October 16, 2020
The event was hosted by the firm’s LatinX Affinity Group in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
To close Hispanic Heritage Month and continue the promotion of intercultural learning, Willkie’s Latinx Affinity Group hosted a virtual talk with Dr. Robert Rodriguez, Latino talent and employee resource group expert, on October 15.
In the webinar, Dr. Rodriguez provided an overview of Hispanic heritage, terms referring to the community, and cultural characteristics and distinctions. He explored the subject of Latino sense of identity in the workplace, as well as the great deal of diversity existing within the Latino demographic that affects this, such as race, ethnicity, nationality, language proficiency, and level of acculturation. By working together to acknowledge and understand these differences, Dr. Rodriguez said, “we can create the condition within the organization where people feel they can bring their full Hispanic selves to work.”
“Latinos are asserting their identity with more confidence than ever before,” he went on to say. “Our societies will benefit, our communities will benefit, and our organizations will benefit.”
The presentation segment was followed by a fireside chat-style discussion led by Eduardo Fernandez, co-managing partner of Willkie’s Paris office, who facilitated further conversation with Dr. Rodriguez on these topics.
Dr. Rodriguez is the founder and president of Dr. Robert Rodriguez Advisors LLC (DRR Advisors), a diversity consulting firm that helps business leaders elevate the impact and effectiveness of their workplace inclusion initiatives. DRR Advisors works with large and small businesses to build forward-thinking organizational practices that foster diversity, leadership and innovation. He is also the co-creator of the Latino Leadership Intensive, a concentrated program for the development of mid-career Latin professionals, and an experienced keynote speaker and author of books such as Latino Talent – Effective Strategies to Recruit, Retain, and Develop Hispanic Professionals.
To learn more, please visit Dr. Rodriguez’s website here.
