Antonio Capo, the guy who wrote the article on his blog www.altamarino.org
opened the entry up with an interesting introduction. I’ll just use his. I hope it’s okay with him.
The article in BusinessWeek about Latino leaders highlights some important aspects of what it means to be Latino these days in corporate America. Yet, it feels like the analysis was done in a lab (aka. focus group where all people are most likely to follow the tone of questioning once it has been set by the first answer) rather than in real life. In any case, I respect and admire the work that Bernardo Ferdman and Placida Gallegos have done in their study titled: Identity Orientations of Latinos in the United States.
Below are some of the topics covered in the interview.
A Latino leader puts emphasis on the following due to their Latino heritage, the interviewee argues.
- Caring for all parties involved
- Trying to find a way to meet everyone’s needs.
- Be what you are but don’t carry it on your sleeve
Antonio states that educational differences are the new “generational gap” for Latinos. He says “A good education will put you in track to success in corporate America regardless of race while a bad or incomplete education will set you back to the same standard of living of a first generation Latino immigrant.” He is partly true. Due to social media and the current shift of labor Latinos are more and more getting embedded in social media and are seeing the world in a lot of different ways that traditional education doesn’t. Years ago I did not know that people can work from home and still make enough money to put food on the table, afford yearly vacations, and meet celebrities. Isn’t that an idol life? Corporate life can be an idol life too, the promise of money, wealth, and happiness. What if that’s not for every Latino? We’ll fall into the same social expectation if we assume that education is the only way to progress from generation to generation. I’m not saying that education is bad but it’s just not fulfilling.
At the highest levels of corporate America, you can find examples of very successful Latino leaders that have gotten there by breaking the barriers that their own culture places upon them. A Latino leader can be just as successful as any other in a global market place where companies need cultural savvy to conquer new markets. The global war for talent has gone beyond race and nationality thus creating a more leveled playing field for Latino and non-Latino leaders alike. Furthermore, companies that fail to harness the full individual’s potential (including their understanding of their indigenous markets) will not be able to succeed at a global level and might be considered a secondary choice for employment by the top Latino talent available worldwide.
Antonio also asks a very good question, “How do we create a more balanced, accepting and educated workforce where the strengths and your cultural background can be fully utilized in order to help you grow professionally while achieving the business goals that the job requires?” I’ll answer it with corroboration with my own point of view.
We have to start with the bare essentials of workforce development with a leeway to maintaining family balance. Family balance is key not just to Latinos but to everyone. Many times there are half-happy families with wealthy parents. Work and family come hand in hand as we tend to see more and more as our private lives become more obscure and seen online. As Latinos we have an opportunity to change business, how is perceived amongst businesses and it affects an individuals life.
I am very passionate about what I do here at Hispanics Learn providing computer education to the Latino community but that is not the only thing that will bring this new workforce to reality. Businesses can help but it also has to start with the individuals and it has to start early as early as middle school. I would like to hear what other people’s answers. How would you create this workforce that will showcase your strengths and your cultural background can be fully utilized?
Many thanks to Antonio Capo and his article found here.
