A great thing happened at Harvard University in mid April: the 15th Annual Harvard Latino Law, Policy and Business Conference. Every year Latino leaders from the private, public and non-profit sectors congregate to discuss issues that matter to the Latino community. This year’s theme was “The Rising Latino: Latinos in the United States and Latin America on the World Stage.”
Ernesto Cordero Arroyo, former Minister of Finance and Social Development in México, kicked off the event. Arroyo provided a colorful overview of Latin America’s rise in the world of economic development and how far we’ve come. With democracy now more prevalent on this side of the Americas, countries such as Perú and México are burgeoning with economic opportunity. The world is taking notice.
Evelyn Barahona, Lili Gil Valleta, Ana Cervantes. Photo credit: Evelyn Barahona
Speakers for the weekend included Lili Gil Valleta, an award-winning business strategist at Johnson & Johnson and the Honorable Alberto González former U.S. Attorney General. Gonzalez focused on Latinos in Public Service and the importance of how our values as Latinos clearly mirror those of America: strong work ethic, the importance of ‘familia’ and taking pride in one’s work. He delivered an honest assessment of the times we are living as it relates to Latinos today and how through education and hard work, we can overcome barriers with success.
former Attorney General Alberton González. Photo credit: Evelyn Barahona
Mark Hugo López, from Pew Hispanic, shared demographic facts as they relate to upcoming presidential election: over 22 million Latinos are eligible to vote and how political analysts are noting that our vote will matter.
Another speaker that moved us all with her story on Latino leadership was Major General Angela Salinas. Major General Salinas is one of the highest-ranking women in the military, and the highest-ranking Latina who has commanded at every rank throughout the Marines Corp. Her story and those of other Latinos who have shown through the military was one of pride and a prime example of leadership in all its essence.
As the event ended, we were energized to think of technology and our perception of it through the lens of founder and CEO of Micro Tech, Tony Jiménez. Before becoming the technology CEO dynamo he is today, Jimenez explored many career options before discovering his love of technology through trial and error. He emphasized the need for Latinos to embrace technology as a career choice. Our economy has become a digital economy and when seeking employment it is advantageous to become acquainted with key careers in cloud computing, social media analytics and digital signage because that is where the future is at.
The final talk was delivered by David Puente, producer for the Anderson Cooper 360 show; and CNN en Español Anchor-Fernando Del Rincón. Both discussed the importance to get the Latino story out in the media. Puente emphasized the need to be responsible when doing social media.
Those attending the conference were from all over the country and were excited to be part of a conversation that recognized that the rise in Latinos was a rise in the power of Latinos in the U.S.
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