Last week concluded Hispanic Heritage month. Like many companies, Vanguard has had to get creative about how we celebrate and honor the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino crew members while we continue to operate virtually.
This year, the Hispanic Organization for Leadership Advancement (HOLA) and the Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success (WILS) – two of our crew (employee) resource groups – interviewed a few of our phenomenal Hispanic women leaders. We talked about their backgrounds and the impact of their culture on their personal and professional lives. Here is what they had to say:
What does your Hispanic heritage mean to you?
Being Latina, to me, is about putting family first, exuding a warm spirit, and the richness of our food and music. Growing up Puerto Rican, I learned that, for us, everyone is family, which is why my abuela (grandmother) taught me to always cook more food for dinner than your immediate family could ever eat, just in case unexpected guests came to our home! It is a tradition that I still follow today. My neighbors love it! Thankfully, they all love Puerto Rican food!
For me, speaking Spanish has never been a fundamental part of my identity. Since English happened to be the first language for both of my parents, they have frequently said that they tend to “think” in English more than they do in Spanish. Therefore, when I was growing up, we mainly spoke English at home. People are often surprised when I say I don’t speak fluent Spanish. Some folks have even said that I’m not “really” Latina because I’m not fully bilingual. I beg to differ. I’m proud to have grown up very culturally Puerto Rican, with most, if not all, of the traditions that have been passed down through my Puerto Rican family. – Illeana C., Enterprise Sales CRM Senior Program Manager
What were the most inspiring values you gained growing up?
Community and togetherness. There is no “I” without “Us”. I was raised by many family members who came together to help pave my way. At age six, my aunt and extended family played a critical role in my life at a time my parents didn’t have the means to provide for me. When my family moved to the U.S. we counted on the support of another Colombian family, as well as close friends, who made every effort to make us feel safe and at home. “Family” in our culture is not limited to immediate biological ties. A sense of community is prevalent in what motivates us to do more for others. We typically speak less in terms of “success” and more in terms of “happiness,” “wholeness,” and “togetherness.”
During my years in the U.S., I have been fortunate to meet and build relationships with people from many other Latin and Spanish countries, and in the process, I have been able to learn about, experience, and appreciate the similarities and also nuances of what Hispanic heritage means for different people. Our traditions, regardless of country of origin or descent, always have components of bringing people together, growing together, and advancing together. The things that make me happy are tied to my Hispanic identity: family, savory foods, Caribbean rhythms, traditions and festivities, and celebrating and helping others. – Sheyla C., Global Product Plan Manager
Are there any Hispanic women who have inspired you and what impact have they had on you?
There are many women I’ve admired for paving the way after facing challenges that would have made many others quit, such as Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina astronaut in space, Rita Moreno, the only Latina with a PEGOT (Peabody, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court, and Celia Cruz who made a name for herself in a mostly male-dominated salsa world. However, the main woman who has consistently inspired me has been my maternal grandmother. She is the most resourceful person I know.
After coming to the US with only a fifth grade education, she managed to work full time as a seamstress for a designer, maintain an alterations business on the side, and cook Colombian tamales on the weekends and holidays to bring in additional income. She had side hustles before the term was identified! With no formal guidance, she knew saving was important for the future, so instead of buying clothes, she tended to make them and dreamed of buying a multi-family house. After accumulating enough cash for a down payment, she and my grandfather bought the home they currently live in and eventually were able to buy the home next door as a rental property. As I got older, I was encouraged to not pay anyone’s mortgage other than my own. These homes have funded my grandparents’ retirement for decades and will eventually pass on wealth to my mother and uncle. My grandmother’s foresight to push against my grandfather’s belief that “real estate in New York is not a good investment” changed the trajectory of my family’s experience. I’m forever grateful to her ambition for a better life. – Lynnette D., Americas Internal Sales Support and Client Services Manager
How have you been able to share or celebrate your culture with others at work?
I became part of a community who embraced and celebrated the Hispanic culture when I joined HOLA. A few years ago, I was even able to meet Soledad O’Brien, a woman who was always an inspiration to me, through an event I helped plan! When I saw how welcoming the broader Vanguard community was to her, I felt more comfortable speaking to different aspects of my background. Through multiple HOLA engagements, I learned that Hispanics are less likely to have formal mentorships in comparison to their Caucasian peers. With this newfound knowledge in hand, I asked my department head to help me gain these types of relationships. My department head, who also has a diverse background, supported me from a place of compassion and understanding and to this day, we still talk about all things diversity and inclusion. The mentors I gained have shaped my career and confidence. One of my mentors, a Hispanic senior leader, understood my unique experiences and knew how to guide me through difficult times. Other mentors embraced my heritage and were curious to learn about my background. Bringing my culture to work was not something I thought I’d ever do, but now, I feel comfortable sharing my unique perspectives on topics and explaining how my heritage plays a part in that view. Now more than ever, I feel a responsibility to share. After spending time with my HOLA colleagues, I bring my full, authentic self to work. If it wasn’t for me sharing my heritage, I would not be in the place I am now. – Jennifer F., Retail Strategic Support Project Manager
More about the authors:
Illeana C.
“I was born in Philadelphia. My family is from Puerto Rico. I call myself a Phila-Rican! My dad was also born in Philadelphia and my mom was born in Puerto Rico. She came to Philadelphia when she was 5 years old.”
Sheyla C.
“I was born in Colombia and lived there until age 16. My city of birth is Bucaramanga, which is a located along the edge of the Andes Mountain range. The city is known as the “City of Parks,” there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy due to its geographic location. At around the age 6 I moved to the city of Barranquilla, along the Atlantic coast, until age 16, and travelled every year to Bucaramanga to spend time with my family.”
Lynnette D.
“Both of my sets of grandparents moved with my parents from Cali, Colombia to Queens, NY in the early 70s (separately). My parents met in high school and after a story that is deemed for a screenplay someday, were married in the early 80s. I was born in Houston, Texas because my dad’s family had moved there, but when I was six weeks old, my parents and I moved back to Queens to where my mom’s family still lived.”
Jennifer F.
“My mother is from Venezuela and my father is from Peru. They both left their respective countries within days of each other to attend college in the U.S. and met here. I am a first generation American, and was born with multiple citizenships (fun fact).”
