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In 2024, Latinas remain significantly underrepresented in leadership roles across corporate America and Wall Street. Only about 1% of Latinas have reached C-suite executive positions, making them the least represented group at the highest levels of corporate America. Despite this, a number of trailblazing Latina leaders have defied the odds, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations.

Notable examples include:

Nina Vaca – CEO and Chairman of Pinnacle Group, a workforce solutions firm. Vaca has been instrumental in her company’s success and is a prominent advocate for Latina representation on corporate boards.
Dorene C. Dominguez – Chairwoman and CEO of Vanir, a national leader in construction management and real estate development.
Linda Alvarado – President and CEO of Alvarado Construction, a successful construction firm, and a groundbreaking owner in Major League Baseball.

In finance, Latinas are even less visible, often facing barriers like biases and stereotypes that hinder their career progression. These barriers include a lack of mentorship and sponsorship, which are critical for advancement, and limited access to inclusive workplace policies that support work-life balance. Research shows that Latinas often encounter a “broken rung” early in their careers, meaning they are less likely to be promoted to manager-level roles compared to their male counterparts.

Is Change Coming?

The inaugural U.S. Latina GDP Report, led by researchers at California Lutheran University and UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine, reveals promising growth. In 2021 alone, U.S. Latinas contributed $1.3 trillion to the GDP, a figure larger than the economies of all but three U.S. states. It also reflects a 51.1% increase since 2010—compared to an 18.8% increase in the overall non-Hispanic GDP.

Key findings include:

Labor Force Participation: Between 2010 and 2021, the number of Latinas in the workforce grew by 32.9%, significantly outpacing the 2.7% growth for non-Hispanic females. U.S. Latinas now have a labor force participation rate that is 2.5 percentage points higher than their non-Hispanic female counterparts.
Educational Attainment: The number of Latinas with a bachelor’s degree or higher grew 103% from 2010 to 2021, much faster than the 38.3% growth for non-Hispanic females.
Income Growth: Real income for Latinas increased by 46.0% over the same period, compared to 18.5% for non-Hispanic females.

Overall, this report positions Latinas as a key driving force behind the U.S. economy, with a rapidly growing economic footprint and resilience across multiple economic indicators such as labor participation, educational attainment, and income growth. This trend is especially significant given that Latinas account for only 9.3% of the U.S. population but have driven 30.2% of labor force growth since 2010. While these figures highlight the growing economic power of Latinas, translating this momentum into leadership opportunities requires actionable strategies and intentional support.

Actionable Advice for Latina Professionals

Latina leaders across industries emphasize the value of embracing cultural identity, cultivating strong networks, and demonstrating resilience and authenticity in the workplace. Over the years, theglasshammer.com has featured many Latina leaders who have echoed these key themes in their advice.

Embrace Your Cultural Identity:
Many Latina leaders highlight the significance of using their heritage as a strength. They suggest leveraging unique perspectives to connect with diverse audiences and encourage others from similar backgrounds. This involves incorporating elements of their culture, such as family values and community orientation, into their leadership style.
Build a Strong Network:
Networking is often underscored as a key factor in professional growth. Latina leaders recommend actively seeking mentors, joining professional organizations, and engaging with the community to open doors and gain valuable support throughout one’s career journey.
Cultivate Resilience:
Resilience is essential for navigating challenges and adversity. Latina leaders encourage viewing setbacks as chances for growth, advocating for a mindset that sees failures as opportunities to learn and progress toward success.
Lead with Authenticity:
Being true to oneself and one’s values is vital for building trust and fostering a positive work culture. Latina leaders encourage embracing authentic leadership by sharing personal stories and experiences to connect more deeply with teams and stakeholders.

This advice not only guides Latina professionals in their career paths but also serves as inspiration for anyone looking to navigate leadership roles in a diverse and inclusive manner.

How Executive Coaching Helps Latina Professionals

While these practices provide a solid foundation, leadership coaching offers a transformative approach to help Latinas unlock their full potential. Executive coaching provides tailored support, helping Latina leaders overcome sometimes unique challenges such as underrepresentation and dual cultural expectations. Here’s how executive coaching benefits Latina professionals:

Enhanced Leadership Skills and Self-Awareness
Executive coaching focuses on developing core leadership skills, such as strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and effective communication. Latina professionals, who may experience self-doubt due to cultural and societal biases, can benefit from coaching by gaining greater self-awareness and confidence in their abilities. Coaching helps them leverage their strengths while working on areas of improvement, leading to a more authentic and impactful leadership style.
Overcoming Cultural and Systemic Barriers
Latinas often encounter cultural barriers that can limit their career advancement, such as the expectation of humility and deference in professional settings. This request for humility in women extends past Latinas with the current Vice President and Presidential nominee Kamal Harris just this week being asked about showing up with humility. An executive coach can help identify and dismantle these internalized and often external and projected misogynistic norms, encouraging Latina leaders to voice their opinions, advocate for themselves, and embrace a leadership presence that commands respect. Additionally, coaches can offer strategies to navigate systemic challenges, such as bias and lack of sponsorship, providing Latinas with tools to assert their value in the workplace.
Building Resilience and Navigating Bias
The experience of bias and microaggressions in the workplace is a common barrier for many Latina professionals. Coaching offers a safe space for Latinas to process these experiences and develop resilience strategies. Coaches can help them reframe negative encounters, practice self-compassion, and develop a personal narrative that emphasizes their strengths and successes despite adversity.
Supporting Identity and Authenticity in Leadership
Many Latinas struggle with balancing their cultural identity and the expectations of corporate culture. Coaching helps Latina professionals embrace their cultural heritage as an asset and encourages them to bring their authentic selves to work. This authenticity fosters greater engagement and satisfaction, as Latina leaders feel empowered to contribute their diverse perspectives to their organizations.
Promoting Representation and Inspiring Future Leaders
As Latinas ascend to higher leadership positions, they serve as role models and advocates for others in the community. Coaching prepares them not just to lead, but to mentor and lift up other Latinas, creating a positive cycle of representation and empowerment. The more Latina professionals in senior roles, the more the cultural narrative shifts, making it easier for future generations to see themselves in leadership.

A study from the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) revealed that Latinas who engage in coaching report higher levels of confidence, greater clarity in their career direction, and improved relationships with their peers and superiors. Companies that invest in coaching for their Latina employees also benefit from increased employee retention and engagement, as these leaders become more aligned with their roles and the organizational mission.

It is necessary to address systemic issues for progress, so as not to burden the individual with clearing barriers and obstacles that are beyond one person’s control. Addressing these disparities requires companies to implement more structured mentorship programs, track Latina representation at all levels, and create inclusive cultures that consider the unique challenges Latinas face.

By Nicki Gilmour, Executive Leadership Coach, Founder and CEO of theglasshammer.com

Leadership is less about the position you hold and more about the evolution of your influence, especially for professional women who are navigating pivotal transitions in their careers. In encountering this critical juncture where the skills, networks, and mindsets cultivated early on are tested, leadership coaching can play a decisive role in determining whether one’s career plateaus or accelerates forward.

Transitioning from Execution to Strategy

Advancing in leadership often requires moving beyond the direct execution of tasks and projects, demanding more strategic thinking, influence, and team leadership. The challenge becomes less about proving one’s ability to do the work and more about driving the broader vision forward. It’s about expanding influence rather than just increasing output.

Leadership coaching plays a crucial role in helping women navigate this transition with confidence. It focuses on developing a broader perspective, understanding the bigger picture, and aligning individual and team efforts with organizational goals. Coaching provides the tools to shift from a mindset of “getting things done” to one of “driving impact,” enabling women to step into roles where they can influence the direction of their teams and organizations. By working with a coach to identify and leverage their unique strengths, women can transition from being doers to visionary leaders who empower others and drive systemic change.

Navigating Organizational Politics and Power Dynamics

As women ascend the corporate ladder, they encounter a more complex landscape where power dynamics, unspoken rules, and organizational politics become increasingly significant. Research indicates that women, particularly in male-dominated environments, face unique challenges that can hinder their advancement. This includes navigating gender biases, stereotypes, and the intricacies of organizational politics, which are often critical to career progression but are not always transparent. Successfully navigating this environment requires a nuanced understanding of these elements.

A leadership coach can help explore these intricacies of organizational life, supporting women in developing the political acumen needed to lead with influence, build supportive coalitions, and advance their objectives. By honing these skills, women can more effectively navigate the informal and politically charged decision-making processes within their organizations, thus enhancing their ability to lead and drive change.

Strengthening Executive Presence

Executive presence—an amalgamation of confidence, poise, and the ability to command a room—becomes a critical skill for women mid-career. Developing this presence isn’t about imitating others; it’s about discovering and amplifying one’s authentic voice.

Leadership coaching helps women refine their communication style, master the art of influence, and project confidence and authority in every interaction. This skill set is essential for those aspiring to higher leadership roles, as it distinguishes those who are heard and respected from those who have yet to find the power of their voice.

Enhancing Emotional Intelligence for Leadership Excellence

As responsibilities grow, so does the need for emotional intelligence—the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions, as well as those of others. Effective leadership is about more than just decision-making; it’s about inspiring confidence, managing high-stakes relationships, and leading teams with empathy and understanding.

Working with a leadership coach can provide the space to develop and enhance emotional intelligence, equipping women with the skills to handle difficult conversations, manage stress, and lead with empathy and understanding. Emotional intelligence is not just a “nice-to-have” skill; it’s a strategic advantage that can make all the difference in a leader’s ability to build trust, foster collaboration, and drive high performance.

Addressing Work-Life Integration

Balancing career advancement with personal life challenges becomes increasingly important as women progress in their careers. It’s not just about finding balance, but about integrating work and life in a way that makes both fulfilling.

A leadership coach can address work-life integration, helping women develop strategies for managing their time, energy, and priorities. By setting boundaries, delegating effectively, and making intentional choices aligned with their values, women can sustain their success over the long term without sacrificing their well-being.

Mentoring and Sponsorship: Paying It Forward

As women advance in their careers, many begin to mentor and sponsor others, supporting the next generation of talent. Many organizations offer formal mentorship programs, which can create more equitable opportunities than informal mentorship, particularly if mentors are trained on how to create those connections. Building the necessary skills to be effective as a mentor or sponsor is a valuable part of leadership development for women who want to pay it forward.

Leadership coaching emphasizes the importance of mentoring and sponsorship, equipping women with the skills and mindset to be effective in these roles. This not only helps create a more inclusive and supportive organizational culture but also strengthens the leadership capabilities of those who mentor. By investing in others, women leaders can multiply their impact and leave a lasting legacy.

Take that Next Step

Leadership coaching is about more than just advancing—it’s about elevating women’s leadership potential and expanding their impact. By helping them navigate the intricate dynamics of organizational life and harness their influence, coaching empowers women to make the leap from execution to strategic leadership. It builds executive presence, refines emotional intelligence, and provides the framework to lead with both confidence and empathy. Additionally, coaching aids in harmonizing professional ambitions with personal values, fostering a sustainable approach to long-term success.

For those ready to embark on this transformative leadership journey, partnering with a seasoned professional like Nicki Gilmour, Founder of theglasshammer.com, can make all the difference. With a foundation in social-organizational psychology and a dedicated team of experts, Nicki delivers tailored coaching programs that accelerate both career growth and leadership development, paving the way for meaningful impact. You can book into Nicki’s calendar here for an exploratory coaching session.

By Jessica Robaire

Tag Archive for: leadership coaching

Career Tips for Latina Leaders