Auténtico: The Definitive Guide to Latino Career Success

by Robert Rodriguez, Andrés Tomás Tapia

Latinos are on the way to being one-third of the U.S. population by 2050. They're changing the country's talent, marketplace, and political landscapes in unprecedented ways. So why is it that there are so few Latino executives and senior leaders? It's what authors Dr. Robert Rodriguez and Andrés Tomás Tapia call the "4% Shame"—the low percentage of Latino corporate executives today. The Definitive Guide to Latino Career Success digs deep to understand the external forces of conscious and unconscious biases, and the internal forces that create tensions for many Latinos about whether to assimilate, opt out, or double down on their cultural identities in their quest to get ahead. Insights have been gleaned from in-depth interviews with twenty highly successful Latino and Latina Boomer executives as well as from focus groups with dozens of GenX and Millennial Latinx leaders. They're synthesized and interpreted through the lenses of the authors' two very different personal experiences as Latino leaders in corporate America.

356 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2017

Reviews

[Victor Ruiz, Ph.D · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second edition of Auténtico is a must-read for current and aspiring leader/executives who wish to tap into the unique strengths that bicultural Latinos bring to the workplace and society. The authors' advice to double down on our Latinx identities could not come at a more opportune time for me personally, as I am right now in the process of defining the next steps in my career (and identity work) moving forward. I will be referencing this book for years to come.

I found the following message and call to action to be especially inspiring:

"Youth have spoken. They are ready to stand on the shoulders of the pioneering Latino and Latina executives who broke new ground and paved the way. But are the entities around them—the government, the schools, the not-for-profits, the corporations—ready to fully capitalize on this rising Latino talent force? We worry that they are not."

Following the ten-point Latino Executive Manifesto presented in Auténtico will help "channel the energy, ambition, and vision of Latnix professionals to seek rightful place as leaders in their organization and society."

May we continue to follow our hearts and dream big, but also find ways to work together. To all aspiring leaders working to find the right balance, paciencia y fé.

With kind regards,
Victor

[Lillian Argaez · Rating 3 out of 5]

La primera parte me pareció fácil de leer y valiosa: es un libro que te hace consciente de las cualidades que tenemos como latinos y de cómo podemos usarlas a nuestro favor en el mundo corporativo estadounidense. También me gustó que resalta la diversidad dentro de la comunidad latina en USA, recordándonos que cada quien vive su cultura y su conexión con las raíces de manera distinta.

Si bien este libro no es un manual paso a paso para subir la escalera corporativa, sí ofrece muchos insights útiles y reflexiones relevantes.

Sin embargo, la segunda mitad se me hizo más difícil de leer. La sentí desorganizada, con bastante “paja”, aunque entre todo eso también encontré puntos importantes y dignos de reflexión. Aunque actualizaron el libro buscabdo incluir a los latinos millennials, me pareció que se queda muy superficial. Creo que valdría la pena una versión dedicada a cómo las nuevas generaciones latinas están viviendo el proceso de adaptación al famoso "corporate American".