Your Next CEO is a Latina, Are You Ready?
Your Next CEO is a Latina, Are You Ready?
Tammy Ramos, J.D.
As a child, I would escape inward and dream of fabled stories where a poor, little girl could become a rich, powerful princess. In many ways, my life is an example of what can become when one has an audacious dream and imagines the impossible. Born to a sixteen-year-old, young girl who was broken, poor, and uneducated, I would go on to become the first in my family to graduate from high school, then college and then law school. I have had an amazing career from practicing law, to teaching a wide range of subject matters at the collegiate level, to being the youngest Latina to rise to the ranks of senior leadership in a global consulting firm.
As I step into the role of Executive Director for LatinaVIDA, I find myself reflecting on the last sentence in my personal essay for law school admission where I wrote, “…. I will be the voice, strength and power of the unheard, weak and helpless.” It is that singular mission that has driven my life and now propels me to write LatinaVIDA’s next chapter. My goal is to achieve LatinaVIDA’s mission “to inspire the next generation of Latina executives” to ¡Rise to the Top! by partnering with companies in all industries around the globe to bring our career and leadership resources to every Latina employee.
An informed, innovative and forward-thinking business will see and leverage the value of its Latina employee. Recognizing that she is multifaceted, diverse, loyal, hard-working, creative and an asset to every facet of its business, makes a resounding case for investing in her. Latinas are more than consumers. We lead teams, we innovate, we make products and services better, we lead effectively and play a strong role in achieving business results. In fact, Latinos power the U.S. economy with a $2.3 trillion GDP, representing 74% of the workforce growth in 2020 (LCD U.S. Latino GDP 2020 Report). From 2018 to 2028, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the number of Latinos in the labor force to increase by about 7.4 million—more than any other age, sex, or race or ethnic group. Latina professional development is not just a nice thing to do, it is a strategic advantage.
Partnering with smart businesses, LatinaVIDA will offer a broad range of services to help successfully recruit, develop, retain and promote Latinas. From customized workshops on developing executive presence, personal branding and creating a career playbook, to monthly webinars on developing a growth mindset, overcoming Impostor Syndrome, networking and visibility, and individualized one-on-one career coaching. Businesses who have already partnered with LatinaVIDA are enjoying a huge return on their investment. Latina executives are quickly exceling and navigating to the C-Suite, taking corporate boards seats and driving business results. Are you ready? Can you successfully recruit, promote and retain her?
Here’s my invitation: Join me. LatinaVIDA will be your strategic business partner and help you leverage and maximize your Latina talent. Get ready! It won’t be long until Latina CEOs are commonplace. They already have enormous power and influence and are now transforming Corporate America. Are you ready?
