contribute to the global economy from

AYDP, ASPIRA’s premier drop-out prevention initiative,

inside and outside of the United States. In 2014, special

will serve an additional 990 students in 11 high schools in

guests included Luis Alberto Moreno, president of the

low income Latino communities in Florida, New Jersey,

Inter-American Development Bank and His Excellency

New York, and Puerto Rico. ASPIRA was selected among

Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S., Luis Medina-Mora.

only a handful of organizations in a highly competitive

For more information, please visit www.CHLI.org.

process.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Foundation awarded ASPIRA a $450,000 contract to implement a national communication and outreach campaign in the Latino community on identifying and preventing investment fraud. The campaign will reach 10 million Latinos using television, print, radio, social media, and the internet with messages in Spanish based on economic behavioral research.

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) announced its Corporate & Philanthropic Council (C&PC) has re-elected as its Chair Jerrold “Jerry” S. Gattegno of Deloitte Tax LLP and as Vice-Chair Joseph “Joe” T. Mella of Goldman Sachs for 2014-

The Ford Motor Company Fund partnered with ASPIRA

15. The C&PC members serve in advisory capacity to

of Illinois and the United States Hispanic Leadership

the association and represent companies that share

Institute (USHLI) to launch the Ford Driving Dreams

an interest in diversity and Hispanic higher education,

Tour at seven high schools in Chicago. Over 3,200

including: General Motors, Travelers Insurance, Southwest

students, teachers and school personnel attended the

Airlines, Hobsons U.S., Nelnet, Educational Testing Service,

launch. Scholarships totaling $50,000 will be awarded to

Aetna, Ford Motor Company Fund, Sodexo, DiversityInc

students at the schools, and schools will receive $25,000

Media LLC, MillerCoors, and The Coca-Cola Company.

in grants. Students will compete in an essay contest to win a 5,000 scholarship and other prizes. The events featured motivational speaker Roy Juarez, Jr., and Mr. Joedis Ávila of the Ford Motor Company Fund.

ADVANCING THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY’S DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT

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HACU CORPORATE NEWS, PARTNERSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES

2015 partnerships opportunities including sponsorships and advertising, are available for the following HACU events: 11th International Conference, February 25-27, Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico; the 20th Annual National Capitol Forum, March 23-24, Washington, D.C.; and the 29th Annual Conference, October 10-12, 2015, Miami Beach, FL. For additional information, contact

The Congressional Hispanic Leadership

development@hacu.net, (210) 576-3536.

Institute (CHLI) invites you to the

Businesses seeking college students for internships are

Annual Gala and Leadership Awards

encouraged to become a partner of the HACU National

in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 2015.

Internship Program. Since the program’s inception in 1992,

CHLI annually recognizes exemplary

more than 10,000 interns have been placed at federal

United States and international leaders who value and

and corporate sites nationwide. Information on corporate

support the diversity of thought among all Americans

partnerships is available by contacting jorge.burwick@

and who through their leadership promote public service,

hacu.net, (210) 692-3805. For information on federal

economic progress, and educational excellence – core

partnerships, contact jonathan.santeliz@hacu.net,

values of the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute.

(202) 467-0893.

CORPORATE OBSERVER

HACR COALITION MEMBER NEWS

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ADVERTISE IN HISPANIC NEWSPAPERS? According to the Pew Research Center, among all adults, newspapers were cited as the most relied upon source of information on local government activities, schools, local politics, community/ neighborhood events, and local social services among others.

and South Dakota approved ballot measures to raise their state’s minimum wages, while voters in Illinois approved a non-binding referendum to raise wages. Although legislation that would increase the federal minimum wage is stalled in Congress, these important victories, coupled with the overwhelming support for an increase in the minimum wage among Latino voters, will bolster the case that NCLR and other groups continue to make to our lawmakers: that every American worker deserves a decent, livable wage.

Local newspapers are in a unique position because of their strong bond with readers and because they fill an essential community role – providing readers information about issues close to their hearts which moves them to get involved in their communities.

NATIONAL HISPANA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE HONORS THE GRADUATING 2014 CLASS OF THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

The Hispanic newspaper in particular, also has several

The National Hispana Leadership

advantages over the general market newspaper. Hispanic

Institute (NHLI) is honored to

newspapers provide large and small advertisers with

celebrate the graduation of their 16

meaningful ways to tap into their highly coveted markets

outstanding fellows from the 2014 Executive Leadership

and access to their readers resulting in a greater reach

class. The graduation ceremony was held Thursday,

and receptiveness to advertising messages which can

October 16th, 2014 at 5:00pm, in the Rayburn House

boost the local economy.

Office Building in Washington, D.C. The keynote address

Local newspapers are in the hearts and minds of the readers in a community, their audience is highly engaged,

was given by Rita Jaramillo, ELP Alumna from the Class of 1988.

and certainly advertising with them can impact the local

NHLI’s annual Executive Leadership Program (ELP)

economy. When an advertiser supports a community

promotes and fosters the development of mid-career

newspaper they support the community.

professional Latinas and advances a model that emphasizes and builds upon personal strengths. The

MIDTERM ELECTIONS CREATE MOMENTUM FOR MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

rigorous training curriculum consists of four oneweek sessions, each implemented in a different city, which develops participants’ skills in cross-cultural

Almost one-quarter of U.S.

communication, strategic management, public policy, and

Latinos live in poverty. While it’s

leadership building. The mentorship component commits

been more than five years since

participants to mentoring a minimum of two other Latinas

the Great Recession and Latino unemployment figures

during the program year.

are slowly decreasing, a recent poll shows that many

The 2014 ELP class had the opportunity to meet with

Hispanic families still feel insecure about their economic

several high-level officials in federal offices such as the

status. NCLR’s (National Council of La Raza) Monthly

White House, State Department, and Department of

Latino Employment Report noted that the October

Education. They also fine-tuned their management skills

unemployment rate for Hispanics was approximately

and personal branding.

6.8 percent, an entire percentage point higher than the national average. Although Latinos represent the fastest-growing segment of the workforce, they are overrepresented in low-wage occupations and, as a result, experience high rates of poverty.

“Being surrounded by such inspirational and passionate women of the 2014 ELP graduating class through this four week journey, I am looking forward to seeing what each Leona will accomplish in the next coming years,” said Ann Marquez, “I am confident that these Latina Leaders will

Luckily, momentum could be on the side of struggling

continue to move NHLI forward through their hard work

workers. This election cycle, Alaska, Arkansas, Nebraska,

and continued dedication.”

CORPORATE OBSERVER

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HACR COALITION MEMBER NEWS

MOVING INTO OUR 51ST YEAR At SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc.

HACR ELECTS NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

(SER National), we are excited about moving into our 51st year with two new

On December 10, 2014, the HACR Board elected,

partners: The Coca-Cola Foundation

Ignacio Salazar, president of SER-Jobs for Progress

and the Walmart Foundation.

National, Inc., as HACR board chair. Mr. Salazar

The Coca-Cola Foundation awarded $425,000 to SER National for the SER MUJER (Mastering and Understanding Jobs and Entrepreneurship Relationships) Program. This award will support entrepreneurship and

of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), who will remain on the executive committee in the role of immediate past chair.

business development, job training, and financial literacy

“We are excited to welcome Ignacio Salazar as the

for women in five areas across the country: Dallas/Ft.

new chair of HACR’s board of directors,” said Cid. D.

Worth, Fresno, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington,

Wilson, HACR president & CEO. “Ignacio brings with

D.C. This program will be offered in traditional workshop

him a wealth of leadership experience, an intimate

setting, online, and mobile app delivery format.

knowledge the issues that are critical to Hispanics

The Walmart Foundation awarded a $1.05 million grant to SER National for the “One Job at a Time,” project which allows for the training, job preparedness, and eventual

in Corporate America, and an understanding of how to help HACR further its mission. We are honored to have him as our board chair.”

employment of 3,000 people in Texas, Florida, Illinois,

Also elected to HACR’s board was Amy Hinojosa,

New Mexico, and California. The training, which will be

president of MANA, a National Latina Organization.

provided by SER National and its affiliates will prepare job

Ms. Hinojosa succeeds Dr. Juan Andrade from the

seekers with the skills and instruction they need to rapidly

United State Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI)

enter into retail, leisure and hospitality, and services

as HACR board secretary. Guarione Diaz, president

industries.

emeritus of the Cuban National Council, was

SER National and affiliates have decades-long history of providing workforce services, experience in operating or implementing workforce center systems, and the ability to partner with employers and community resources.

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succeeds Margaret Moran, president of the League

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reelected as HACR vice chair, and Ronald BlackburnMoreno from ASIPRA was also reelected as HACR treasurer.

CORPORATE MEMBER AND MEDIA PARTNER NEWS

AT&T HOLDS NATIONAL EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP (ERG) CONFERENCE Jim Cicconi, AT&T’s senior executive vice president of external & legislative affairs, may have summed it up best when he closed out the company’s recent National Employee Resource Group

impact. ConAgra Foods partnered with the National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR’s) iconic event, the ALMA Awards to engage celebrities and fans in their signature cause, the Child Hunger Ends Here (CHEH) initiative. Child hunger impacts more than 1 in 5 children in the U.S. and among U.S. based Latino children the statistic is even higher, 1 in 4 children.

(ERG) Conference. “There’s no technology that will

The 15th annual NCLR ALMA Awards is the only nationally

replace the warmth of one human reaching out to

broadcast English-language show recognizing the

another,” he said.

accomplishments of Latinos in American entertainment

That’s what AT&T’s ERGs and this annual event are all about. Nearly 1,700 employees gathered at the company’s Dallas headquarters for two days in September to hear from leaders and participate in workshops like: Where We

and media. These awards remain a unique entertainment special with a cause: to highlight how inclusion strengthens the entertainment industry and diversity strengthens our country.

Are Headed Technologically, Your 2020 Evolution, and

ConAgra Foods enlisted the help of Jorge Vega, child

Taking Customers to 2020.

actor from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, as the evening’s

The theme for this sixth annual conference – which sold out in 38 minutes – was ERG: #champion2020. “The event and theme recognized our very important journey to achieve the vision our chairman has set for 2020,” said Debbie Storey, chief diversity officer. “So, we wanted to ask our leaders – who lead the 76,000 ERG members – to truly champion that journey.”

Attendees got a glimpse into that future when they heard from several officers, including Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson. “We want to make sure that our people are prepared to go to 2020 with us,” Stephenson said. “We are going to work to make sure that we get our people’s skills upgraded, changed, and modified to fit the new world.” The conference celebrated “ERG in Action” award winners – local and national ERG initiatives which involve many employees, impact the business strategically, and

CHEH ambassador. Vega empowered other celebrities and attendees to support and spread awareness. Two life-size pledge walls were placed at the venue, each with a dramatic empty plate image and a message that read, “THIS IS WHAT A CHILD’S DINNER LOOKS LIKE TONIGHT.” In total, over 50 celebrities and thousands of guests took a moment to sign the plates, take a photo, and share via social media.

Fighting child hunger is an ongoing commitment for ConAgra Foods and their Foundation has invested in programs to feed kids and help attain resources and food knowledge to get obtainable solutions to child hunger.

CHEH promotes and engages even more people to donate meals and volunteer time in pantries across the country.

PUTTING ESSAY IDEAS TO WORK

promote the company brand. spreading out across Dallas to volunteer with groups like the Boys & Girls Club and Meals on Wheels. It’s that

H

Employees spent the second day of the conference

Denny’s Hungry for Education G UN RY

scholarship program offers more than $200,000 in scholarships to eligible students across the

atmosphere of giving and dedication that keeps ERG

country. The inspiring program, in partnership with eight

members coming back year after year to the conference.

leading nonprofit minority advocacy organizations, was created by Denny’s as part of the brand’s ongoing

CONAGRA FOODS TEAMS UP WITH NCLR’S ALMA AWARDS TO CREATE AWARENESS AROUND CHILD HUNGER Even after two decades of fighting child hunger, ConAgra Foods and the ConAgra Foods Foundation know new partnerships will drive

commitment to helping end childhood hunger in the U.S. Students are asked to create and submit unique, actionable ideas on how Denny’s can impact childhood hunger in their local community. Denny’s is currently bringing to life the program idea of 2013 scholarship winner, llse Delgado, whose submission proposed that Denny’s identify a select menu item of which proceeds from be donated to a local family in need each week. The CORPORATE OBSERVER

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CORPORATE MEMBER AND MEDIA PARTNER NEWS brand is now working with Ilse to further develop and

In partnership with Assist International Organizations

implement her idea into a local program in her hometown

and Consultants for the Development of Honduras, the

of El Paso, Texas.

GE Foundation is also improving the quality of maternal,

Applications for the 2014- 2015 program are now being

natal, and infant health care available in Honduras. The

accepted online at www.dennyshungryforeducation.com,

program works to identify gaps in essential care and

and will be open for submission through Feb. 3, 2015.

the development of effective and viable solutions to the problems of natal and prenatal deaths and health

THE 2015 DIVERSITYINC TOP 50 EVENT | APRIL 23 | CIPRIANI WALL STREET, NYC

complications.

Additionally, employees of the GE Hispanic Forum, through the “Blankets for Babies” initiative, donated more

Join more than 900 senior

than 6,000 blankets for newborns this year bringing the

executives for an unmatched

total donated to more than 23,000 blankets for newborns

opportunity to learn, network

over the past several years.

and build business relationships with key leaders of companies that have demonstrated leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“Building capacity in healthcare through simple interventions and scalable solutions is a primary goal of the GE Foundation,” said Deborah Elam, president of the

What you’ll learn at the best practices conference:

GE Foundation and chief diversity officer for GE. “The

•

The Differences Between Mentoring, Coaching &

collective effort of GE employees volunteering time each

Sponsorship

year to provide blankets for newborns, combined with

How to Hold Onto Mid-Career Women & Executive

the GE Foundation’s investment in skills development for

Presence

healthcare workers, reflects our commitment to helping

• •

How to Reach White Male Leadership

•

How to Reach Middle Managers

•

How to Include Hourly Workers in Employee Resource Groups.

the community and improving health around the world.”

HISPANIC EXECUTIVE HONORS ITS 2014 TOP 10 LÍDERES IN NEW YORK CITY Hispanic Executive (HE) was

Lunch speaker: Enrico Moretti, author of The New

proud to honor this year’s

Geography of Jobs: Who Wins, Who Loses in the New Innovation Economy.

class of business leaders with its third annual Top 10 Líderes issue released in October.

Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR)

The Top 10 Líderes invite-only VIP dinner sponsored by

Supporter Discount: 15% OFF Full Registration ticket! Use

Northwestern Mutual was held in New York City’s Toro

code: HACR-15 at checkout. Early-bird pricing valid until

restaurant on Wednesday, October 22. The event was also

Jan. 31.

the fourth installment of the Uniting Powerful Leaders

The 2015 Top 50 Companies for Diversity will be unveiled

dinner series, which was unveiled earlier this year in

at the dinner that evening following a networking and

Miami, followed by events in Chicago and Los Angeles.

cocktail reception. Contact Nicole Dewhurst at (973) 494-

Joining HE in New York City were a few of the magazine’s

0503 or NDewhurst@DiversityInc.com with questions.

guests of honor from its 2014 Top 10 Líderes list, which included Beatriz “Bea” Perez, chief sustainability officer

GE STRENGTHENS ITS COMMITMENT TO THE HEALTH OF HONDURAS The GE Foundation, through its Developing Health Globally (DHG) program, helps build sustainable health infrastructure in Honduras through biomedical equipment training, which improves care for mothers and newborns and allows them access to clean water.

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at The Coca-Cola Company; Luella Chavez D’Angelo, chief communications officer for Western Union; Monica Diaz, vice president of diversity & inclusion and wellness at ESPN; Antonio Gracias, CEO of Valor Equity Group; and HE‘s fall cover star, Robert Chavez, president and CEO of Hermès of Paris, Inc.

CORPORATE MEMBER AND MEDIA PARTNER NEWS

KRAFT PARTNERS WITH HACE TO EXCEL LATINO TALENT Kraft understands the power of Latinos in the economy and the workplace. This is why Kraft has partnered with the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) to recruit and retain great Latino talent.

Companies responding to the questionnaire are evaluated based on the issues that LATINA Style Magazine’s readers have identified as most important to them in the workplace.

Among the principal areas of evaluation are: number of Latina executives, mentoring programs, Latinas on the board of directors, educational opportunities, career development opportunities, alternative work policies, dependent/child care support, leave for childbirth, and healthcare benefits.

Through HACE’s strategic programs, Kraft has recruited several of HACE’s members. Kraft not only recruits HACE members, but also actively engages its employees with leadership development programs such as the women’s leadership program, Mujeres de HACE, and the HACE Leadership Academy for mid-career professionals. In addition, several Kraft employees volunteer to meet with and mentor HACE students via their high school and college programs.

HACE is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the

The increased number of inquiries from companies wishing to find out how they can improve their diversity strategies prompted us to create the LATINA Style 50 Diversity Leaders Conference.

MCDONALD’S INSPIRES EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AMONG HISPANIC YOUTH WITH THE 2014 USHLI STUDENT LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

advancement of Latino professionals. Through education,

For many Hispanic students in the U.S.,

access and professional development, it helps Latinos

finding inspiration is just as important as

succeed in every phase of their careers. HACE has nearly

financing an education. To help students

45,000 individual members across the U.S. and partners

stay focused on the next step in their

with hundreds of employers seeking to recruit, retain, and

lives, McDonald’s partnered with the United States Hispanic

develop Latino talent.

Leadership Institute (USHLI) and CoolSpeak for the second

Kraft is committed, now more than ever, to having a diverse

consecutive year to present the USHLI Student Leadership

workforce and an inclusive workplace where employees can

Summit. The 10-city summit was part of USHLI’s 2014

meet their professional and personal aspirations. Through

Student Leadership Series and reached approximately

partnerships with organizations such as HACE, Kraft is able

20,000 students and faculty across the country.

to nurture and grow the next generation of leaders.

“At McDonald’s, we understand the importance of education in creating opportunities for Hispanic students,” said Patricia

CELEBRATING OUR 21ST ANNIVERSARY – LS50 FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Diaz, director of U.S. Hispanic Marketing for McDonald’s USA. “As a leading supporter of higher education for Hispanics since 1985, we’re always exploring new ways to

In celebration of our 21st

motivate youth, and through this partnership, we were able

anniversary, LATINA Style

to connect with students in a fun, relevant way.”

will be enhancing all of our programs including The LATINA Style 50 Awards & Diversity Leaders Conference this coming February 5, 2015 in Washington, D.C. The conference highlights the success of the top 50 corporations, their Latina executives, and their Employee/Business Resource Groups.

The summit featured USHLI President Dr. Juan Andrade and motivational speakers from CoolSpeak, a youth engagement organization that improves education and inspires students to learn by infusing a “cool” factor into programs and events.

The LATINA Style 50 Annual Report evaluates corporate America’s sensitivity to Latinas’ needs and goals in the work place. This national report is the most respected survey of corporate America’s policies and practices as they pertain to the advancement and development of professional Hispanic women.

CORPORATE OBSERVER

11

CORPORATE MEMBER AND MEDIA PARTNER NEWS

PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN Target was the exclusive retail sponsor

most installed solar capacity in the U.S.,” said Pam Kohn, executive vice president at Walmart and president of Walmart Realty.

of the 4th Annual People en Español’s

Working with numerous solar providers, Walmart

Las 25 Mujeres Más Poderosas (25 Most

has installed approximately 260 solar projects to

Influential Women Awards) VIP luncheon

date in the United States. Walmart’s commercial solar

and consumer workshop on Thursday, October 16, in

deployment is now 105 MW, more than double the

Miami. The event recognized influential Latinas who are

capacity of the next largest business. This has saved

shaping the future and inspiring women.

more than $5 million in energy expenses, demonstrating

As a sponsor, Target partnered with Univision’s Despierta America fashion reporter, Andrea Chediak to host a fall style preview of the Ámbar collection for media and Latina bloggers inside the “Target Dream Closet.”

For the event Target also styled Latina influencers: Adamari López, Telemundo’s national morning Show

that Walmart can keep costs low for customers while reducing environmental impact.

DISNEY INVESTS IN YOUNG LEADERS WITH A $1 MILLION COMMITMENT TO THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Un Nuevo Día co-host, who wore the Altuzarra for Target

The Hispanic

wrap dress, Ana Patricia Gámez, Despierta América

Scholarship Fund

co-host, who wore a metallic snake printed dress from

(HSF) announced

Ámbar, and of course Andrea Chediak, who wore a floral

a $1 million commitment from The Walt Disney Company

cocktail dress also from the Ámbar collection.

to provide scholarships to outstanding Hispanic students.

During the event, Target also co-hosted a fall fashion

The donation is part of a three-year agreement between

show with People en Español beauty editor Ursula

Disney and HSF that will create The Walt Disney

Carranza and Latina Instagrammer Marcia Jones.

Company-HSF Scholarship Program. With this generous

Nydia Sahagun, group manager, multicultural marketing

support, Disney and HSF will help hundreds of students

at Target, shared remarks during the luncheon

across the country realize their full potential as leaders in

highlighting Target’s commitment to the Hispanic

their chosen professions, and as volunteers who give back

community.

to the community.

“The Walt Disney Company is one of the most iconic and

WALMART BUILDS ON LEADERSHIP OF COMMERCIAL SOLAR DEPLOYMENT AND EXPANDS ON-SITE SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS Walmart announced the company will install up to 400 new solar projects at facilities across the nation over

be working together,” said Fidel A. Vargas, President & CEO, Hispanic Scholarship Fund. “Support from insightful corporate partners like The Walt Disney Company makes it possible for HSF to increase the number of college scholarships we are able to award to outstanding Hispanic students.”

the next four years. This advances the company’s global

“Education is the foundation upon which dreams are built,

commitment to drive the production or procurement of

and increasing access to higher learning is an investment

seven billion kWh of renewable energy by the end of 2020

with infinite returns for individuals and society as a

and its goal to be supplied by 100 percent renewable

whole,” said Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt

energy. To facilitate these installations, Walmart selected

Disney Company. “That’s why we’re committed to raising

proposals from two preferred solar energy providers,

public awareness and supporting even more outstanding

SolarCity and SunEdison, following an RFP process.

Hispanic students with scholarships that encourage and

“We are pleased to announce this expansion on the heels of the Solar Energy Industries Association’s commercial solar report, which recognizes Walmart as having the

12

respected companies in the world, and we are thrilled to

CORPORATE OBSERVER

empower them to achieve their goals.”

CORPORATE MEMBER AND MEDIA PARTNER NEWS

WELLS FARGO SURVEYS HISPANIC INVESTORS Wells Fargo strives to understand the financial health of Latinos and actively

CORPORATE MEMBERS BENEFACTORS

uncover their unique needs and viewpoints on finance.

ALTRIA DELL, INC. GENERAL ELECTRIC INTEL CORPORATION MCDONALD’S CORPORATION TARGET CORPORATION TIME WARNER, INC. WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

The study shed light on a strong desire by Hispanic

GENERATIONS

gathers insights from the community to better serve their needs. For the second consecutive year, the company conducted a nationwide survey of Hispanic investors to

investors for financial education and more sophisticated investment knowledge.

The study found that, among non-retired Hispanic investors: •

Three out of four (76%) wish they had learned more about managing money when they were growing up (compared to 61% of U.S. investors overall).

•

Most Hispanic investors (72%) stated they wish they knew more about investing in mutual funds, stocks, and bonds (versus 64% of U.S. investors overall).

•

Despite a strong interest in personal finance and investing, one in three Hispanic investors surveyed (34%) do not feel comfortable investing in mutual funds, stocks, or bonds (versus 27% among U.S. investors overall). However, if they did invest in stocks and bonds, most Hispanics surveyed (70%) felt they would earn money on those investments (12% feel they would lose money, and 18% feel they would break even).

ADP AETNA, INC. ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES, INC. AT&T BANK OF AMERICA CAESAR’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CARNIVAL CORPORATION & plc CHEVRON CHRYSLER CITI COMCAST CORPORATION FORD MOTOR COMPANY GENERAL MOTORS JOHNSON & JOHNSON KRAFT FOODS MILLERCOORS NORTHROP GRUMMAN SODEXO STATE FARM INSURANCE COS. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY ASSOCIATE AARP AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE CISCO SYSTEMS THE COCA-COLA COMPANY COMERICA BANK CONAGRA FOODS, INC. CSX CORPORATION DENNY’S CORPORATION DIAGEO NORTH AMERICA ERNST & YOUNG GOOGLE KPMG MACY’S MANPOWERGROUP INC. MARSH & MCLENNAN COMPANIES MERCK & CO. MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL MICROSOFT CORPORATION PEPSICO PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL THE HOME DEPOT UNITEDHEALTHCARE UPS VOYA FINANCIAL SERVICES WALMART WYNDHAM WORLDWIDE

CORPORATE OBSERVER

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WALMART LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW SERIES

WALMART LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW SERIES Patricia Salas Pineda is group vice president of the Hispanic business strategy group (HSBG) at Toyota Motor North America. She is the highest-ranking Hispanic executive at Toyota, and was recently recognized by People en Español magazine as one of the 25 Most Powerful Latinas in the country. During her 30 years with the company, Ms. Pineda has served in various key leadership positions including general counsel and head of corporate communications, human resources, and philanthropy. Her role at the newly created HBSG is unique. She oversees a team focused on strengthening ties between Toyota and Hispanics, building on 20 years of engagement and 10 consecutive years as the preferred automotive brand for Hispanics. A board member and founding chair of the Latino Corporate Directors Association, she has also served on the board of Levi Strauss & Co. since 1991.

PATRICIA SALAS PINEDA BY: PABLO SCHNEIDER AND LAURA RIVAS

people younger than me and as old as me,WeI got for all ofthe “I“Certainly believe education is the most important strategy. neednews to increase them, ‘You’re going to have to remake yourself.

You’re going to have number of Latinos with college degrees, advanced degrees, and STEMtoand remake yourskills set ofto skills, what youforknow, how century you operate, over and technology prepare them the 21st workplace. ” over and over again.”

PS&LR: Please share your career highlights with us.

Salas Pineda: I started my career in the automotive industry 30 years ago as a member of the initial start-up team at New United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI), Toyota’s joint venture with General Motors. I served as general counsel and head of human resources and government and environmental affairs. Ten years ago, I moved to Toyota’s holding company in New York as general counsel and group vice president for corporate communications, which included overseeing national philanthropy and the Toyota USA Foundation.

PS&LR: Is there a particular career highlight that stands out to you?

Salas Pineda: It was an honor to join NUMMI as part of the start-up team. It was Toyota’s first foray into manufacturing in the United States and my initial introduction to Toyota. Another highlight was my transition to philanthropy and the

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WWW.INSIDERGAME.ORG

Toyota USA foundation. I am proud that Toyota has made close to $800 million in charitable donations to organizations that serve diverse communities including Latinos. I have had the opportunity to collaborate with a number of organizations doing meaningful work in areas such as the environment, vehicle safety, leadership development, and STEM education.

About 10 years ago, I became acutely aware of the need to educate Hispanic families on child passenger safety and the importance of using child car seats correctly. Unfortunately, Latino children are less likely to be buckledup than other children which results in a disproportionate share of injuries and death. I championed funding the national expansion of Buckle Up for Life/Abróchate a la Vida, Toyota’s partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital which to date has educated thousands of parents and caregivers and provided over 40,000 car seats

WALMART LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW SERIES to families in need. This program is so important because two-thirds of all car seats in the U.S. are improperly installed. Today, the program is active in 14 cities across the country.

PS&LR: Could you share some of the advocacy and inclusion efforts in which you’ve been involved, especially those focused on Hispanics?

Salas Pineda: While still at NUMMI I served on the board of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) for five years. When I arrived in New York in 2004, through my work at Toyota, I started to build sponsorship relationships with key organizations such as the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), and the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR). I served on the board of CHCI and the corporate advisory board of NCLR. More recently, through our association with HACR, I am a founding chair and board member of a new 501(c) (6) organization called the Latino Corporate Directors Association, which seeks to increase Latino participation on corporate boards.

PS&LR: What do you see as some of the most effective strategies moving forward to increase Hispanic inclusion especially in Corporate America?

Salas Pineda: I believe education is the most important strategy. We need to increase the number of Latinos with college degrees, advanced degrees, and STEM and technology skills to prepare them for the 21st century workplace. Our community will comprise a significant part of the future U.S. corporate workforce so I believe it is in both our community’s and Corporate America’s interests to work together to help prepare our future Latino corporate leaders and employees.

PS&LR: What do you think about connecting the supply side and the demand side? Company’s needing leadership say there are too few in the candidate pool but others say the

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criteria are too narrow. There’s good awareness on the part of boards but the number of Hispanics on corporate boards is generally around two percent which is significantly under indexing.

Salas Pineda: I think we need to raise awareness of the many qualified Latinos who have management, C-Suite, and boardroom experience.

It is also critical that we begin making efforts to increase the number of Latinos in the C-Suite and boardrooms. Today, Latinos are woefully underrepresented. I say it’s critical because Hispanics will represent a significant and growing percentage of our future U.S. corporate workforce and they must be prepared for future leadership roles in Corporate America. I think it’s worth noting that research on high performing teams shows that diverse teams outperform homogenous teams when managed well. I believe that a diverse management team is also better equipped to help its company connect with our increasingly diverse U.S. consumers, including Latino consumers who represent the fastest growing consumer base for many companies.

explained to me that there will always be people and things that we don’t like in our jobs so leaving one job for another isn’t necessarily the solution— he encouraged me to persevere and make it work. My father, who at 90 is still a community leader and Latino advocate in California, instilled in me a real staying power that has served me well. I have enjoyed a lot of success and there were points in my career when I wanted to give up or not do something, but in the back of my mind my father’s message was always with me.

PS&LR: What advice do you have for Hispanic professionals on advancing and succeeding in Corporate America?

Salas Pineda: Get the best possible education and network in the corporate community. Work hard, demonstrate leadership, become a good listener, and communicate effectively. I always encourage young people to raise their hand for challenging and varied assignments outside their comfort zone because those assignments will broaden their professional experience and skills, which will make them more appealing candidates for new jobs. I also think it’s important to speak up, articulate your vision, be a team player, and do your best not to burn bridges—the world is a very small place.

PS&LR: What advice from a mentor or peer really impacted your career?

Salas Pineda: When I was in high school, I told my father that I wanted to quit my part-time job because I didn’t like the owner’s harsh management style. My father

CORPORATE OBSERVER

15

WALMART LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW SERIES

WALMART LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW SERIES According to a recent report issued by Catalyst, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase opportunities for women in business, the percentage of executive positions held by females in Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. is just under 15 percent. The same report also indicated that the percentage of females occupying board seats within the Fortune 500 is only 16.9 percent. HACR estimates that the number of board seats held specifically by Latinas is less than one percent.

Clearly there is more work to be done regarding women and minority representation in leadership positions in Corporate America. In spite of this lack of diversity within the highest levels of Corporate America, the Hispanic influence can be felt in the executive ranks of select companies such as Time Warner Inc., a 29.7 billion dollar revenue company in 2013.

LISA GARCÍA QUIROZ

“To be a leader means to excel, to be really good at your job, to make a difference at your organization, and to clear a path for Latinos. For many of us, we have been pioneers but it is critical that we hold the door open for Latinos that will come after us.”

BY GUSTAVO A. MONTOYA

El Mundo had the opportunity to interview one of these exemplary executives, Lisa García Quiroz, chief diversity officer and SVP, corporate responsibility for Time Warner Inc., who was named one of the “25 Hispanic leaders near the top of the corporate ladder” in 2014 by Hispanic Business magazine.

Before joining Time Warner Inc., Ms. García Quiroz worked at Time Inc., where she launched two businesses that identified and successfully served new markets: People en Español and Time for Kids.

In addition to her responsibilities as chief diversity officer, Ms. García Quiroz also serves as president of the Time Warner Foundation, and oversees Time Warner’s philanthropic outreach, focused primarily on identifying new and diverse voices in storytelling. This has led to the development of groundbreaking new programs at the Sundance Institute, Tribeca Institute, the Public

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CORPORATE OBSERVER

Theater, and other preeminent arts organizations that cultivate the next generation of storytellers.

Ms. García Quiroz is also actively involved in community service and engagement. She was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve on the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service and currently serves as its chairperson. She also serves as vice chairperson of the board of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and on the boards of the Apollo Theatre and the Public Theater in New York City.

El Mundo: Can you tell us a little bit about your ethnic heritage?

García Quiroz: My cultural heritage is Mexican and Puerto Rican. My mother was born and raised in Puerto Rico and she comes from a very big, close family that is a tremendous influence in my life. My dad was born in Brooklyn to Mexican parents and my grandmother lived with us when I

CORPORATE OBSERVER

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WALMART LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW SERIES was growing up. She was very proud of her Mexican ancestry and instilled in me a great sense of appreciation and pride for Mexican history and culture.

People oftentimes ask me if I feel more one than the other but I truly don’t.

In fact, my mother and grandmother made sure of that. I consider myself completely tri-cultural…Puerto Rican, Mexican American, and New Yorker.

El Mundo: Looking back to your bicultural experience as a child and in college, did you think you would achieve the level of professional success you have achieved today?

García Quiroz: I don’t think I had a clear vision of what I would do but I had a strong drive to succeed and a feminist dad who never made me feel like there were any barriers or limits to my dreams. I wasn’t micromanaged as a child and my parents were not constantly directing me but they certainly celebrated my achievements and instilled a great sense of confidence in me.

Going to Harvard was a bit of a lifelong dream and while there I was a very active and involved student.

I considered myself an activist and I found my voice there. When I was trying to decide what graduate studies to pursue, it was a mentor at Harvard who suggested that I consider business school. At first, I thought this seemed so outside of my core interests but the more research I did the more I realized that it made complete sense. The Harvard Business School prides itself on training leaders and general managers. This is clearly a skill set that I could leverage across sectors and in fact, I have.

When I graduated from Harvard Business School, my “north star” was to work in an industry in which I could make a difference and that is what led me to media. I believe media helps tell our story, it shows who we are, what we care about, and how the world sees us – that’s what I am passionate about and that’s what led me to this industry.

As a Latina, I felt there was no greater calling and there were very few Latinos who had followed this path.

El Mundo: What words of wisdom or advice would you share with young graduates?

García Quiroz: I hate to be too prescriptive about what I tell young people since many have had success following different paths. However, if I were to look at my career and draw lessons from it I would boil it down to hard work and big dreams. I followed a path of hard work, challenging myself along the way and learning as much as I could. I positioned myself to be able to take risks in my career and to dream big. Especially for young people, I think this is especially important. You cannot achieve great things unless you are willing to pursue your dreams, doggedly, passionately, and tenaciously. “No” is not a word that I have ever let drive my career.

El Mundo: Could you share some of the advocacy and inclusion efforts in which you have been involved, especially those focused on Hispanics?

García Quiroz: As a media company, our most significant diversity and inclusion efforts are those that ensure that we as a company are creating content that is reflective of and appealing to increasingly diverse audiences in the U.S. and globally.

As the launch publisher of People en Español I had a front seat to seeing companies across the country recognize the importance of the Latino consumer in the U.S. For this reason, the business case for diversity and stimulating efforts to reach diverse audiences are our most important work. In the past decade, Time Warner has been a leader in reaching Latino audiences with leading brands such as HBO Latino, People en Español, and CNN en Español. In addition, we have become expert in reaching diverse audiences with our content, be it feature films where Latinos account for a significant percentage of opening weekend box office, or the launch of a new talk show like “The Real” with a very diverse cast of women.

audiences hungry for this content.

El Mundo: Moving forward, what do you see as some of the most effective strategies to increase Hispanic representation in Corporate America? What specific suggestions do you have for increasing Hispanic representation?

García Quiroz: There are more Latinos graduating from college than ever in our history. We need opportunities and jobs with real career paths, and we will see our numbers rise. I have been involved with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) for over a decade. HSF supported me at Harvard Business School and I am proud to support the organization. If you spend time with our young people, attend one of the HSF gatherings; you can witness firsthand our very exciting future. All these young people need are opportunities, a path to success, and mentorship. We, as a community, need to support our young people, be role models, and open doors.

El Mundo: What does it take to be a leader in Corporate America and an advocate for Hispanics?

García Quiroz: To be a leader means to excel, to be really good at your job, to make a difference at your organization, and to clear a path for Latinos. For many of us, we have been pioneers but it is critical that we hold the door open for Latinos that will come after us. There is no pride in being the only, only in being the first of many.

Moreover, I am currently launching a new initiative focused on developing digital content with new, diverse storytellers. The proliferation of digital content is a huge opportunity for diverse storytellers, an opportunity to ensure that we are telling our stories.

We need to make sure that we provide opportunities for these storytellers because we know that there are

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HACR RESEARCH INSTITUTE UPDATE

HACR RESEARCH INSTITUTE UPDATE The HACR Research Institute (HRI) is the research arm of HACR and is devoted to objective research, analysis, and publication of Hispanic-related issues in Corporate America. The institute focuses its research on HACR’s four pillars: Employment, Procurement, Philanthropy, and Governance, and also explores other issues pertaining to Hispanic inclusion in the workforce and national demographics. The goal of the HRI is to assess current Hispanic trends and stimulate discussion on Hispanic inclusion in Corporate America.

In 2014, the HRI received a grant from Merck & Co. and the Merck Foundation to fund a study exploring STEM opportunities for Hispanics. The study, Identifying Opportunities for Hispanic Inclusion in STEM Careers, is due out in 2015. The primary objectives of this project are to gain a richer understanding of the barriers that limit the inclusion and professional progression of

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Hispanics in STEM fields within Corporate America and to promote strategic actions to enhance recruitment, career development, and advancement opportunities for Hispanics.

The HRI also received a grant from Walmart in 2014 to fund a study examining trends in one of HACR’s four pillars: Procurement. The 2015 HACR Hispanic Procurement Report builds on the work of the HACR Corporate Inclusion Index tracking trends in supplier diversity for a sample of Fortune 100 companies. The goal of the project is to identify challenges companies are facing in working with Hispanic entrepreneurs as well as identifying opportunities for sourcing to Hispanic vendors. The report will include recommendations and best practices to help Corporate America overcome challenges in sourcing to Hispanic vendors.

CORPORATE OBSERVER

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CII EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2014 HACR CORPORATE INCLUSION INDEX The HACR Corporate Inclusion Index (HACR CII) provides a comprehensive measurement of the business practices and strategies of the Fortune 100 and HACR Corporate Members around HACR’s four pillars: Employment, Procurement, Philanthropy, and Governance. The data collected in the HACR CII provide a “snapshot” of Corporate America’s Hispanic inclusion efforts and form the basis for HACR’s advocacy efforts on improving Hispanic representation in Corporate America.

More importantly though is the fact that 15 of this year’s participants have improved their rating from 2013 which reflects their commitment to diversity and Hispanic inclusion and can also likely be in part attributed to the close working relationship between HACR and the participants.

There is still work that needs to be done but we have come a long way since the first HACR CII in 2009. We have seen participation slowly increase, retention rates raise, but most importantly ratings improve. The HACR CII is poised to make real and lasting change in Corporate America.

A total of 129 corporations comprised of the Fortune 100, HACR Corporate Members, and 2013 HACR CII participants received invitations to take part in the survey of that number, 61 submitted surveys this year.

More specifically, 39 percent of Fortune 100 companies participated in this year’s survey which like last year included 4 out of the top 10 Fortune 100 companies.

KEY FINDINGS

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•

Hispanics comprise an average of nearly 14 percent of the total reported employee base in Corporate America.

•

Hispanics were nearly three times as likely to be found in non-exempt positions as compared to exempt positions.

•

On average, participants reported directing slightly more than one percent of total procurement spend to Hispanic-owned businesses.

•

Only 10 percent of the CII participants reported that they were unable to disclose their Hispanic spend.

CORPORATE OBSERVER

•

Total average charitable contributions made by participants in 2014 equaled $81,634,125 while total average contributions to Hispanic-led and community organizations amounted to only $5,195,119.

•

Hispanics held just over six percent of board seats amongst the participating companies which is higher than the average within the Fortune 500 more generally, but it is still very low.

•

Hispanics held only 137 executive officer positions out of over 4,000 executive officer positions.

HACR PRESIDENT & CEO, CID WILSON’S WELCOME RECEPTION

HACR PRESIDENT & CEO, CID WILSON’S WELCOME RECEPTION DECEMBER 10, 2014 | M. BRASSERIE, WASHINGTON D.C.

WELCOME RECEPTION SPONSORS DIAMOND

HACR Board Members with HACR President & CEO Cid Wilson.

BRINDIS

EMERALD

RUBY

HACR President & CEO Cid Wilson.

SAPPHIRE

HACR President & CEO Cid Wilson with reception attendees.

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HACR PRESIDENT & CEO, CID WILSON’S WELCOME RECEPTION

HACR President & CEO Cid Wilson with reception attendees.

HACR President & CEO Cid Wilson with Miguel Pozo past president of the Hispanic National Bar Association.

HACR Board Member Guarione Diaz with a reception guest.

HACR reception attendees.

HACR Board Member Ignacio Salazar with a reception guest.

HACR Board Members with reception attendees.

CORPORATE OBSERVER

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HACR NEWS

HACR WELCOMES NEW TEAM MEMBERS VANESSA BOWLING

MARCELA PÉREZ

Marcela Pérez joined the staff of HACR in September 2014 as the Communications Intern. Marcela is part of the Governors Internship Program at The Washington Center.

The Governors Internship Program is a highly competitive program that places students from the participating states of Mexico in a rigorous professional and academic program.

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Vanessa Bowling joined the staff of HACR in October 2014 as the executive and operations assistant to the president and CEO. Her primary functions include handling the president and CEO’s myriad of administrative responsibilities including correspondence, meeting schedules, travel itineraries, and speaking engagements.

She also assists the senior manager of finance

and administration and supports the 16-member HACR Board of Directors.

Throughout the program, participants must also develop a project that will impact the well-being of their region.

economically disadvantaged around the world. I can see myself working for a social development organization like IDB, as a project planner and manager.

Marcela’s project: Social Communication and Design Lab, proposes the creation of a marketing, design, and communications agency specializing in meeting the needs of Hispanic nonprofit organizations and institutions in Washington D.C. and Mexico. Marcela will present her project to her state governor in January of 2015.

Q&A with Marcela Pérez What do you hope to do in the future?

In thinking about my future goals, I’d like to be a part of a social impact business, where I can apply all I have learned to improve living conditions for people who are socially and

Prior to joining HACR, Vanessa was the office manager and executive assistant for Equality Maryland. While there, she honed her skills in event planning, graphic design, and developing marketing and advertising materials.

She is currently enrolled in the University of Baltimore’s master’s program in publications design with an anticipated graduation date of May 2015.

A 2010 graduate of Morgan State University with a B.S. in Telecommunications.

What did you like about working at HACR? I really enjoyed every single day of it, from the experience of commuting, to all the projects I worked on, to getting to know more about HACR and the team, and especially my boss Ariana Solis.

What was the most important thing you learned while at HACR? I have learned a lot of priceless things at HACR, but the main thing I have learned is that an organized work team makes a difference.

What was your favorite thing you did while visiting the U.S.?

Living cliché moments are as magical as I imagined.

Picking pumpkins, watching the snow fall, having the opportunity to visit different amazing cities, and discovering hidden places in D.C., are just a few of my favorite things.

What are your plans when you return to Mexico?

I will continue with my entrepreneurial projects and to begin the implementation of “Social Communication and Design Lab”, the project I developed during my semester at The Washington Center. I would also like to get involved with a social development organization and I would love to start teaching courses on social entrepreneurship and design thinking process.

2015 HACR CALENDAR

2015 CALENDAR OF EVENTS FEBRUARY 11-12, 2015

MARCH 3, 2015

MAY 13, 2015

League of United Latin American Citizens: 2015 LULAC National Legislative Conference & Gala Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C.

National Council of La Raza: 28th Annual NCLR Capital Awards New York Hilton Midtown New York, NY

Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute: CHLI Annual Gala & Leadership Awards Mandarin Oriental Washington, D.C.

MARCH 24-26,2015 FEBRUARY 12-15, 2015 United States Hispanic Leadership Institute National Conference Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers Chicago, IL

United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: 2015 Legislative Summit Ronald Reagan Building Washington, D.C. MAY 12, 2015

FEBRUARY 25-27, 2015 Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities: 11th International Conference RIU Plaza Guadalajara Hotel Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute: Fiesta de Golf Scholarship Challenge Renditions Golf Course Davidsonville, MD

2015 HACR PROGRAMS APRIL 24-26, 2015

APRIL 24-26, 2015

APRIL 27-28, 2015

HACR Corporate Directors Summit™ The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead Atlanta, GA

HACR Corporate Achievers Summit The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead Atlanta, GA

23rd Annual HACR Symposium: The Power of Hispanic Inclusion™ The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead Atlanta, GA

APRIL 26-28, 2015

APRIL 28, 2015

HACR Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers™ The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead Atlanta, GA

HACR CEO Roundtable The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead Atlanta, GA

APRIL 24-26, 2015 HACR Corporate Executives Forum™ The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead Atlanta, GA

HISPANIC ASSOCIATION ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY 1444 I Street, N.W. Suite 850 Washington, D.C. 20005