The New Gen

Carlos Cuevas THE NEW GEN: MOVERS AND SHAKERS

No matter time and place, women continue to inspire our communities. This year, Latino Leaders highlights Latinas who are disruptive and who continue to build their career paths within different industries. These Latinas are authentic movers and shakers. We see them and we join them in recognizing their success.

Zuri Balmakund Santiago

Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Minnesota Attorney General

Zuri advises and litigates on behalf of the Department of Human Services. Most recently she formed part of the 14-member prosecution team in the trial of Derek Chauvin. She also has prosecutorial experience from her three years as an assistant county attorney for Hennepin County. She also devotes time to the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association, of which she is currently president.

Arianna

Davis

Senior Director of Editorial & Strategy, O, The Oprah Magazine

Arianna oversees the editorial direction and strategy across the brand, through the lens of Oprah's mission to help readers not just live their best lives, but to live them well. Arianna is also the author of What Would Frida Do? A Guide to Living Boldly, inspired by the life of artist and icon Frida Kahlo. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at New York University's Digital & Print Media Master's program teaching writing and editing.

Deborah Navarro

Founder, AirLev & MITHyperloop

Deborah is developing technology and infrastructure that could be the key to bringing disparate communities together. cofounded the New York startup AirLev, and the student-led research groups Texas Guadaloop and MIT Hyperloop III, to develop Hyperloop technology, one of Elon Musk's visions of a network of trainlike capsules that would carry people and cargo through tubes at nearly 700 mph. Deborah has worked closely with Musk and is currently keeping herself busy designing for the future.

Irma Olguin Jr

Co-Founder & CEO, Bitwise Industries

Irma founded Bitwise Industries to create a bridge between people from underserved and underrepresented communities and the training and resources needed to enter the tech industry. Irma has led the company in creating a software platform which has connected over 600k Americans to vital resources during the pandemic and currently serves one-third of the country. She was most recently named one of the most influential and innovative queer women and nonbinary people transforming the world of business, tech, and beyond by Fast Company.

Grace Noboa-Hidalgo

Director Innovation and Strategy Execution, Walgreens

Grace evaluates and executes on new business opportunities, industry partnerships and go-to-market strategies. She works closely with teams in product management, user experience, clinical programs, and technology. She has been involved with organizations such as Prospanica and HACE.

Cami Téllez

CEO, Parade

Téllez founded Parade, a comfort-first underwear brand, while she was an undergrad at Columbia University in 2019, with a $3.5 million seed. By April 2021, Parade had sold 1 million pairs. Téllez’s long-term brand vision is all about inclusivity and sustainability. The company aims to be entirely carbon neutral by the end of 2022.

ZURI BALMAKUND SANTIAGO

Career prosecutor, serving as an Assistant Attorney General with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office

What’s the story behind what has made you who you are today?

I’m the daughter of a Puerto Rican mother and Guyanese-Indian father; I’m an “Indo-rican.” Both cultures have made big impressions on my self-identity. I was born in Spanish Harlem, New York, and I’m the eldest daughter of a large, blended family. I’m a proud child of Manhattan, where I was taught values of responsibility, humility, and loyalty from an early age. My family has greatly influenced my career path. My maternal grandfather joined the U.S. Army, serving in the Korean war, and I have a long line of public servants on both sides of my family, reflecting a dedication to law enforcement, the armed forces, and medicine. Service to my community is in my blood, and choosing to serve my community through my career as a public-interest lawyer has been my greatest pleasure.

What’s one of your favorite things about practicing law today?

Legal practice is challenging and varied—both qualities that ensure it never dulls. But, my favorite part of being a lawyer is giving a voice to underrepresented interests in my community. My hope is that government practice becomes so diverse that the sometimes-disparate interests of all community members may be fairly and justly balanced in case management, settlement, and policy development.

What can you tell us about your experience on the Derek Chauvin prosecution team?

The Chauvin prosecution team was distinguished, not only because it was comprised of a venerable group of impressively accomplished attorneys, but also because it looked like the community it serves. Each team member brought his or her unique perspective and background to our case, and together we worked for the singular aim of presenting the most legally sound, fair case possible. In service of that mission, I think that we earned at least some measure of accountability and justice while also helping heal the relationship between law enforcement and the community.

Personally, I had the opportunity to touch almost all aspects of this case, from helping brainstorm legal strategy to marshaling facts. My primary responsibility was to develop our law-enforcement and expert-witness testimony under Special Prosecutor Steve Schleicher’s stewardship. But again, irrespective of our assigned “roles,” each of us was welcomed to contribute to, and felt that we collectively owned, every piece of this case. Working with this team in service of my community has truly been the highlight of my career. I am immensely grateful to Attorney General Keith Ellison for the honor of placing me in such a position of trust. His vision for a skillful, diverse team of experts was a formula for success, and I hope that forethought is the kind of detail that is not lost on history.

Who or what has inspired you the most to be who you are today?

Without question, my greatest source of inspiration, support, and motivation has been and is my family. I am eternally grateful for the sacrifices my parents made to make sure my siblings and I had opportunity. I was not born to or raised in a traditional American family, but my family’s unique qualities are what make me a resilient and open-minded person. These are lessons for which I am thankful every day and that I hope to pass on to my future children. I also need to call out my husband, who has helped keep me grounded, fed during late nights of working, and good-spirited throughout with levity and laughter. Finally, I’ve been so fortunate to meet generous people along my legal path that have extended their hands to help me succeed. Their kindnesses cannot be overstated, and these experiences are why I focus so much of my time on career counseling and mentorship. It’s important for me to ensure that whatever insight I might have gained on my path benefits someone else that may be on a similar journey.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years, I see myself still serving the community in which I live through my commitment to government practice. I want to continue working to expand the legal system and profession so that it represents the diversity of my state. And I want to help ensure that historically underrepresented communities are given the opportunity to engage their government.

Your current go-to for motivation?

A good playlist always refocuses the mind. As a profession, attorneys tend to take themselves too seriously. So, I seek inspiration outside of my work, whether it’s through music, meditation, exercise, time with close friends, a creative work of fiction, or volunteering. I refill my cup by stepping outside of my everyday into something new and different. It renews my sense of wonder, interest, and engagement.

COMMUNITY HONORABLE LEADERS

This year, Latino Leaders presents for its first time the “Honorable Community Leaders” List. These Latinas were selected according to nominations the magazine received from the community. The list is dedicated to the local efforts creating waves of impact across the country through diverse networks and industries.

Iza Montalvo Founder & Managing Partner of The Olán Group Orlando, Florida

Iza Montalvo is an entrepreneur and a leader in the media industry with a background in journalism and politics, recognized twice with the Congressional Record during Hispanic Heritage Month and Women’s International Month. She is the former press secretary of two U.S. Congressmen from Florida. Montalvo is the creator of a multimedia network that’s breaking barriers for bicultural and bilingual Latinas, referred by the media as “the first Spanish-language feminist radio show in the country”. She’s also the executive producer of her own radio show, which aired two seasons in I-Heart Radio, in the Central Florida region. Montalvo is the CEO and founder of Olán-a consulting firm based in Orlando, Florida specialized in the Hispanic market.

Jessica Valdez Senior Program Director of C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California (C5LA) Los Angeles, California

Jessica oversees all programing for an organization who's mission is to change the odds for high-potential teens from under-resourced communities by inspiring them to pursue personal success, while preparing them for leadership roles in school, college, work and their communities. As a first-generation student who graduated from UCLA, she has opened the door for thousands of other first-gen students from under resourced communities as they pursue their dreams of achieving higher education.

Tatiana Mackliff Deputy Executive Director, Leadership & Professional Development Services of NAFSA Washington, DC

Tatiana Mackliff serves as NAFSA’s deputy executive director for leadership and professional development services. Prior to joining NAFSA, Mackliff served as executive director of international education at Miami Dade College. Her 25-year career in the field of global education includes a number of leadership positions at the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the British Council. At both organizations, she liaised with government officials to implement flagship scholarship programs such as the Foreign Fulbright Student Exchange Program for the Western Hemisphere, the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program, the English Language Teaching Assistant Program, and the prestigious Chevening Awards.

Christina Rodríguez Editor and Founder of Beaute In Technology Magazine and Fit Beaute Digital Agency Houston, Texas

Christina is an inspiring Latina who is someone who has built her business and career helping others in professional services or community outreach. She is the founding board member for Latinas in Tech Houston chapter and Pretty Smart Foundation for Latina girls in STEM.

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Barbara del Mar Robles Director of Teacher Academies; Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington

Dr. Bárbara del Mar Robles is an advocate, an activist, an educator, and a legal scholar. She currently creates alternative pathways for high school students to become teachers; especially for students from underrepresented/marginalized communities or majority-minority schools. Bárbara has also been a legal advocate for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. She founded the first and only confidential support group for Spanish speaking women in Snohomish County in WA state. She is currently the first Latina and the first woman of color running for City Council in Ellensburg, WA.

Gladys Vega Executive Director of La Colaborativa Chelsea, Massachusetts

Gladys has worked as an organizer and an advocate to ensure that the Latino community has a role in determining the ways it's needs and concerns are addressed. She has played leadership roles in organizing for immigrants' rights, welfare rights, tenants' rights, open space and the environment, multicultural and anti-racism programs and in numerous grassroots campaigns. In 2007, Gladys led the Chelsea City Council to make Chelsea Massachusetts' third sanctuary City. She served as a Democratic Delegate for the National Convention in 2000.

Myrna Maysonet Partner and Chief Diversity Officer at Greenspoon Marder Orlando, Florida

Myrna is a partner with the Labor and Employment and Class Action Defense practice groups and serves as the firm’s Chief Diversity Officer. She concentrates her practice in employment litigation, counseling and defending corporations in all areas of employment. routinely protects employers’ rights against administrative agencies such as the EEOC, DOL and the NLRB and multiple jurisdictions in states such as Florida, Nevada, Utah, Tennessee and South Carolina. Maysonet served as a Judge Advocate General in the United States Navy, where she represented service members in felony and misdemeanor cases. She also served as a Staff Judge Advocate and Counsel to the Captain of the Submarine Base at Kings Bay, Georgia.

Ada Arevalo Founder & CEO at iimpact Anaheim, California

Ada is founder of REAL - Real Estate Association of Latinx Professionals. She serves to advance the visibility of Latinx professionals in commercial real estate. She is also the founder and CEO of iimpact capital, a female and minority-owned advisory firm partnering with diverse and emerging managers focused on impact and sustainable investment strategies. Ada is looking to bring visibility and support to previously underrepresented firms at the forefront of impact and sustainable investing.

Marivette Navarrete Founder and CEO at The Mujerista Miami, Florida

Marivette is the founder and CEO of The Mujerista, a digital publication and network dedicated to empowering and celebrating the stories of the next generation of Latinas. Marivette is building a community of millennial Latinas challenging stereotypes and misconceptions, while proudly representing their heritage and making an impact en la cultura.

FLORIDA

Miami: •Marivette Navarrete

CALIFORNIA

LA: •Jessica Valdez

MASSACHUSETTS

Chelsea: •Gladys Vega

Orlando: •Myrna Maysonet •Itza Montalvo

Anaheim: •Ada Arevalo

TEXAS

Houston: •Christina Rodriguez

WASHINGTON

Ellensburg: •Barbara del Mar Robles

WASHINGTON DC

•Tatiana Mackliff

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An industry on the verge of reinventing itself as technology is advancing rapidly

Global warming is setting an unusual challenge to all energy producing activities, we need leader that start working and planning for the next 100 years

Latinos are advancing into more leadership positions every year in the energy sector: Mauricio Gutierrez and other as example

This list is our own research made out of the most influential Latinos with key positions in this industry.

ENRIQUE HERNANDEZ, JR.

Hernandez has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Inter-Con Security Systems, Inc. (“Inter-Con”), a global provider of security and facility support services to governments, utilities, and industrial customers, since 1986. He was President of Inter-Con from 1986 until 2018 and was previously Executive Vice President and Assistant General Counsel from 1984 until 1986. He was an associate of the law firm of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison from 1980 until 1984. Prior Public Company Directorships (within last five years): Nordstrom, Inc.; Wells Fargo & Company