CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Pedro Fábregas American Airlines/American Eagle HEADQUARTERS: Fort Worth, Texas WEBSITE: www.aa.com BUSINESS: Airline REVENUES: $24.9 billion EMPLOYEES: 70,546 Title: Senior Vice President, American Eagle
Education: MS, University of Miami Last Book I Read: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, by Sheryl Sandburg; The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Defender of the Realm 1940–1965, by Paul Reid and William Manchester
My Perfect Day: With my family, all together!
Interests: Global economy and
How has your heritage been beneficial or helpful in your career/and or business relationships? My heritage provided me a global and diverse perspective. This has been beneficial since I worked in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean for many years. Today I work in communities throughout the U.S., Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and the Bahamas, so it provides me with a better understanding of cultural differences. What are the major values of your heritage? How have they helped you in your career? Our business is one of building relationships, and as Hispanics we have strong ties with our families. These skills have been helpful in building strong relationships with business partners and employees throughout the world. Are there any stereotypes of Hispanics/Latinos that should be refuted or are incorrect? Hispanics are not one homogeneous group. We are descendants of Europeans, and not necessarily only from Spain, but also Africans, Native Americans, Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese, and French to name but a few. We are not all Catholics; there are many Hispanic Jews throughout the Americas and in the U.S. What advice would you give the next generation of Hispanic business leaders? What are some tips for other Hispanics beginning their careers? The advice I have for young professionals is the same I give my three children: study hard, work hard, and remember that being fluent in a second language is a valuable skill.
learning more languages
Amanda Fernandez Teach For America HEADQUARTERS: New York , New York WEBSITE: www.teachforamerica.org BUSINESS: Nonprofit EMPLOYEES: 2,156 Title: Vice President, Latino Community Partnerships Education: BA, Western Illinois University; MS, Fordham University
Last Book I Read: King of the Chicanos, by Manuel Ramos
My Perfect Day: Going on an adventure with my kids and cooking up a great dinner for friends and family Interests: Education, Latino leadership development, travel, and exercise
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How do you see Hispanics moving forward in years to come? Given that Latinos are the fastest-growing segment of the population it is imperative that Latinos are viewed as a major contributor to the social and economic fabric of our nation. However, Latinos have the highest poverty rates and are still lagging in college graduation attainment. Therefore, the Latino community must prioritize educating all of our children. We must be the best advocates for a quality education, and as we have influenced the presidential vote and immigration reform, we must now do so for educational equality. How has your heritage been beneficial or helpful in your career and/or business relationships? While we must be careful not to over-generalize, I will say that cultural attributes that have served me well include placing a priority on relationship building. This has helped me achieve a vision or strategy for work from a collective versus an individual view. Also important is a focus on family, or building a culture where Latinos feel like they are part of a familia in the workplace. Finally, as a Latina raised in the United States, I feel that my heritage allows me to serve as a bridge between the Latino culture and the other cultures in the workplace. What advice would you give the next generation of Hispanic business leaders? What are some tips for other Hispanics beginning their careers? Know thyself. I have learned along the way that it’s very important to examine your own identity—how is it shaping the way you operate in an organizational context? What values will you not compromise? What role do you want to play as a Latino?
PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL
September/October 2013