Blog

For a long time the word “networking” scared me. I thought it meant showing up to conferences and shaking hands with strangers. Here’s what I did to get past the scary word and out in the world making new connections.

1. Start with your friends: Start with the connections you are comfortable with. Meet up with a close past coworker for coffee one morning to check in on how things are going. Mention your situation and ask if they have any recommendations. Before you leave, be sure to mention you’d love for them to pass any jobs your way! READ MORE AT HUFFINGTON POST

As number of new Ph.D.s rises, the percentage of people earning a doctorate without a job waiting for them is up. While all disciplines face the problem, some have particularly high debt levels.

American universities awarded 54,070 research doctorates in 2014, the highest total in the 58 years that the National Science Foundation has sponsored the Survey of Earned Doctorates, a new edition of which was released Friday.
But while more doctorates are being awarded, the figures also point to transitions and concerns in graduate education. READ MORE AT INSIDE HIRE ED

When one person’s life story is immortalized within the crisp white pages of a book, the results can be powerful.

That’s because memoirs and autobiographies can move readers who empathize with the author’s hardships, identity crisis, loss, trauma, triumphs and more. And when people see their own life experiences reflected in a book, it can be both cathartic and inspiring.

Many Latinas have shared their incredible life stories with the world in the form of prose over the years, and we picked some of the most popular.

Here are 11 memoirs and autobiographies written by Latinas every woman should read. READ FULL ARTICLE AT HUFFINGTON POST

Meet feature guests of the 2016 Banking and Finance Networking Forum being held on Thursday, April 07 at Vertigo Sky Lounge - rooftop indoor/outdoor lounge at the Dana Hotel and Spa Chicago. 

Olga Camargo, Managing Director, Toroso Investments

Olga is Managing Partner at Toroso Investments, LLC, a registered investment advisor firm. Toroso is committed to providing its clients with strategies that allow them to express their economic point of view, consistent with their risk tolerance and time horizon, through core asset allocation and income strategies that are intended to perform well in all economic climates. Olga provides investment advisory and retirement plan advisory services to clients, which include high net worth individuals, business owners, public and private corporations, public sector entities, and not-for-profit entities and foundations.Olga is frequently called upon by some of the fastest growing businesses and policymakers to provide her unique perspective.

Olga has 17 years of financial services industry experience. Prior to joining Toroso Investments, she was a Senior Vice President with Mesirow Financial co-leading an investment advisory practice specializing in culturally-relevant financial services to minority markets. Prior to that, Olga was at JPMorgan Chase and Thomson Reuters. Olga was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Board. She also serves as a member of The Metropolitan Planning Council Board of Governors and its investment committee; serves on the finance committee for Frances Xavier Warde School; and, is a member of The Rotary Club of Chicago, and a member of New America Alliance's American Latina Leadership Caucus.

Andrés Baltazar, Financial Advisor, Growth and Development Director, Northwestern Mutual
Andres began his career with Northwestern Mutual through their internship program in 2006 and has been working there ever since. He had a fast start upon going full time, setting a record—at the time—for the amount of clients he acquired within his first year.

He works with physicians, business owners and other successful professionals. He helps them with their investments, retirement and insurance planning. While most of his time is still dedicated to working with clients, he is also the Growth & Development Director for their Northshore office. In this role, he coaches, mentors and helps the development of new advisors. In the near future, he will be spinning off his own office in West Loop area in Chicago.

A native of Jalisco, Mexico—Andres attended DePaul University where he studied Finance and Marketing.

Gil Gomez, Vice President for the Private Client Group, PNC Bank

Gil Gomez is the Vice President and Team Leader for the Private Client Group at PNC Bank which launched in Chicago & Wisconsin in 2010 and built the team from ground zero.  He is responsible for leading a team of Relationship Managers to improve the financial well being of PNC clientele and manages a portfolio of over $675,000,000 in total assets.  With 20 years in banking and financial services, his career also includes 17 years of managerial experience.  

Throughout his career, Gil has been dedicated to employee development which has resulted in the promotion of 34 subordinates to further their career progression.  He has also led Hispanic Affinity Initiatives for multiple institutions for more than 10 years, enhancing the client experience among the Latino communities throughout the Chicagoland area.

Gil obtained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  He also holds series 6 & 63 investment licenses through FINRA.

Kenia Leanos, Vice President, DeLeanos Financial

Kenia is the Vice President of DeLeanos Financial, she has been in the industry as a financial advisor for over 4 years bringing financial benefits to the Hispanic Community. She is in charge of the ins and outs of the firm as well as the administrative aspect of the business. 

Despite her young age, she has a background in fashion business and business management as well as a variety of Financial Licenses. She is also the Founder/President of a recently launched Non for Profit Organization, Papa Proto Foundation, which helps the less fortunate in the Chicagoland area.

She is an occasional co-host for the radio show, Tu Familia y Tus Finanzas on 850 AM. She will also soon begin her journey as an author, as she was invited to share her success story alongside other women entrepreneurs.

Noel Navarro, Human Resources Business Partner, BMO Harris Bank

Noel Navarro is Human Resources Business Partner at BMO Harris Bank for the legal, compliance and audit portfolios in the US. 19 years ago he began his career as a part time teller at 1st Chicago Bank, aka Chase Bank and has worked at various capacities in the banking industry, including leadership roles in regional banks such as at LaSalle Bank, aka Bank of America and US Bank.

His experience includes more than 15 years of expertise in personal and commercial banking. Locally, Noel has been a member of various non-for-profit organizations in Chicago, representing diversity in our local communities and the banking industry. Currently he is the co-chair of Latino Alliance at BMO Harris Bank working with other affinity groups including African American League of Professionals (AALPS) and Asian American Coalition of Employees (AACE). He has partaken in numerous diversity & inclusion initiatives, with the most recent of aligning strategies US and Canada.

Noel earned a Bachelor of Science with a dual major in Business Administration and Operations Management from DeVry University in Chicago and an MBA with an emphasis in Human Resources Management from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Cesar Rodriguez, Director of Finance - Specialty Channels Group, Kellogg’s Company
Cesar Rodriguez is Finance Director of the US Specialty Channels Business at the Kellogg Co. He has more than 20 years of diversified and international experience, with extensive experience in Auditing, Financial Planning, Analysis, Control and Reporting. Cesar has a proven record of significant achievement in driving the business to enable profitable growth, strategic planning, financial analysis and development of his staff.

Prior joining to Kellogg, Cesar has held various Finance and Operations roles, such as Global Category Finance Director, Regional CFO and Commercial Finance & Operations Director in the US, Latin America and Europe within Logitech INC and Eastman Kodak . Cesar started his career in Arthur Andersen & Co. in the audit and consulting practice.

Cesar holds a Masters of Business Administration from Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico, and a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Occidente, Mexico.

Don't miss out. Time is running out to register. The Banking and Finance Networking Forum is this Thursday. Secure your registration today! 

We’ve all heard it a thousand times – it’s all about who you know. If you’re looking for your next internship or your first job come graduation, networking is a fundamental part of landing that next professional opportunity. Here are 10 tips on networking the right way.

1. Don’t be afraid. Striking up a conversation with another professional can be intimidating. Many students and young professionals assume that the other person wants nothing to do with them. However, this is generally not the case. Networking not only benefits you, but can also benefit the other professional.

2. Do your research. If you’re planning to attend a future networking event, do your research before showing up. Many events list the companies and representatives that will be attending. Research the people you’d like to network with to find ways of connecting with that person - both professionally and personally. READ MORE AT BOSTINNO

It has nothing to do with the Denver Broncos' signing Latino quarterback Mark Sanchez this offseason, but there's no doubt the population of Colorado's capital city has undergone major changes in the past generation.

More than 30 percent of the city is Hispanic now, according to recent Pew research. Many of these are second- and third-generation Mexican-Americans.

Latino sports fans have traditionally been some of the most loyal and passionate in the scene, and while many Hispanics in Denver will no doubt wish Sanchez well, they will be primarily focused on the Broncos continuing their winning traditions. A Long Beach, California, native and third-generation Mexican-American, Sanchez will have to earn his opportunity to become the starter for the Broncos. The team has indicated he will get that chance to prove himself. READ MORE AT ESPN

The United States has been — and continues to be — one of the most popular destinations for immigrants from around the world. Immigrants from Latin American countries and other Spanish-speaking people in particular have become one of the nation’s fastest growing demographics. The United States may be a good place to live compared to many other countries, but every new wave of immigrants — along with second and third generation Hispanic Americans — continues to face various levels of discrimination.

In many of the worst states for Hispanic Americans, there are opportunities to get a steady job, earn decent wages, and buy a home in a thriving community. These opportunities, however, are not uniformly accessible across racial and ethnic lines. READ MORE AT 24/7 WALL ST.

“I was always quiet and often felt shy at events, meetings and even parties,” said Rosa Baez-Lopez, long-time member of the Society for Human Resource Management and vice president of HR at Clearbrook, a Chicago-area social services agency.

“I started as the receptionist for another agency and was working with Carl LaMell, the new bookkeeper, who always encouraged me. At community events and fundraisers, I’d watch him approach, greet and talk to all people regardless of their titles. He was a mentor, a teacher and, most importantly, an amazing role model. I adapted his style and ways of working a room by being friendly, respectful and open. Because he always had a smile on his face and laughed as he talked to people, he always looked like he was having fun! READ MORE AT SHRM

It’s not enough to know what your members and prospective members want. Today, it’s just as important to know how they want it. For credit unions in pursuit of a relationship with the highly influential and growing Hispanic consumer segment, that how is most likely digital.

When designing a digital strategy targeting Hispanic Millennials, it’s important to consider both language and culture. While most are likely to speak Spanish in the home, Hispanic Millennials are proficient in English and comfortable switching back and forth between the two languages – sometimes within the same conversation. In terms of culture, Hispanic Millennials – 40 percent of whom were born outside the U.S. – feel strong connections to both their Hispanic and American cultures.  READ MORE AT CU INSIGHT

Technology companies employ strikingly few black and Hispanic workers. They blame the recruitment pipeline, saying there aren’t enough of them graduating with relevant degrees and applying for tech jobs.

Yet the data show that there are many more black and Hispanic students majoring in computer science and engineering than work in tech jobs. So why aren’t they being hired?

Those who enter the candidate pipeline fall out somewhere along the way — and the culture and recruiting methods of tech companies seem to have a lot to do with it. READ MORE AT THE NEW YORK TIMES

A lot of people do not go to networking events. Some of them stay away because they’re shy, or because they can’t stand the noise of a loud room. Other people avoid networking events because they’ve had bad experiences. Unfortunately, there are bad networkers in every city and they tend to show up at networking events and annoy the rest of the crowd!

Here are ten things never to do at a networking event.

Blast your audio business card at a new acquaintance

A networking event is a place to practice your conversational skills. When someone asks you “What do you do?” it is a conversation-starter. They aren’t expecting you to blast the audio version of your business card in their face, like this: READ MORE AT FORBES

Ethnicity in the US is notoriously difficult for demographers to classify, and it’s getting tougher as the country becomes more diverse.

New research shows that Latinos, if categorized as such based on their birthplace and their parents’ and grandparents’ countries of origin rather than the ethnicity they self-identify with, are actually more educated than current US Census data suggest. And that means they may have a better quality of life than people realize.

“To some extent we’re understating the progress of later-generation Hispanics,” said Stephen Trejo, an economics professor at the University of Texas at Austin... READ MORE AT QUARTZ

In 15 years, California expects to be about 1.1 million college graduates short of the number needed to fill jobs that require at least a bachelor’s degree.

Already, the nation’s most populous state is a minority-majority state — one in which racial and ethnic minorities comprise more than half the population. And blacks, Hispanics and American Indians not only are less likely to go to college, but their graduation rates are also lower than that of whites.

California is a bellwether for a nation that is becoming more diverse, whose economy is demanding a better educated workforce, and whose state colleges and universities are increasingly pressured to deliver it — which means making sure minorities, especially African-Americans, finish school and get degrees. READ MORE AT NORTH DALLAS GAZETTE

The Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) headquartered here has expanded its entrepreneurship programs and services to startup and emerging women business owners in DuPage, Kane, Will and Kendall counties. Its office in the Aurora Chamber of Commerce building at 43 W. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora houses the second Women’s Business Center in the State of Illinois. The first WBC in Illinois is located at WBDC headquarters, 8 S. Michigan Av., in Chicago.

The WBDC is supported by funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration and will officially launch with a reception on Wednesday, March 9, 5:30 – 8 p.m. at Two Brothers Roadhouse, 205 N. Broadway, Aurora. Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner and State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia will speak at the event.

The WBC office offers programs and services in Spanish and English with a focus on the following:

• Access to Information. Comprehensive counseling and training on a range of topics (in person as well as online/on demand, in both English and Spanish).
• Access to Contacts. The WBDC’s annual Early Childhood Education Entrepreneurship Expo, an annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference, and many other networking events.

• Access to Contracts. Procurement technical assistance and supplier diversity panels.

• Access to Capital. Financial counseling, assistance with debt and equity placement, referrals to alternative sources of funding, and direct lending.

The WBDC has already been doing business in Aurora as one of eight members of the inaugural class of ScaleUp America contractors selected to assist the Small Business Administration in the delivery of targeted, cohort-based assistance to high-potential small businesses primed for growth beyond the early (nascent or emerging) stages. With its new Women’s Business Center program in Aurora, the WBDC can now serve a broader range of entrepreneurs and small businesses, adding early stage businesses to the client mix.

“The foundational purpose of the WBC Aurora is to advance the economic independence of women, with special attention given to the socially and economically disadvantaged,” said Emilia DiMenco, WBDC president and CEO. “Through their complementary relationship, the WBC Chicago and WBC Aurora will be able to provide services, including business counseling, entrepreneurial training, financing assistance, loan packaging, and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certification and procurement technical assistance for contracts.”

Robert Steiner, Illinois District Director of the Small Business Administration, said, “Businesses play a vital role in fueling the economy so assisting their growth and expansion is a significant way to buttress our economic foundation. Supporting and strengthening small businesses through this program being implemented by the WBDC is also a powerful way to help the socially and economically disadvantaged, particularly women and minorities, who have been and remain a vulnerable population.”

The WBDC is a 30-year-old non-profit that is nationally recognized in the field of economic development, providing programs and services to support and accelerate small business ownership, create jobs, fuel economic growth, and build strong communities. The WBDC hosts a Small Business Development Center, a Women’s Business Center Chicago, a Women’s Business Center Aurora, a Procurement Technical Assistance Center, a Veterans Business Outreach Center, a ScaleUp program in Aurora, and a Direct Lending Program.

To learn more about the WBDC, call 312.853.3477 or visit www.WBDC.org. More information about the Women’s Business Center Aurora is available on the website or by calling 630.896.3735.

FOR:                Women’s Business Development Center

CONTACT:      Chris Ruys, Chris Ruys Communications

                         (312) 337-7746 or chris@chrisruys.com

###

"Never talk to the person again" isn't on this list.​

Give yourself homework.

Paper beats your mind palace. "The more notes you take," says Vicki Salemi, career expert for Monster, "the easier it will be both for you to recall the conversation and for your new connection to remember you when you follow up." That means as soon as he or she scoots away (hopefully not in relief), you whip out Evernote and jot down highlights from the conversation, such as how you bonded over Stravinsky and shoe horns. Hey, it could happen. READ MORE AT MARIE CLAIRE

The recent post, 20 Things Every First-Generation Latino College Student Should Know, really inspired me to reflect on my own experience as a first-generation Latina college graduate. I noticed, however, that the list spoke to current college students and decided to share my personal response with advice to soon-to-be first-generation Latino college graduates about the journey ahead. This is the advice that I wish I had read as a college senior and 22-year-old, and advice that I now share with you. READ MORE AT THE HUFFINGTON POST

Despite the narrative, very popular in this election cycle, that Americans are having trouble getting ahead, Hispanics and Asians in the United States still believe in the basic premise of the American Dream—that anyone who works hard still has a fair chance.

This optimism is felt by over half of Hispanic and Asian respondents in an Atlantic Media/Pearson Opportunity Poll released on Tuesday. Most white and black respondents, however, said it is difficult for the average person to get ahead in an economy that mostly rewards the rich. Across all of the demographic groups polled, just 44 percent of respondents said that hard work can lead to a fair shot at success.ce to succeed and live a comfortable life.

So, where is this confidence from Hispanics and Asians coming from? READ MORE AT THE ATLANTIC

A personal recommendation carries a lot of weight. Which product are you more likely to buy – the one with the fancy packaging or the one your best friend said was awesome? Most people would go for the latter.

Those making decisions about who to hire use the same logic. When it comes to selecting future employees, references are nearly as important as a person’s resume. Nearly half of hiring managers surveyed by the Addison Group, a staffing and search firm, said references were a major factor in making hiring decisions, compared to 56% who said the resume was crucial.

Good references clearly matter for job seekers, which is why it can be more than a little nerve-wracking when you get a call or email from a former co-worker asking you to vouch for them. You know your words could be the thing standing between them and a great job offer, and the pressure is on to not screw this up. READ MORE AT CHEATSHEET

People living in poverty generally struggle to eat healthy, but low-income Hispanic families with limited knowledge of cooking and eating traditional American foods face a double whammy, according to Leticia Perez of the Salvation Army of Lebanon’s Hispanic outreach program.

“Besides salad, we don’t know how to cook almost any other vegetables,” Perez said, referring to the diet of rice, beans, chicken and pork that forms the basis for most Hispanic dishes.

Latino adults and children are both more likely than white adults and children to be overweight... READ MORE AT LEBANON DAILY NEWS

A large majority of new roles come not from recruiters, not from online applications, but from candidates' networks.Our contacts sometimes help us get through difficult situations or lead us to new opportunities.

To the uninitiated, networking may seem little more than having a lunch date with friends and mentioning the notion that you'd be interested in a new job. However, there is more to it than that. Networking is a finely tuned process. When networking, here are A's to remember:

1. Ask for a reference, not a job. READ MORE AT JOBS & HIRE