Yrthya Dinzey-Flores Age: 39 Chief Diversity Officer for New York State Nickname: “Toli—a combination of two Spanish words, todo (all) and linda (beautiful)” It’s one thing to have a job you love. It’s another to have a job you love established just for you. When the position of Chief Diversity Officer of New York State was created in legislation in 2010, Gov. Andrew Cuomo knew just where to look to fill it: the Toyota U.S.A. Foundation, where Yrthya Dinzey-Flores worked as a manager and a program officer for its national philanthropy efforts. Her job, which Dinzey-Flores calls “groundbreaking,” requires her to be involved in many different areas—operations, policy, technology, communications and development among them. “I like that I can ask lots of questions,” she said. “ ‘Why?’ but also ‘Why not?’ ” The daughter of Dominican parents, Dinzey-Flores grew up in Puerto Rico. As a child she watched Meet the Press with her dad, sparking an interest in politics. She went to NYU for a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science, and for a master’s degree in public administration. Her first job out of college was also her introduction to political activism—working with a group called Dominicans 2000 in Washington Heights to set a policy agenda for the large Dominican community there. Dinzey-Flores counts among her greatest achievements there securing Hillary Clinton as the keynote speaker
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for their annual conference. She later worked for the Manhattan borough president and the New York City Department of Education before going to Toyota. “Most of my mentors are successful Latina women,” she said, citing El Diario La Prensa publisher Rossana Rosado as one who continues to follow Dinzey-Flores’ career. “She encouraged me to build a career, as opposed to just having a job in politics.” As the chief diversity officer, Dinzey-Flores is tasked primarily with increasing the number of minority- and women-owned businesses involved in state contracts in New York to 20 percent, a goal set by Cuomo in his first State of the State speech in Albany earlier this year. Eventually, said Dinzey-Flores, she’d like to head back to the private sector— but first comes motherhood. Dinzey-Flores is currently pregnant with her first child. Before plotting her next move, she said, “I’d like to hone my skills as a mom, having spent 20-plus years honing my career.” How did your past jobs get you to where you are now? “I have worked in the nonprofit and private sectors, as well as in the public sector. I have a diversity of experience, and I believe all of those different sectors were a good training ground for my work as chief diversity officer of New York State.” If you were not in politics, what would you be doing? “I would be a travel writer.” Five years from now, what will your business card say? “‘Senior VP for Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility.’ ”
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MAY 23, 2011
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