Following is part 2 of Marieli Colon-Padilla’s interview with the president of the National Hispana Leadership Institute, Cristina Lopez.
Marieli Colon-Padilla: Many companies are developing internal programs to develop Hispanic workforce into tomorrow’s leaders, or at time turning to outside organizations to help them identify pipeline and recruit talented professional Latinos. How can NHLI be of resource to them?Cristina Lopez: NHLI represents a broad network of over 5,000 individuals. NHLI can give companies access to professional, high achieving Latinas . We offer access through events like the annual training conference and regional empowerment conferences, online communications with our member database, through our job bank, and through stories in the media.
MCP: NHLI has a its 2008 Executive Leadership Training Conference and Mujer Awards coming up. When and Where, and what can participants expect?
CL: Hundreds of high powered professional Latinas and community leaders from non-profits, corporate, public and other sectors will gather in Orlando, Florida on Thursday and Friday, November 13-14 to partake in the National Hispana Leadership Institute’s 2008 Executive Leadership Training and Mujer Awards Conference. The conference will provide cutting-edge management and leadership skills workshops facilitated by some of the country’s most successful Latinas including Millie Herrera, President of the Miami Group; Ysabel Duron, Anchor and Reporter at San Francisco’s KRON-TV 4, and other top-level executives from the public and private sectors. Health and wellness experts will discuss fitness and Goya Foods will have its celebrity Chef Fernando Desa, demonstrate healthy cooking.
The conference will be held at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and kick-off with motivational keynote speaker Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch, Founder & President of Educational Achievement Services.
In addition to a variety of tracks ranging from politics (Latinas in Politics: Should I Run? Where do I Start?) to social networking (Leveraging the Power of Social Networking), day two will feature top of the line Latina authors at a Book Signing & Exposition Fair featuring Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, New York Times bestseller author of Dirty Girls Social Club and author of the recent Dirty Girls on Top; Congresswomen Loretta and Linda Sánchez co-authors of the memoir Dream in Color: How the Sánchez are Making History in Congress, among other distinguished authors. Monica Lozano, Publisher and CEO of La Opinión, the nation’s largest Spanish language daily, will keynote the luncheon with a discussion on Hispanics in the Media.
We also offer a Career Fair and many other networking and leadership activities.
The gathering will culminate with the Mujer Awards Gala, a premier event that pays tribute to the sustained lifetime achievements of three exceptional Hispanic women.
This year’s honorees are Media Mogul & President of Galan Entertainment, Nely Galán, who will be presented with the Chair Award; Dr. Angela Díaz, MD, MPH, a national leader and advocate for Latinos at Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, with the 2008 National Mujer Award and Rossana Rosado, newspaper Publisher and CEO of New York’s El Diario-La Prensa, with the 2008 Regional Mujer Award.
Attendees may learn more or register online at www.nhli.org .
MCP: NHLI just celebrated its 20th Anniversary. What would you like to see in the next years of the organization?
CL: We have five priority areas of interest as we continue to grow:
• Reach out to Latinas starting their professional careers (currently target mid- to senior level managers, and Latinas in college). There is a big gap in programs that specifically meet the needs and interests of the 24-34 year olds (career planning, financial management, life work balance, technology and issues such as the environment)
• Develop financial management program to help Latinas become and maintain financial independence and prepare for retirement (how to manage credit, asset building, homeownership, maximizing employer benefits, etc)
• Expanding focus internationally (or at least to Latin America) We live in an increasingly global society and economy. It’s important to exchange ideas and learn from other women leaders – Initiate international exchanges with other women leaders.
• Promote entrepreneurship – Latinas establish businesses at 3 times the rate of the general population. There are already organizations supporting women entrepreneurs, but they mostly focus on growing businesses and taking them to the next level. NHLI could focus on women who have an idea, how to “get it off the ground” develop a business plan, get a loan to start etc. More of a micro enterprise focus.
• Develop policy capacity (applied research and policy analysis) to provide a Latina perspective on issues challenging our country (health care access and affordability, environment, educational access and financing, globalization, etc.)
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