Mexican Nobel-winning author, Octavio Paz said: “Deserve your dream.” In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, here are 20+ high-achieving Hispanic pros who’ve inspired our community by doing just that, and who we’ve had the pleasure to work closely with.
See someone especially inspiring to you? Reach out to them and let them know you found them through our post.
Peter Garcia
Technical Recruiter, Visa
Peter Garcia: This multi-faceted manager networked and recruited publishing up-and-comers at our networking event, Hustle Summit.Peter manages talent acquisition at Macmillan Learning, the global leader in education publishing. He also has a degree in Psychology from the University of North Texas.
Tiffany Tapia
Senior Associate, Media Investment, Starcom
Tiffany Tapia: Tiffany is an up and comer in the media and marketing world. She’s been a core member of our community and displayed stellar leadership skills as a FindSpark ambassador in College, and as a fellow in our epic networking event, Hustle Summit. The go-getter also made us proud by turning her internship with global communications leader IPG Mediabrands into a full-time role. She is also the founder and president of Babson’s premier club for First Generation college students.
Andrea Velazquez Fossas
Strategist & Creative Director, Freelance
Andrea Velazquez: Andrea is a marketing powerhouse from Puerto Rico. Formerly a standout employee at FindSpark– she served as creative producer and ideated our epic networking night, Hustle Summit– Andrea now innovates for Refinery29’s experiential marketing department. One of the youngest people on our list, she’s worked an impressive roster of brands, like Google, HBO, and Netflix.
Alberto Morales
National Press Secretary for Special Projects, Human Rights Campaign
Alberto Morales: This giving pro has spearheaded marketing content and campaigns for nonprofits like NYCLU, NAACP and LatinoJustice PRLDEF. He also helped guide our community to career success at our Find and Follow your Passion conference at NYU. The Brown University grad has been sought after various top non-profits for his creative direction and serious social media chops.
Daniel Arenas
Head of Design, TRIPTK
Daniel Arenas: We had the pleasure of learning from this go-getting pro at the Find and Follow your passion conference at the New School. Before becoming Design ~Director~ at Redscout, Daniel owned Sunday Morning NY, an indie design and digital branding studio. Daniel also freelanced as a design director studios in NYC and Singapore—pretty cool, eh? He also studied design in Bogotá, Colombia and is a native Spanish speaker. ¡Qué impresionante!
Carla Echevarria
Design Lead, Google
Carla Echevarria: This creative’s track record is so impressive, we almost can’t handle it. Carla has lead product design, UX/UI design, brand design, creative, and strategy for tech and marketing giants like Google, Facebook, MakerBot, and R/GA. The creative powerhouse has a dual degree in Philosophy and History of Math (cool right?) and can speak ancient Greek and Tagalog. She inspired young pros when she spoke at our Find & Follow Your Passion conference.
Sabrina Macias
Vice President Global Communications, Draft Kings Inc.
Sabrina Macias: Sabrina has a stellar track record spearheading marketing and communications at some of the world’s top brands and agencies, including DraftKings, NASCAR, and Edelman. She also imparted some of her marketing wisdom on young pros from our community as a mentor at Hustle Summit and as a keynote speaker at our Ladies in Leadership event. Sabrina’s specialty? She helps brands reach and develop a multicultural audience. In 2016, Sabrina was named among PR Week’s 40 under 40. Talk about a lady in leadership!
Valentina Martinez Ponce
Marketing Manager, Regional Marketing (LATAM), Taboola
Valentina Martinez Ponce: This Venezuelan pro started her marketing career with a bang, working with one of the most influential media companies in the world, Time Inc. You may have heard of them. Valentina prescribed “patience, passion and perseverance” to young pros in our community, at our Create Your Career panel in June.
Imelda Herrera
Human Resources, House of Blues Entertainment
Imelda Herrera: Imelda runs human resources at Chicago’s famed House of Blues, which was also the site of the premiere Chicago Hustle Summit. At Hustle Summit, Imelda charmed, networked with and recruited young pros to work at the global leader in live entertainment, Live Nation.
Leyda Hernández
Founder, C’EST DU LUXE
Leyda Hernández: Our community was lucky enough to meet Leyda IRL her at Hustle Summit, where she rocked it as a mentor, and get inspired by her advice and story at our Find and Follow Your Passion Conference. Recently named among Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and one of Everstring’s Top 10 Women in Tech, Leyda has taken the marketing world by storm. She currently works with luxury and tech brands to help them elevate their marketing perception, capitalize on cultural and commercial trends, and transform their digital marketing. Leyda also teaches Digital Marketing as an adjunct professor at NYU. How does she do it all? We don’t know, but it’s sure impressive.
Eric Di Monte
Director Talent Acquisition, Warner Music Group
Eric Di Monte: We met Eric at our epic networking night, Hustle Summit, where he represented Univision, the largest and most influential Latin American media company of its time. He also shared industry insights and inspired marketing hopefuls from our community at our Social Media Workshop. Eric is also tri-lingual and can speak English, Spanish and Italian. Want to know how he’s built a winning team at the forefront of multicultural media? Head over to his LinkedIn to find out.
Juan Martinez
Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc
Juan Martinez: Juan is one our FindSpark advisors, and has spoken and mentored at countless FindSpark events. He’s the founder and president of his agency, JMart Strategies, through which he helps businesses broaden their audience and reach members in new, engaging ways. Juan worked closely with us at FindSpark as an email marketing consulting, and has led marketing efforts at GLSEN, an organization that works to shape policy and school climates for LGBT youth, The Bill Gates Foundation and Teach for America.
Stephen Rivera
Account Supervisor, Energy BBDO
Stephen Rivera: Stephen networked, recruited and inspired young pros from our community representing FCB Chicago at the first-ever Chicago Hustle Summit. In 2016, he was named “Most Promising Multicultural Student” by the American Advertising Federation and has since lived up to the title. The ambitious Chicago marketing pro went from intern to full-time Account Executive at the advertising powerhouse, FCB, where he managed brands like Roxo and Enilon.
Jay Quiles
Platform Consultant (Account Executive), Activecampaign
Jay Quiles: Jay’s LinkedIn cover photo reads: “Give More.” We had the pleasure to meet and get inspired by this high-achiever at our Chicago Hustle Summit Kickoff Bash, where he was a keynote speaker. He’s currently growing and moving up as an Account Executive at Activecampaign, a marketing automation startup that recruited ambitious talent at the premiere Chicago Hustle Summit.
Laura Quintero
Software Engineer, Reconstruct Inc
Laura Quintero: This lady in tech mentored attendees at the first Chicago Hustle Summit. We were lucky enough to meet Laura when she joined her husband (a design mentor at Hustle Summit) at our Chicago Kickoff Night. That night, she fell in love with our community (and us with her) and decided to be a mentor at our epic networking night!
Carlos Valenti
Account Supervisor, The Marketing Store
Carlos Valenti: We had the pleasure of working with this Sr. Account Executive at the premiere Chicago Hustle Summit, where he represented and recruited for The Marketing Store. Carlos knows a thing or two about product design, in fact, he got his masters in Product Design & Development from Northwestern University.
Paola Hernandez
Director of Communications, Honeywell Advanced Materials, Honeywell
Paola Hernandez: Paola mentored young pros interested in communications at Hustle Summit, and spoke at our Find & Follow Your Passion conference in NYU. The go-getter has made a name for herself working with communications leaders like Honeywell and Univision. With this stellar track record, we can’t wait to see what she does next.
Mariam Guessous
Founder & Creative Director, I See You Wellness
Mariam Guessous: This multi-faceted creative director was a keynote speaker at our professional development event, FindSpark Next, and shared her secrets to staying creative with our community in this blog post. Her work spans industries–from retail to tech, to beer and fashion. Her passion? Delivering “big agency” results and quality to help small businesses strengthen their brand. Mariam is a strong advocate for diversity in the advertising world and speaks not two, not three, but four languages. Wow, right?
George Aliaga
Social Media Assistant, iHeartRadio
George Aliaga: This broadcast and communications pro hustled his way up one of the most influential media companies of our time, iHeartRadio. He worked on the frontlines of iHeartRadio’s social media accounts and behind-the-scenes with the likes of Shawn Mendes, Kelly Clarkson and Lady Gaga. He’s been seen and heard on Elvis Duran and The Morning Show, 103.5 KTU, KCON New York, FOMO Daily, and more. We could tell George was going places when he helped us produce the most epic networking night for young pros, Hustle Summit. Want to see the resume of a true hustler? Head over to George’s LinkedIn. Head over to George’s LinkedIn.
Laura Zapata
Editorial Director / Lead Copywriter, View Imaging
Laura Zapata: Laura is a freelance fashion & editor and stylist. This chic up-and-comer inspired our community when she spoke at the FindSpark LIM conference. Laura specializes in helping brands reach multicultural, Millennial, and Gen Z, markets and has helped top brands like Dove, Cosmo Latina and iStyle Media hone their multicultural media and marketing strategy.
Jelicza Thomas
Campus Recruiter, Associate, BlackRock
Jelicza Cruz: Jelicza has moved up lighting-speed at leading tech recruiting company and long-time Hustle Summit employer, TEKsystems. Head over to her LinkedIn, to read glowing recommendations from her network, who’ve hailed her for being driven, professional and inspiring, and find out what it takes to impress your network.
See someone especially inspiring to you? Reach out to them and let them know you found them through our post.
