Silicon Valley's International & Male Dominant Culture

Having lived in the NYC area for over 15 years, I considered it multicultural and diverse until I moved to Silicon Valley.  I've met people from all over the world in SV; the cream of the crop where engineers permeate every aspect of the local ecosystem and where innovation lives at a level I've never experienced. Another notable difference in SV, in contrast to the NYC area where there are 200,000 more women than men, is how the male population fully influences the local culture and trends. At the gym the majority of the channels featured are programmed to sports; at events or local meet-ups, the ratio of male to female participation is 75% and 25% respectively; on the streets of Mountain View or Cupertino, it's always a stream of men walking together with few women in the mix; in fashion, most women dress casually, reflecting a dress code more similar to a geek squad verses couture.

On a personal note, 100% of all my SV job interviews have been with men. More recently, I interviewed with eight men for a Senior Director of PR position for a streaming radio network. They're interest focused on growing their female base of listeners.  Ultimately, they chose to add yet another male to the team. This made me wonder, has local leadership become so comfortable with its "own" type that seeking out qualified female candidates is no longer a priority? More than likely not since SV has already proven itself to be exemplary in building great products and businesses.

However, as a woman, I still think it's important to simply highlight why it's critical to have  qualified women on your team. As stated in the book, "Women Want More:" women account for 64% of the $18.4 trillion spent annually on consumer goods around the world; women in the US control 73% of all household spending; women also already control half the wealth in the United States. Recognition of the rise of the female economy is an important insight to evaluate when planning a company's business development growth strategy. The quintessential staff  is one that equally represents both genders and the various cultures and demographics of today's population. Through diversity, the best brands and products can be developed which reflect all the important echelons of society. 

Food for thought....

Still Confounded By Republican Leadership's Lack of Foresight

All this week the news outlets confirmed how Latinos, women and young people helped President Obama win the presidential election. What baffles me is the Republican party's apparent inability to recognize the changes in today's demographics, a marketing 101 lesson.  I ask myself, how is this possible?

In the late 80's in Providence, RI,  I got introduced to Buddy Cianci who was seeking re-election after being removed from his mayoral seat. At that time the city had a large Dominican population; he decided to hire me as his Hispanic campaign director to seek their support. Imagine his foresight as the 1990 census report still had not been released.  He knew his city, he understood the demographics and we developed a plan to captivate that audience. We bought Spanish-language media, recruited Hispanic leaders from the business and non-profit sectors, organized coffee hours and went door-to-door in South Providence to get out the vote. Buddy Cianci won the election by a slight margin and those votes came from the Dominican community. 

In the early 90's I landed a position working as the group account manager at FOVA, the Hispanic arm of Grey Advertising. I managed a $20MM budget overseeing Proctor & Gamble's brands marketed to the Hispanic consumer (Jif, Downy, Crisco), along with specific Kraft brands.  Fast forward to today, company's like Blockbuster have added a new Cine Latino movie section in more than 200 stores of their stores; Disney just launched their first Latina princess, Sofia; Salma Hayek became the first bilingual star to lend her face to the popular “Got Milk” campaign. Then there's one of my favorite TV ads whereby two guys get into a Passat and after their music-less road trip, come out of the car speaking fluent Spanish. 

Obviously the demographics in the US have changed to a multi-cultural ecosystem. How is possible the Republican party missed this in 2012 when there were so many market indicators??? 

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Let's Talk About Language

Ok, now that we've all refreshed our memories about one facet of our recent history, we have to recognize that "our" land once belonged to someone else and yet someone else before that. Our history is full of rich culture, progress, development and constantly changing. Growth is expected; it's organic and shows what was and what is possible. 

The same goes for language. As of late, Internet-based sibling to Oxford English Dictionary released its latest batch of new words including our lastest online vernacular like lolz, lifecasting and redic. On a community level in most major cities in the US, we're seeing a greater diversity of people; people from places we hardly ever saw ten years ago.  Today, it's not uncommon to meet someone from India, China, Russia, Iraq and of course South America. Hell, the State of CT used to be know for its WASPs, but today in Stamford, CT it's not uncommon to hear Russian, Spanish, Hindi and English all spoken on the same street corner. 

As a result of growing up in a bicultural and bilingual environment, spending time at a young age in Panamá and purposefully surrounding myself with a diverse group of friends, I celebrate this diverse "state!" However, I know that my perspective isn't always shared by the masses.  An ethnocentric disposition stills seems to permeate parts of our community where people are some how offended by other people speaking a second language where non-speakers are present. Some monolinguals think it's rude as if we were secretly plotting an ingenious plan to take over the world or better yet turn them into magically elves.  While they feel emphatic about it, I came to realize recently that I feel the same way. The other day, having encountered this very situation, I felt my blood boiling over and thought "wow" where did that come from as few things make me feel that way (other than my X)?

In further examining my disposition, I came to realize that my second language is the very thing that makes me who I am, what I think about myself and identifies me as part of my own clan.  Upon feeling threatened, my own ethnocentric attitude fully revealed itself. As human beings it's fundamentally important that we feel part of something; for this reason it's vitally important to respect one another's cultures and languages that are different from our own. One might even learn a few new things about each other's history and pick up a few new words, proven to enhance our cognitive develop. Cheers!

Written by Deborah Castillero

Arizona’s Interesting Beginnings and Past History (Part 1)

In paraphrasing the history books and Wikipedia, “The history of Arizona, as recorded by Europeans, began in 1539. In 1821, when Mexico obtained its independence from Spain, Arizona became part of then Mexico. 

However, as early as 1810, a steady trend of migration from the United States into the Texas frontier started. Stephen Austin's colony was the most successful of several colonies authorized by the Mexican government in this region. The Mexican government intended the anglo settlers to act as a buffer between the existing Mexican residents and the marauding Comanches, but the Anglo colonists tended to settle where there was decent farmland and trade connections with American Louisiana, rather than eastward where they would have been an effective buffer.

By 1829, as a result of the large influx of U.S. immigrants, the Americans outnumbered Mexicans in the Texas-Mexican territory. The Mexican government decided to reinstate the property tax, increase tariffs on U.S. shipped goods, and prohibit slavery. The settlers and many Mexican businessmen in the region rejected the demands, which led to Mexico closing Texas to additional immigration. However, immigration into the Texas territory continued illegally from the United States.

As part of US President James K. Polk’s (Democrat) plans to expand America’s territory to the Pacific coast, an armed conflict between the US and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 (Mexican-American War) insued. As a result, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo specified the major consequence of the war; the forced Mexican cession of the territories of Alta California and New Mexico to the U.S.

However, it didn’t end there. After a new government came to reign in Mexico and also because of public opinion, a Mexican army came back into Texas and reclaimed the land that was originally theirs. 

In 1846, Polk made his case to Congress stating that, “Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, had invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil." Congress approved the declaration for war, but still there were many who were against the war especially Joshua Giddings, who stated,”In the murder of Mexicans upon their own soil, or in robbing them of their country, I can take no part either now or here-after. The guilt of these crimes must rest on others. I will not participate in them.” Many American leaders believed it was a ploy to expand slavery efforts.

In one year (1846-1847), Americans took over and claimed California as part of the US. After that the US went out to also conquest parts of Mexico including the city of Veracruz, Puebla and then Mexico City. With Mexico’s military being outnumbered coupled with an unstable government and many of its large cities occupied, Mexico could not defend itself. In 1848, with The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the war finally ended and with that the US obtained undisputed control of Texas, established the U.S.-Mexican border of the Rio Grande River, and secured California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, most of Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. In return, Mexico received from the US $18,250,000, less than half the amount originally offered before the hostilities bega,n —and the U.S. agreed to assume $3.25-million in debts that the Mexican government owed to U.S. citizens.

In 1863, Arizona was split off from the Territory of New Mexico into its own entity. The remoteness was eased by the arrival of railroads in 1880. Arizona became a state in 1912, but was primarily rural with an economy based on cattle, cotton, citrus and copper. Dramatic growth came after 1945, as retirees especially appreciated the warm weather and low costs. 

Major issues in recent years include ethnic hostility between Anglos and Hispanics, and the bust that followed the real estate bubble of the 2000s. By the late 1990s, Tucson Border Patrol Sector had become the location for the most number of arrests by the United States Border Patrol. State Senator Russell Pearce, is one of Arizona's most vocal opponents of illegal immigration and who had successfully pushed through several prior pieces of tough legislation against those he termed "invaders on the American sovereignty."

In 2010, Arizona had an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants, a figure that had increased fivefold since 1990. As the state with the most illegal crossings of the Mexico – United States border, its remote and dangerous deserts are the entry point for thousands of Mexicans and Central Americans.^.

Next: The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (introduced as Arizona Senate Bill 1070 and thus often referred to simply as Arizona SB 1070) is a legislative Act in the U.S. state of Arizona. 

In a job search, how beneficial is it to volunteer info about your race, gender, disability status, etc?

Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of an applicant’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or disability.  One wrong question could provoke a discrimination charge or a lawsuit.  State and local government laws also prohibit discrimination based on factors such as marital status, pregnancy, and sexual orientation.

We already know that there is a dearth of minorities and women at Corporate America, especially at the top. I also know that organization's like HACR are committed to working with Corporate America to ensure that more qualified Latinos are being recruited for employment. According to HACR's 2010 report, their Corporate Inclusion Index (CII) survey demonstrated that for a median average of 60,810 total US employees, an average of 4,393 Hispanics employees held those positions. This means that only 7% of the U.S. employee base were represented by a Hispanic employee. (Full report available here: http://www.hacr.org/docLib/20101217_2010HACRCII.pdf)


So when you're filling out an application for employment and a corporation asks you to voluntarily provide information about your race, gender and disability status is it beneficial to be so forthright?

How do we know that HR looks upon these specifics in a positive way? How do we know if HR decides they've fulfilled their quota for the month or year on minorities, females and/or those with disabilities and therefore look unfavorably upon these kind of candidates? What do you think?

Why Bilinguals Are Smarter

According to this article in the NY Times, there are great benefits of being bilingual. 

Namely....

Being bilingual, it turns out, makes you smarter. It can have a profound effect on your brain, improving cognitive skills not related to language and even shielding against dementia in old age.

There is ample evidence that in a bilingual’s brain both language systems are active even when he is using only one language, thus creating situations in which one system obstructs the other. But this interference, researchers are finding out, isn’t so much a handicap as a blessing in disguise. It forces the brain to resolve internal conflict, giving the mind a workout that strengthens its cognitive muscles.

Read more to understand the benefits, particularmente todos los americanos que no entienden porque es tan importante saber un otro idioma! Basta!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-benefits-of-bilingualism.html?_r=1

65% of all Latinos are of Mexican Origin

Among the 50.7 million Hispanics in the United States, nearly two-thirds (65%), or 33 million, self-identify as being of Mexican origin, according to tabulations of the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center. No other Hispanic subgroup rivals the size of the Mexican-origin population. Puerto Ricans, the nation’s second largest Hispanic origin group, make up just 9% of the total Hispanic population in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.¹

For the Latina entrepreneurs out there!!!

Man this is hard!!!

I had no idea being an entrepreneur would be so taxing, difficult and inspiring all at the same time. As a first generation Latina, I didn't have access to private schools or anything beyond a state college. However, some how along the way...early in my life, I caught that entrepreneurial bug that just permeates every cell in my body and every thought in my mind.

In 2008, I dedicated every Friday and Saturday to work on my business plan.  It took me 9 months to complete all the necessary research. After that I was in search for the right person to partner with to bring a product line to life to better prepare Latino kids for Kindergarten. Another 4 months negotiating with that person. Then there was the task of learning about financial projections, hiring a CPA and a consultant to help me understand what the CPA was telling me.

As the contracts started coming in I had to learn more about how to look at each contract with a 360 perspective, knowing full well that with complicated language, meant complicated scenarios. In truth, I'm intimidated, scared, learning, excited, taxed, but all the while hoping for that big breakthrough.

And the journey continues....

Tax Cuts for the Rich

Between 1950 to 1980, those of us who are in the 0-90% increased our income by 75%. Those in the 1% saw an increase of 80% in their income. After Reagan, between 1980 to 2008 we saw an increase of 1% for those in the 0-90%. However, for the 1%  they had an increase of 403% for the rich or $21 million dollars (think campaign contributors & corporations-those oligarchs who really control our government). I guess we should continue to provide more tax cuts to the rich. Right? Congress sucks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k71DYM20WRM&feature=related

US Large Banks Have A Plan

I just heard a story on NPR about a small business owner that was seeking a loan to expand her day care facility. She went to her bank, a large national one, and despite her excellent credit, they refused to provide her with a loan.

It's just so insane that "we the people" bailed out the large banks and yet they refuse again and again to support small businesses.

The question is WHY? For starters, with the millions we gave them, they're able to just sit on all that cash and earn interest.  They've also decided that it's just too much work and less profitable to provide a small business owner with a loan when they can focus on much bigger deals to increase their profit margins.

I recently closed all of my Bank of America accounts for that very reason.  We should all be banking at a local community bank because they actually care about small businesses, the backbone of the US economy.  Let's all start to make smarter choices with our collective economic power to improve our societal conditions, especially since we really can't count on our politicians for much these days.

What's in those breasts?

What's in those breasts? Girlfriends-listen to this story. Very interesting. http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152818798/breasts-bigger-and-more-vulnerable-to-toxins