Resilience, innovation, and lessons from our Latinx heritage at work
Our heritages and experiences deeply shape who we are — including how we engage at work. As we kick off Latinx Heritage Month, Chimers are using this time to reflect on their communities and cultures. Chimigos, the Chime Resource Group for Latinx Chimers, has put together a month of celebration, education, and connection — all in honor of the many different experiences of the Latinx community.
In Chimigos’ own words: “The Latinx community is a tapestry of diverse cultures that have contributed to art, culture, and society in the United States and Canada. The pandemic has affected minority populations disproportionately, but our communities are powerful and resilient, and Chimigos will be highlighting the fighting spirit to inspire and uplift.”
To mark the start of Latinx Heritage Month, we sat down with three Chimers to explore how their Latinx heritage has inspired, motivated, and encouraged them to build resilience and success at work. Read on to learn how their history, culture, families, communities, and lived experiences have enabled them to innovate and achieve more — by showing up as their true authentic selves and doing their best work.
Meet the Chimers
Tell us about your heritage
What are some ways your Latinx heritage has shaped your career?
Maggie
“There are a lot of Mexican cultural values that I learned growing up that have shaped my career. Much of my family came to the U.S. undocumented, working in careers like construction, agriculture, or other labor jobs. They taught me the value of hard work, advocating for yourself, and being honest, as well as the importance of networking and building community. Even though their careers were totally different from accounting and tech, the values they instilled in me apply to my work every day.”
Tito
“While it’s hard to draw the line between what has shaped me because I’m Mexican or not — I’m just me, after all — the time I spent in Mexico and with family gave me a ton of perspective on what I can accomplish in my life. Although my parents didn’t have prestigious jobs in the U.S., every time we’d go back to Mexico and connect with our family, I’d see how accomplished they were — they owned ranches and were politicians and zoologists, for example. Even my family members who weren’t as professionally accomplished set an example for how to live differently, be creative, and make do with what you have.
My grandfather was a great example of that — he was a man of the land, owned a ranch, and he always figured out what needed to be done and did it. When I was navigating the world of higher education — something my parents weren’t familiar with — my grandfather’s example gave me the confidence that I could figure it out on my own. Since building my own confidence, I’ve spent a lot of time in my career helping others feel comfortable and empowered in spaces they might be less familiar with.”
What lessons did you learn from your mentors, family members, community, or culture that you bring with you to work?
What are some examples of resilience and innovation in your family or community history that have inspired you?
Sofia
“As the first to come to the U.S. from my family, I was an example of resilience for them. I took on the challenge of creating space and opportunities for my family to come to the U.S. and achieve their goals. To me, a big part of building resilience is being able to look inwards at yourself. Through doing that, I learned that even after my worst failures, there was no other way than up. And, no matter how hard things may get, my family always looks out for me. I’ve also loved looking to Hispanic women who have come to this country and done tremendous work to build pathways for themselves and others. Gloria Estefan, the Cuban-American singer, has been a role model of mine for the way that she’s embraced life here and continued to support her Latinx community.”
Tito
“When my dad first moved to the U.S., he really wanted to finish high school. But because he wasn’t documented, he couldn’t enroll with his own papers. So he asked someone to go and sign up at the school with their documents and he started attending classes under their name. Eventually, he legalized his status, but during a time when he didn’t have many resources and he wanted to learn English, he showed up and made it happen.”
Maggie
“Growing up, my dad worked to make ends meet to support our family. A few years ago, he quit his job and went back to school to get his contractor’s license. Innovating on his own career, he’s shown me that you can start conquering your dreams at any age. I’ve seen him hone his English skills, learn marketing, and take courses on how to be a contractor in his non-native language — all in the past few years. He’s shown me that by being resilient and innovative, you can move from surviving to thriving.”
How do you bring your full self, including your Latinx heritage, to work?
What is your advice for others to find lessons in their heritage — and apply those to work?
Maggie
“Our heritage and culture make us each unique, so I believe that bringing your culture and values to work can make working together more enriching and fun. My team, for example, does a question every week before our sync to get to know each other. Incorporating elements that let people share who they are helps create an environment that’s safe and welcoming for ideas and creativity — and it helps you get to know each other too.”
Sofia
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if they’re tough. You might be confused because of a language barrier or just be feeling some impostor syndrome — and if you’re from another country, that can add yet another layer of challenge. My advice is to ask questions in spite of your doubts — the more questions we ask, the more comfortable we get with our curiosity and creativity. Asking questions can help you know yourself better and understand how your story plays into your environment.”
Tito
“I’ve heard this advice many times and it’s always stuck with me: your identity can be a border and encompass many identities in one. If you’re looking for lessons in your heritage or culture, trust your own experience — it’s the only one you’ve lived and that makes it authentic. For me, it can mean so many things to be Mexican-American — there are hundreds of imaginary knobs that can be turned to deem how Mexican, not Mexican, American, or not American I am. I’ve always grounded myself in the idea that my identity is the one I’ve lived. I trust my experiences and try not to stress if it doesn’t fit into what is ‘meant to be’ a Mexican-American experience. In short, my advice is: trust yourself, you are authentic enough, and your lessons are worthy of being shared.”
