Episode 230: Accelerating Latina Representation in the C-Suite

Latina women represent only about 1.6% of C-Suite executives in Fortune 500 companies. While this inequity is rooted in factors like the lack of career mentors, it’s also about navigating cultural norms. As a first-generation corporate Latina, Monica Marquez discusses the unique opportunity for seasoned leaders - who navigated and broke through barriers - to transfer the unspoken rules of success and raise the next generation of Latinos/x. She also shares the pearls of wisdom from the most senior-level Latina women in the community, her own experiences, and the research behind what it takes to get ahead in the C-Suite. Highlights: [00:19] Statistics about Latinos in the workplace [03:34] Unequal experience in the workplace [04:32] Percentage of Latina women in the C-Suite [05:44] The number one barrier for success for Latinas [06:49] Lack of access to networks [09:08] Dead-end promotions [11:57] Having clarity on where you want to go in your career [12:42] The gender wage gap [14:46] Breaking the cultural curse of “just working hard” [17:53] Getting out of our own way [20:27] Having courageous conversations Quotes: “We have to understand and have clarity on where we want to go in our careers.”  - Monica Marquez “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”  - Monica Marquez “We have to break the cultural curse of keeping our heads down, working really hard, and being more reserved with self-promotion.”  - Monica Marquez “Acculturate to what success looks like in your organization.”  - Monica Marquez About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is a senior corporate leader, ex-Googler, and diversity expert. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez