Insights from the upcoming Si-Suite episode

Music:

Vente by Mamá Patxanga is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Rashida Hodge, VP, Azure Data and AI / Customer Success for Microsoft is a technologist and executive leader at the forefront of AI and emerging technologies. Dubbed the “Superhero of IBM Watson AI,” Rashida led the commercialization and global launch of IBM Watson and rose to be the highest-ranking African American woman executive.

Originally from St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, her Caribbean upbringing gave her respect for strong communities, mentorship and the power of diversity. 

Rashida earned a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering at North Carolina State University and an MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business. 

She was named to Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful “NextGen” Women in 2018 and 2019 and named to Fortune 40 Under 40 in technology in 2020.

Rashida sits on the Boards of Misty Robotics; Girls Inc.; Duke University Fuqua School of Business Minority Advisory Board; and North Carolina University College of Engineering Foundation.

Learn more about Rashida here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashidahodge/

Shout-out: Today's Diversity Leader Shout-out goes to the co-founders of Black Women on Boards (BWOB) - Merline Saintil and Robin L. Washington

Music:

Vente by Mamá Patxanga is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Amor Y Felicidad by SONGO 21 is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License

Insights from the upcoming Si-Suite episode

Music:

Vente by Mamá Patxanga is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Insights from the upcoming Si-Suite episode

Music:

Vente by Mamá Patxanga is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Ralph de la Vega is Chairman of the De La Vega group, which focuses on investments in entrepreneurial startups. He is the former Vice Chairman of AT&T Inc., and the author of Obstacles Welcome. He is actively focused on helping young people reach their full potential.

He serves on the boards of American Express Company, New York Life Insurance Company, and Amdocs Corporation. He is the former Chairman of Junior Achievement Worldwide and continues to serve on its board of directors. He also served as the Chairman of the 2017 Jamboree for the Boy Scouts.

Mr. de la Vega has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and a master’s degree in business administration from Northern Illinois University. He completed the Executive Program at the University of Virginia and received a Doctor Honoris Causa from FAU.

He is the author of the best-selling book Obstacles Welcome: Turn Adversity to Advantage in Business and Life (Thomas Nelson, 2009).

He is a native of Cuba and resides in Florida.

Learn more:

Ralph's website: https://www.ralphdelavega.com

Book "Obstacles Welcome": https://www.amazon.com/Obstacles-Welcome-Adversity-Advantage-Business/dp/B003VWC44O

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralphdelavega/

Shout-out: Today's Diversity Leader Shout-out goes to Ken Chenault, Chairman and Managing DirectorChairman and Managing Director

General Catalyst (former Chairman and CEO of American Express)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-chenault/details/experience/

Music:

Intro - Vente by Mamá Patxanga is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Outro - Amor Y Felicidad by SONGO 21 is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License

Ilhiana Rojas Saldana is the owner of BeLIVE Coaching & Consulting.She is an Executive & Career Transformation Strategy Coach, a DEI Consultant, a Hispanic advocate, Bestselling Author, and an international motivational speaker. She has 20+ yrs of global executive experience in top Fortune 500 companies in Mexico and US headquarters, leading and coaching professionals and businesses into success.

She was recognized by the NY Journal as one of the top 10 Inspiring women to watch in 2021, and has been featured on NBC, FOX, and CBS affiliates.

In addition to coaching, Ilhiana serves as Chief Development Officer for ALPFA Boston Chapter, VicePresident of the RI Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Board member of the National Wellness Institute. 

Ilhiana graduated with honors as a Chemical Engineer in Mexico City, and lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two kids.

Learn more Ilhiana

Her website: www.belivecoach.com

Connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilhiana-rojas7

Shout out: Today's Diversity Leaders Shout-out goes to Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham, Founder of Promoting Good and Enna Jiminez, Published Author and Speaker

Music:

Intro - Vente by Mamá Patxanga is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Outro - Amor Y Felicidad by SONGO 21 is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License

Insights from the upcoming Si-Suite episode

Music:

Vente by Mamá Patxanga is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Raquel Tamez is the Chief Inclusion and Engagement Officer at Charles River Associates (CRA). A leader in providing economic and financial expertise to major law and accounting firms, CRA also does consulting work for corporations and governments around the world. Raquel plays an integral role in the firm’s DE&I efforts and initiatives—both in-house and globally—and is essential to empowering its workforce. Her ability to strengthen CRA’s culture allows the firm to better serve its clients and communities.

Prior to CRA, Raquel served as CEO of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). During her time with SHPE, she expanded SHPE’s national programs, services, and resources to its over 13,000 members across 280+ chapters.

In 2008, Raquel was recognized by the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility with the Hispanic Corporate Achiever Award. She was named among the 2015 Corporate Counsel Trending 40 by Legal Bisnow and voted one of the twenty-five most influential Hispanic lawyers by Leading Latinos magazine. 

In 2020, Raquel represented SHPE as part of the first-ever Hispanic delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Recently, she received the 2020 Ohtli Award from the Mexican government, in recognition of her efforts to empower Hispanic communities abroad. She was invited to serve on the boards of Girls in Tech and St. Mary’s University School of Law. 

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and St. Mary’s University School of Law, Raquel currently resides in Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. 

Learn more about Raquel here

Shout-out: Today's Diversity Leader Shout-out goes to Sylvia Acevedo, Qualcomm Board member and Larysa Kautz, President & CEO of Melwood

Music:

Intro - Vente by Mamá Patxanga is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Outro - Amor Y Felicidad by SONGO 21 is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License

Insights from the upcoming Si-Suite episode

Music:

Vente by Mamá Patxanga is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Insights from the upcoming Si-Suite episode

Music:

Vente by Mamá Patxanga is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License