#TeamMITRE Spotlight: Claudia Rios-Phelps
During Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re recognizing MITRE employees from our Latin American Business Resource Group to learn more about them and their impactful work here and in the community. Meet Claudia.
“Being a part of the Latin American Business Resource Group allows me to feel that I belong to a larger community of fellow Latinos who share similar experiences at MITRE—a common language and a thread of connection that we, as Latinos, recognize and seek.”
At MITRE, Claudia is part of a team guiding the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) through a transformation from a collection of programs to an agency within the Department of Commerce. A program to support minority business entrepreneurs, the MBDA was initiated in 1969 by the Nixon administration and is now codified and elevated by the MBD Act of 2021.
For Claudia, this work holds a personal connection:
“As my parents left Bolivia in their early twenties, seeking the opportunity to establish a family and live their own American Dream. Looking back on their journey, my parents can proudly say that they have achieved that dream as they see their children and grandchildren thrive. Professionally, this project exemplifies how MITRE brings mission-focused commitment to support our sponsors and solve problems for a safer and more equitable world.”
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Q: Share a tradition or celebration that you observe to honor your heritage.
CR: In my family, we celebrate Christmas on December 24th. My husband and I host a Rios Family dinner, where we enjoy a delicious meal that represents my Bolivian roots, prepared with extra love by my mother. When my children were younger, they would excitedly wait to open one present at midnight and then go to bed, eagerly anticipating the rest of the festivities and gifts the next morning. Now that they're young adults, we continue celebrating past midnight, focusing on creating memories and having fun. These celebrations are always special times for us.
Q: Tell us about your volunteer efforts or service you’re doing in the community.
CR: During my master’s degree program in organizational development at American University, I worked on a practicum project with a minority-owned tech business in New York City. I was pulled in by their vision to “shine a spotlight on giving to foster a culture of philanthropy and generosity towards a better world” and mission to “bring together a global community of givers via an innovative platform to showcase the transformative impact of a culture of giving.” As a trusted advisor and thought partner to the CEO, we are now working to connect and spotlight organizations and individuals who are driven to build a sustainable and inclusive future aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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Q: Who inspires you most and why?
CR: My paternal grandmother is—and will always be—the greatest inspiration to me. She always encouraged me to be a better, kinder, stronger person. As a young widow, she raised three children and dedicated herself to teaching poor indigenous children, with deep compassion. After retiring, she moved to the United States to help raise my brother and me. Her example shaped me in countless ways and inspired me to be the mother I am today. Thank you, Abuelita, for always being in my heart.
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
CR: Join a group or team that supports and challenges you to step outside of your comfort zone. I would encourage my younger self to embrace her superpowers of empathy, connection, deep curiosity, and to remember that “Yes, you BELONG!”
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Make sure to check out our other employee spotlights for Hispanic Heritage Month below:
CEO EPCYBER | OSINT-CTI-Dark Web Expert | Cloud & Web Pentester
10 个月Great share!
Diversity Outreach Coordinator at Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
1 年Impressive! Keep of being you!
Intel Strategy and Policy, Principal at MITRE
1 年Love this Claudia! I especially love hearing about traditions, especially Christmas ones.