Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA)

The 9th Annual Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) Board Leaders Convening came to a close last Saturday! This is my final Convening serving as LCDA Board Chair. It has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve this community of exceptional director leaders. My immense thanks to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava for opening our Convening, LCDA CEO, Ozzie (Oswaldo) Gromada Meza and his incredible team, Convening Co-Chairs, Evelyn D'An and Jorge Plasencia, LCDA/LCDEF board members, Incoming Chair, Jose R Rodriguez, Ana Dutra, Adis Vila, NACD.DC, Pedro DeJesus, Victor Arias, Joe Alvarado, Bernadette Aulestia, Louis Caldera, Adela Cepeda, Roel Campos, Cynthia Comparin, Manny Fernandez, Dolores Kunda, Debra A Sandler, Susan Angele, Noramay Cadena, Romulo Diaz Jr, Noreen Gillen, Ricardo Mora, F. Daniel Siciliano, Gilbert R. Vasquez, Alejandro Silva, -- and founders Kimberly Casiano, Nelson A. Diaz, Patricia Pineda, Michael Montelongo, Gilbert Casellas, NACD.DC??, Cari M Dominguez, Nina Vaca, Al Zapanta, Patricia Diaz Dennis. Special recognition to Kimberly Casiano, Ford Motor Company Executive Chair, William Clay Ford, Jr., Maria Elena Salinas, Geisha Williams, Priscilla Almodovar, Cheryl Scully Miller. Congratulations to our Corporate Visionary Awards honorees, Kelly Skalicky, President & CEO, Stearns Bank, N.A. Daniel Alegre, CEO, TelevisaUnivision, Inc., Francisco Leon, President & CEO, California Resources Corporation and Dollar General Corporation. To all the panelists and speakers, too numerous to mention, and, finally, but not least to Victor Arias for initiating the Inaugural LCDA Pioneer Award for lifetime commitment to Latino Board Excellence and presenting it to Vilma Del Socorro Martinez, Pastora San Juan Cafferty, Herman Gallegos, Ignacio Eugenio Lozano Jr., Luis Nogales, Daniel D. Villanueva, Sr. Ph.D.

Congratulations to #LCDAMember George Pita on his appointment to the Board of Directors of Harry's Inc. George currently serves on the Board of Directors at Ovintiv (NYSE: OVV). George also spent over a decade as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at MasTec.?Before joining MasTec in 2013, he?also held C-suite?roles at?Stuart Weitzman Holdings, LLC. #BoardLeaders24 #LatinoLeaders #CorporateLeadership

CRC President and CEO Francisco Leon proudly accepted a “Corporate Visionary Award” from the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) at its Corporate Visionary Awards Reception and Dinner last week in Miami. The award honors CRC’s leadership in advancing Latino representation on corporate boards. ? “I am proud to lead a company that is strongly committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” shared Francisco Leon. “At CRC, we recognize that diverse skills, opinions, and perspectives foster innovation, and better decision-making. The breadth of ideas, experience, and knowledge helps us operate at the highest levels and fosters our growth as a company.” ? By celebrating trailblazing companies, LCDA aims to inspire and drive positive change across the business landscape, fostering a more inclusive and equitable future. ? A heartfelt thank you LCDA for a memorable night! ? #LCDA #LCDAConvening #CRC #CaliforniaEnergyFuture

What an unforgettable experience at Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) 9th Annual Convening in the stunning city of Miami, FL ??!! It was inspiring to connect with incredible leaders, exchange ideas ??and celebrate the strength ??and vision of latino voices in the boardroom. Muito obrigado to everyone who made this event special—it was a pleasure to learn and grow together. Already looking forward to bringing the “fiesta” to SF ?? next year - vejo você lá!

A week ago, over 450+ Latino executive leaders gathered in Miami for the Annual Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA). This event has quickly become one of my favorites, as it feels like home. It’s a chance to celebrate others’ accomplishments, offer guidance, and learn from brilliant minds in business. This year, four sessions stood out, and I’m eager to share their wisdom with my LinkedIn community. Bill Ford: Exec Chair of Ford Motor Company Listening to Bill felt like chatting with a friend over coffee. Grounded and reflective, he acknowledged his privileged upbringing and shared how it shaped his understanding of self-worth and the importance of avoiding entitlement. He noted that many wealthy individuals he encountered seemed unhappy, and he vowed to avoid that happening to him. Notably, he shared that his children must work at multiple companies before being considered for a role at Ford, illustrating the value of earning success. He also recounted working incognito at a Ford plant under the name "William Clay" to experience life as a manufacturing employee. This reinforced my belief in staying grounded amidst privilege. Sharing his story with my daughter sparked meaningful reflection. I think she is still digesting. ;-) Daniel Alegre – CEO of Univision Daniel’s apolitical, data-driven approach was refreshing. He emphasized the power of representation, recalling how a Cuban CFO at Google inspired his own leadership journey. His insights reaffirmed the need for diverse leadership that reflects our world of 8 billion unique individuals. Daniel also highlighted the growing recognition of the Latino community’s influence, particularly in recent elections. As Latinos, we often feel like we haven’t had "our moment." Perhaps that moment is now—and it’s up to us to leverage it to amplify our impact. The Badass Latina CEOs Panel Priscilla Almodovar Cheryl M. Geisha Williams This panel featured four trailblazing women, each the first and only female CEO in their respective industries. As they shared their stories—with plenty of humor along the way—I was captivated by their ability to shift gracefully between masculine and feminine energy. I truly believe this duality is a superpower for women in business. While men possess this balance too, it seems to me that women can fine-tune it with such elegance that it naturally inspires and enlists followers. A panel moderated by?Sandra Campos delved into luxury trends but quickly pivoted to a deeper conversation about the role of humanity in leadership. CEOs (@Robert Chavez Hermes and Payam Zamani) emphasized love and kindness as core values in building better organizations. It was a powerful reminder that businesses thrive when powered by empathy and humanity. This year’s conference left me with so much to reflect on and aspire toward. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event. #AllIN Grateful for the gift of LCDA.

As the year inches towards a close and the holidays approach, I’ve found myself already reflecting on what has been a year of significant change and leaning into the unknown—but also one of immense opportunity to grow. Amid shifting priorities and evolving work, I embraced personal development and took on my largest home renovation and purchase yet. From drawing site plans to implementing engagement strategies to advance boardroom inclusion, no task felt too big—or too small. Just recently, after a long day, I got a call from a colleague needing papers printed for an event. My immediate response? “Can do.” Within 20 minutes, hotel staff had them delivered to their room. The next day I was in the backyard helping operate a CAT to drop a powerline to the garage I built before heading into the office. This past week was a highlight: attending the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) Conference, Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors Board Dinner, and The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative Awards. Through the plethora of different initiatives and programs I’ve had the privilege to support, I recognized the importance of building not just any community when you’re offered the opportunity to shake new hands—but one that supports your strengths, believes in your potential, and helps you navigate both successes and failures. The right people to surround yourself with will remind you that you won’t always get it right on the first try. But if you keep learning, pushing forward, and maintaining an open mind, you’ll find a way. Here's to ending the year with gratitude and stepping into the next one with purpose.

Congratulations and thank you to Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) for a top-notch convening in Miami. The speakers and panels were outstanding and the 400 attendees brought such great energy and passion that I couldn’t stop talking about those three days all weekend. I look forward to attending again next year in San Francisco. Great job Ozzie (Oswaldo) Gromada Meza, TM León, Luis Barragán Robles, aPHR B. , and all of the team for an outstanding conference. It was such a privilege to connect with so many talented directors and professionals. Highlights were hearing from the only three Latina CEOs who have been CEOs of Fortune 1000 companies, the CEO of TelevisaUnivision, the CEO of Ford, and the CEO of MasTec. It was great seeing many old and new friends Mario M. Carrera, NACD.DC Nilsa Guerrero-Mahon Marta Ronquillo Newhart Manny Fernandez Gloria A. Zamora Anne Alonzo Miriam Hernandez-Kakol Stacie Olivares Eddie Ramos, CFA, ACFE Elizabeth Castro Gulacsy Indrani Franchini Esther Aguilera Darren Rebelez Robert Otto Valdez, PhD MHSA Camila Panama

Rare is the occasion that I am home in South Florida for an extensive strings of days. However, the stars aligned and allowed for me to support the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) convening as well as this Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors leadership dinner. The stars aligned and as stated perfect "intersectionality" opportunities abound. Super proud of you Ozzie (Oswaldo) Gromada Meza and Fabrice C Houdart Keep forging ahead !!

Last week, I had the privilege of attending my first LCDA Board Leaders Convening, and I walked away deeply inspired and informed. The Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) boasts nearly 700 members and is aiming to surpass 1,000 within the next year. If you’re a Latino board member or an aspiring C-suite executive, this is the community to join. The sessions were not only insightful and candid but also highly inspiring, offering actionable takeaways. Great job Ozzie (Oswaldo) Gromada Meza and Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) team. Miriam Hernandez-Kakol Ozzie (Oswaldo) Gromada Meza Dr. Maria Azua Himmel