CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Lisa Maestas Texas Instruments HEADQUARTERS: Dallas, Texas WEBSITE: www.ti.com BUSINESS: Global semiconductor design and manufacturing company
REVENUES: $12.8 billion EMPLOYEES: 33,200 Title: Quality Services Manager, Anti-Counterfeit Program
Education: BS, New Mexico State University
My Perfect Day: Start the day with a great workout, followed by a day at the beach, and end with a romantic dinner with my husband Interests: Health, fitness, travel, volunteerism for nonprofit agencies supporting the Hispanic community, and professional sports
How do you see Hispanics moving forward in years to come? I foresee an increased influence in our communities. Increased buying power and awareness of the Hispanic culture can be positive influences in the community. I’m concerned about the growing number of uneducated and underprivileged children in Hispanic communities. We need to invest in the appropriate resources for this population in order to avoid further gaps with non-Hispanics. How has your heritage been beneficial or helpful in your career and/or business relationships? It provided me the opportunity to lead TI’s Hispanic Diversity Initiative, ¡Unidos! The opportunity allowed me to demonstrate my leadership capabilities to a different audience outside of my immediate work group. Also, through this opportunity, I broadened my professional network of Hispanics and non-Hispanics. What advice would you give the next generation of Hispanic business leaders? What are some tips for other Hispanics beginning their careers? Embrace your Hispanic heritage and all of the uniqueness you bring to an organization. Reach out and support other Hispanics within your organization. I encourage all new employees to: Seek mentors that align with your core values; pursue opportunities for continued learning; be dependable, become the expert in your job, and do more than is expected; and join affinity groups to broaden your professional network.
David Martinez Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. How do you see Hispanics moving forward in years to come? Tremendous opportunities await us, but we have to do better, individually and collectively, to put our young people in positions to have those opportunities. Improved access to education is critical. We need to ensure that more Hispanics graduate from high school and go on to college. Too many of our young men and women never leave the inner cities. Mentoring and reaching young people is also very important. Often a single role model can make the difference in a person’s life, which in turn can impact generations to come.
HEADQUARTERS:
How has your heritage been beneficial or helpful in your career and/or business relationships? I came to the United States as a child and have always endeavored to stay connected to my roots. Over time, this has led to the development of relationships with Latin American business interests in the United States. However, clients don’t hire me because of my background—they do it because they see an absolute commitment to protecting their businesses and maximizing their assets and intellectual property. Plus, my background often gives me a unique perspective into the client and its needs.
JD, Southwestern Law School
What are the major values of your heritage? How have they helped you in your career? I was raised with a strong sense of family, and a clear understanding that hard work and the right attitude are critical to success. My parents came from the most modest backgrounds, but they worked tirelessly to make a better life, and they were exemplary role models in their dedication to giving their children better opportunities.
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PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL
September/October 2013
Minneapolis, Minnesota
WEBSITE: www.rkmc.com BUSINESS: Law firm EMPLOYEES: 652 Title: Partner Education: Last Book I Read: For Whom the Bell Tolls, by Ernest Hemingway
My Perfect Day: At the beach or the park with my wife and sons
Interests: Water sports