Great Immigrants, Great Americans

When I first set foot in this great country of ours I was a scared, 10-year-old, pennyless Cuban exile. I arrived in this country without my family and without speaking a word of English [more about my story here]. Of the million thoughts that crossed my young mind that day, I’m pretty sure that making a national list of Great Immigrants, Great Americans was not one of them.

But that’s exactly what happened this week when the prestigious Carnegie Corporation published its 2017 list recognizing 36 individuals from 30 countries. Each year since 2006, the Corporation has recognized the contributions and professional leadership of naturalized citizens in numerous fields.

I’m one of them. 

Honored? Immensely. Grateful? Incredibly, and not just to the Carnegie Corporation but to America in general. This country embraced me like a native son and gave me opportunities that I’m sure I would have never encountered in my native Cuba.

It is here that I was able to get an education, grow professionally and reach senior leadership positions, both in business and in community organizations.

But as proud as I am for what I’ve been able to achieve in this great country, I’m even more proud of having contributed to help it remain a world leader.

·      Just this past week, as the world celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the iPhone, I was proud to have been part of the Cingular Wireless team (now AT&T) that helped introduce it and, with that, help the U.S. lead the mobile revolution around the world.

·      Later this month Over 31,000 Boy Scouts, leaders and volunteers will convene in West Virginia for the 2017 Boy Scouts of America (BSA) National Jamboree, which this year I am honored to chair. For over 100 years the BSA has built strong values in the hearts of America’s youth. I am proud of the work we’re doing to help this great American organization reach out to young people from all backgrounds to help them become better citizens.

·      I strongly believe that the spirit of entrepreneurship is one of the key factors that made this country great. Junior Achievement does a fantastic job of instilling that spirit among young people so that they come to the work force not only prepared to get a job but to create one for themselves or others. As the former Chairman of Junior Achievement Worldwide I was proud to work with a team of 470,000 volunteers as they spread the spirit of entrepreneurship to more than 10 million students in more than 100 countries worldwide.

At a time when the issue of immigration is being debated, I congratulate the Carnegie Corporation for reminding us of the many ways in which the hard work and contributions of immigrants, such as the ones in their annual list, helped to make America a global leader, an economic and democratic model, and a beacon of hope and opportunity for the world.