Demand for Workplace Diversity Has Hispanic Executives Building Their Networks

ExecuNet interview with Ali Curi in 2006

These are busy times for Hispanic executives across the United States as employers increasingly target the fast-growing Hispanic consumer markets and recruit the kind of diverse senior-executive talent to lead and capitalize on those considerable investments. "I see an upswing in the hiring of Hispanics at the higher levels," Ali Curi, president of the Hispanic Professionals Networking Group (HPNG), tells the RecruitSmart Insider in an exclusive interview.

"I think there's also a big push to develop Hispanic candidates and get them out there…organizations are grooming their Hispanic executives to be candidates at the most senior levels," he adds. Curi, whose organization has offices in New York and hosts Hispanic executive networking events in both Manhattan and Miami, says that an increasing number of Hispanic business leaders are making a conscious effort to define, build and maximize their personal and professional networks.

"Part of it," he says, is: "So, you know a lot of people. Now what?" Hispanic executives are now more concerned about how their network is going to help their career, their development. They're certainly taking more control of their networks. "Further down the organizational chart, Curi adds, younger, emerging Hispanic leaders are now more aware of how their network can help their career and professional development. "They're taking a more active role in leveraging their networks. I also see more people reaching out for mentorship and leadership development opportunities," Curi says.

hmmmm....HPNG anyone?