Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Amazon: It’s More Than Just a Month

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15th to October 15th, offers a dedicated time to recognize and honor the rich contributions of the Hispanic and Latino communities to the United States. At Amazon Global Transportation and Global Logistics, it’s not just about one month—it’s about creating a culture of inclusivity, appreciation, and opportunity year-round.

What is Hispanic Heritage Month?

Originally established in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week and expanded to a month-long celebration in 1988, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The timing coincides with the independence days of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile. It's a time to acknowledge the tremendous influence and cultural legacy the Hispanic community has imparted on society.

Why It’s More Than Just a Month

Amazon Global Transportation and Global Logistics fosters a work environment where diverse perspectives are celebrated every day. Hispanic and Latino employees play a vital role in shaping Amazon’s culture, innovation, and success across global operations. By promoting inclusion and empowering Latino voices, they strive to cultivate an environment where everyone feels they belong. The Latino Affinity Group organized a series of exciting events for Hispanic Heritage Month, with a combined attendance of 500+ Amazonians, such as:

1. Learnings from the Fireside Chat with Silvina Moschini. On September 19th, Amazonians had the pleasure of hearing from Silvina Moschini, the first Hispanic female entrepreneur to grow a company to Unicorn status, CEO and Co-founder of SheWorks! and Transparent Business. Silvina’s story of resilience, leadership, and embracing one's uniqueness resonated deeply with the audience. Her advice? “Being different is a superpower.” Her message applies to everyone, not just those from the Hispanic community.
2. Career Panels with tech and non-tech directors. On October 3rd, Pedro Bousono, Director of Seller Services for Latin America, and Adriano Devillaine, Director of Software Development for Alexa Shopping Conversation Foundations, joined Amazonians for a fireside chat in which they shared their professional journeys, career progression, and insights on being Latino leaders at Amazon. They gave practical advice on how to be authentic, what were the common challenges being a Latino in Amazon and what are the skills we need to practice to embrace a Latin Amazonian culture.
3. Award-Winning Paella Experience. On October 3rd, Paella House served a variety of authentic Spanish paellas, offering both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Attendees got a chance to watch chefs preparing this iconic dish, followed by a buffet-style meal. This culinary experience was also a great opportunity for informal networking.
4. Fireside Chat with Pedro Huerta, Country Manager of Mexico. Upcoming on October 10th, Amazonians will learn about the inspiring journey of Pedro Huerta, who has played key roles in launching and managing Amazon's digital businesses across Latin America and Europe. After the chat, Amazonians will have the opportunity to gather for authentic Mexican tacos and drinks!

Amazon Global Transportation and Global Logistics sees these events as an opportunity to both celebrate and engage in meaningful conversations that will continue well beyond Hispanic Heritage Month. This is an ongoing journey, and they remain committed to supporting and elevating the Hispanic and Latino communities year-round. In the words of Andrea Michahelles, President of the Latinos Affinity Group for Amazon Global Transportation and Global Logistics chapter: “In all our events, we ask our Latinos guests speakers to provide three words that describe them, and the one word that always comes out is Family. We are proud of our Latino community authenticity and we believe is a superpower for Amazon’s growth and innovation. Join our family, learn about our culture, and celebrate the diversity that makes Amazon a leader not just in business, but in building inclusive communities”. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

Meet the Global Transportation and Global Logistics Latinos at Amazon Board: Andrea Michahelles, Luiz Etzel, Danilo Bize, Angela Yllanes, Hernan Zini, Santiago Clara, and Monica Ortega. To check out opportunities within the Global Logistics organization click here.