Latinas On The Plaza
Helping women of color rise to their full potential
September 2020 Issue
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Latinas On The Plaza
Helping women of color rise to their full potential
September 2020 Issue
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Latinas On The Plaza
September 2020 Issue
Words from President
Much to my dismay the Covid-19 pandemic continues to alter the way we do business and more bad news is on the horizon as we approach the fall flu season and the typical layoffs that companies do anyway, now magnified with greater layoffs and businesses closing. But also, in light of the growing commitment thanks to movements like Black Lives Matter, we are seeing some real effort to hiring diverse candidates. According to a recent Nielsen survey, for example, 64% of black women in the United States agree their goal is to make it to the top of their profession; that’s nearly double the percentage of nonHispanic white women with the s a m e g o a l . M c K i n s ey a n d Leanin.org meanwhile report that 83% of Asian women, 80% of black women, and 76% of Latinas say they want to be promoted, compared to 75% of Helping women of color rise to their full potential
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men and 68% of White women in their study. And yet, despite representing a b o u t 1 8 % o f t h e U. S . population, women of color represented only 4% of C-Level positions in 2018, falling far below white men (68%) and white women (19%). Even graduating from a prestigious business or law school doesn’t help much. Of the 532 African-American women who earned their MBAs at Harvard Business School between 1977 and 2015, only 67 (13%) have achieved the highest-ranking executive positions, compared to 161 (19%) of African-American men and 40% of a matched sample of 150 non-AfricanAmerican HBS alumni. In this newsletter, we are going to introduce you to a few of our alumni and a board member who is already on the talent bench. Long-time board member Dr. Damary Bonilla-Rodriguez has very strong credentials and she has done a significant amount of work in the Diversity, Inclusion and Equity arena. However she has her own tales of what she Helping women of color rise to their full potential
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experienced making the difficult climb of advancing at work and getting equitable pay. In our informal survey over the last 10 year, we can safely say that out of 500 Latina women we have served, less than 10 reported a salary of $100K. This empirical evidence was recently confirmed by another colleague who is trying to encourage Latina women to buy their first homes. She was shocked to learn that those women in professional careers were all earning salaries under $40K. How do you buy a home, how do you provide children with higher education, how do you break the poverty cycle when Latina women earn such low wages. This reality has huge societal implications that needs to be addressed. Companies have a responsibility to help level the playing field by hiring and providing equitable pay to women of color.
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Meet Isolda ⭐ Why should a company hire you for a leadership role? Account management - I have managed 350 locations for exterior services. Contracting contractors to serve different clients nationwide. Reporting - Conducted weekly calls w i t h s t a k e h o l d e r s, a n d h i r i n g manager s. Re ported recruiting activities with data and shared strategies to recruit. -Bachelors degree in science of marketing. ⭐ What are your strengths and how will that help a company? Restorative - I’m very good at figuring things out, and spotting things that need to be fixed. I like to ensure that the relationship between my clients and all party’s work. When a breakdown occurs, I am very good at deploying skills that help to resolve the issue, even at the risk of losing the client I always am honest since that is a core value for me. I crave learning to grow professionally but also to share that information with others.
Helping women of color rise to their full potential
September 2020 Issue
⭐ Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In a leadership role where I can keep learning and share my knowledge with others. Helping women grow will always be in my future path.
⭐ What do you need right now to escalate your career? My goal is to go back to school and complete a masters program in data marketing. Data marketing keeps growing and is very useful in different industries.
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Meet Magdalena ⭐ Why should a company hire you for a leadership role? I effectively use my strategic skills and my interpersonal skills to develop strong healthy relationships with our clients. I thrive when I’m managing projects and I’m streamlining proceses and procedures. For example I increased participation for my curent organizations, Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) When I created a robust automatic process for coaching sessions for 13 cohorts nationwide. In doing this, I was ablet to decrease forfeited sessions by 40% and productivity level within 4 months. While at The Little Village Chamber of Commerce (LVCC), I implemented and managed a program funded by the United States Hispanic Chamber (USHCC) of Commerce from beginning to end. I helped over 60 plus businesses in obtaining loans and growing. After the first cohort, USHCC, granted LVCC the award for Chamber of the year in 2018 due to such a comprehensive program. ⭐ What are your strengths and how will that help a company? According to Strengths finder I am an achiever. That skills coupled with my organizational skills allows me to bring immediate value to my employers. For instance, when I began working at HACE, I was hired as a consultant for the marketing department. Within two months the National Program Director for Mujeres de HACE Program, noticed I was able to increase enrollemnt for registration within a short period of time and I was offered a position as a full time employee. Seven months later, again I was promoted due to my initiative and leadership skills.
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Given my 12 years of experience honing my strengths I am a better listener. This has served me well in that I am able to offer my help to those who seek my opinion. I also use my organizational skills to increase my productivity and my relational strengths to build great partnerships with our clients.
⭐ Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In 5 years, I would like to be seen as someone with great expertise in providing socioeconomic growth opportunities. I’m also really excited to take on more managerial responsibilities in the next few years and take the lead on some projects.
⭐ What do you need right now to escalate your career? I’m currently directly involved in managing multiple projects and programs. I’m looking towards obtaining a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certificate. In obtaining this certificate I will be able to excel in manging projects and open the doors for greater opportunities aimed towards my professional growth. I work at a non-profit, it is extremely difficult to afford classess and the cost to take the exam. 16
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Meet Dr Damary
the urgency of leadership development for a fastgrowing population and create a pipeline of diverse leaders.
⭐ Why should a company hire you for a leadership
⭐ What you have experienced thus far in job hunt: I always heard that I was overqualified or that they didn’t have enough money in the budget to pay me what I deserved.
role? I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Social Work from the College of New Rochelle where I received the College President’s Medal, graduated with Honors, and was awarded the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Award. I also hold a Master of Science degree in Organizational Communications and a S p e c i a l i z e d C e r t i fi c a t i o n i n C o r p o r a t e Communications. Personal endeavors of overcoming statistics and accessing higher education, have led me to earn a Doctorate in Education focusing on Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College. To change the political and leadership landscape for Latinos, I ran for State Representative in the 189th District of Pennsylvania in the 2016 election cycle where I became the 1st Hispanic to make a State ballot in Pike and Monroe Counties. In November 2019, I became the 1st Hispanic elected as School Board Director in the East Stroudsburg Area School District. I’m passionate about supporting professional organizations, I’m a Board Member of the Brodhead Watershed Association, Prospanica NY, Latina VIDA, Latinas On The Plaza, and Los Compadres Modern Caballero and an advisory board member for several organizations including: The Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs and the Alliance for Positive Youth Development. In addition, I was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to represent the Poconos Region on statewide commissions on Redistricting Reform and Latino affairs (GACLA).
⭐ What do you need right now career wise: Greater income (I finally have this), flexible schedule to juggle work-life balance but also to be able to do community work, Board service, etc., continued mentorship is important to growth and sponsorship is important and necessary for opening doors that we can’t necessarily open for ourselves, recognition from leadership that speaks to my contributions within an organization is validating and encouraging, as well as a seat at the table of Boards, Advisory Boards, speaking engagements and other opportunities for visibility that allow me to be a voice for others and be a change agent for positive and necessary changes are all important aspects of growth for me but also of influence in society. I’m seeing my influence and some of these aspects play out in my current role/ organization, as well as through my work on the School Board and other Boards. I’m grateful to God for His blessings and the opportunities He has given me to be a leader.
⭐ Your Expertise: I’m a national leading authority on leadership development, especially as it pertains to diversity and inclusion. I deliver keynote addresses and presentations drawing upon my experience from roles in the nonprofit, private, and government sectors, as well as my doctoral research. My research about Latina leadership in the United States has served as the foundation for events, conference sessions, publications, and content development - to address Helping women of color rise to their full potential
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Grecia
Why should a company hire you for a leadership role? Recently, I was promoted to Office Manager at the dental office I have been working for a few years now. Since I started with the company, I have been in charge of training dental assistants and front desk staff. I perfor m tasks beyond my responsibilities and demonstrate initiative. For example, during the pandemic, our office shut down and in the meantime, I taught myself to handle and resolve insurance claims. Also, I reformatted patient registration documents, perfor med a marketing analysis on the company, and found causes of l o w p a t i e n t i n fl o w p r e pandemic. Also, I created the dental assistant and equipment maintenance manuals. I did all of this without being asked to do so. My boss realized my Helping women of color rise to their full potential
September 2020 Issue
efforts and commitment to the company. Then, shortly after reopening the office, I was offered a management position as he was impressed and complimented my structured way of working. What are your strengths and how will that help a company? D e l i b e r a t i v e : Fo r e s e e i n g potential problems and be proactive to decrease errors and increase efficiency. At work, I review the patient schedule in advance to ensure there won't be any missing information. This creates a smooth patient experience as well as an organized workflow. Adaptability: Reacting calmly and centered to unexpected situations. As an office manager, I have major responsibilities. In a situation such as speaking with a patient that might not be happy, I am responsible for resolving the issue. I listen first,
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then analyze the issue, and finally present a solution that will make the patient satisfied while benefiting the office. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Masters in Healthcare Administration completed from UIC and holding an executivelevel position at a hospital such as Ann & Robert Lurie Chicago Hospital. Yearly Income: ___Under $35K _X_ Between $35-$45k ___Between $46-$65K ___Between $66 -$85K -----$100k and above What do you need right now to escalate your career? Experience in a management role (just started a management position) Masters degree in Healthcare Administration with internship/ externship.
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Andrea
Why should a company hire you for a Leadership role?
A company should hire me, because I show loyalty, I worked at a private loan/law firm company for 10 years and now I am currently employed at the Cook County Public Defender's Office. I currently have a Bachelors in Paralegal Studies from Roosevelt University, they are ABA approved school. I completed a leadership program with Latinas on The Plaza that taught me so many leadership skills. In my current position, I am always willing to take on the leadership role, by helping train new employees, handling the front end of the office alone, I can multitask and many other tasks. I am always eager to learn new things and give new ideas esp. when it comes to saving time and money. Helping women of color rise to their full potential
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What are your strengths and how will that help a company? My top 3 strengths are Input, Includer and Developer. I love to give input on all work assigned or projects, I am not afraid to speak up and give any ideas. An example is when I offered my input to make the most of our company's time with interns. I was able to give direct examples, they were impressed and decided to go with my ideas. I also enjoy making everyone feel included, I think in a leadership or non leadership role everyone should feel included and companies should listen to everyone. I think the receptionist plays a part just as big of a role as higher ups and at times they need to be reminded. I love to develop new ideas and I feel at times my mind doesn't shut off, because I am always thinking of ways to make my workplace more successful and more efficient. 27
Latinas On The Plaza
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In 5 years I see myself running a law firm or non for profit organization that helps minorities. My goal in life is to be successful but also give back as much I can, I want to help thousands of people succeed just like I have been helped. I don't think of success as making more money, I think of it as giving back to the community esp. low income. I have been successful my whole life because I have a strong support system a n d w a s a l w a y s fi n d i n g resources, I think everyone can succeed with the right support in your corner.
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Yearly Income: ___Under $35K _X_ Between $35-$45k ___Between $46-$65K ___Between $66 -$85K -----$100k and above What do you need right now to escalate your career? What I need right now to succeed and reach my goals are more classes like the FUERTE Leadership Program. I love to learn more hands-on, share ideas, encouragement from other women, and network. I would also like to go back to school and get my masters in Social Work, because I think that would help me with my ultimate goal with giving back to the community. The more certifications the better so that I can always learn more and share my experiences with others.
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Latinas On The Plaza
Biyanka
Why should a company hire you for a leadership role? I have been working on my leadership skills since I was in middle school. I have been continuously working on it since then. I have served as the President of my chapter of Delta Sigma Pi while in graduate school. This taught me the skills needed for leadership, communication, time management, accountability and so much more.
September 2020 Issue
sure what to do. I asked him where he usually sends these responses and where he should send the original response with the money order and then a copy to the other address. A few weeks later the immigration office contacted him and informed him that was what he wanted to be done. I am very responsible, I take ownership of what I do. I try to do the best I can. However, if I make a mistake I will be the first to admit it as well. Honestly is important.
What are your strengths and how will that help a company? I am restorative. This means that I like to solve problems. For example, one of the requests we received from immig ration asked the response to be sent to two different locations. This is unusual. The attorney was not Helping women of color rise to their full potential
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Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In five years I would like to be graduating law school with a job in Washington DC. Yearly income: ___Under $35K X Between $35-$45k ___Between $46-$65K ___Between $66 -$85K -----$100k and above What do you need right now to escalate your career? I need to move to another company that has growth potential for me and start applying to law school.
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