more losses than wins. I have experienced racism in many forms. At times it would be blatant and raw, such as a pejorative slur or racial epithet. Other times it would be more subtle and nefarious, such as being passed over for a leadership role or becoming aware of income inequality. Both have been challenges but the latter is oftentimes more grating, due to the information coming with a smile from someone who was either ignorant to their own bias or too biased to their own ignorance. The sad reality of both experiences, however, is that they don't stop when you leave the barrio and enter the boardroom and, in some instances, they worsen.
Despite many failures and missteps, I have always carried with me the teachings of my youth. Like manna from heaven, they have been an ever‐present sustenance in times of wandering. The timeless echoes of my parents and my grandparents' teachings have allowed me to live out the words of Samuel Beckett: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” It has been El Barrio that has led me to the boardroom. It has been the lessons from the Island of Enchantment that have led me to Silicon Island, and I truly believe all Latinos can do so as well, together.
For with great hardship comes great opportunity. I believe Latinos from all stripes, creeds, and countries have the potential to unleash an economic and educational renaissance throughout the world unlike any time in human history if we focus on the future – and that future is STEM.
I believe there is not only a need but an opportunity for Latinos to transform themselves into the future powerhouse of STEM jobs by focusing on education at all levels and harnessing the budding tech industry developing across the world.
Systemic inequality has been a barrier to the boardroom for far too many and the tinder of racisms has left many careers smoldering throughout history. But from the ashes of calamity, there is an opportunity to reinvent oneself for the future of all if we leverage developing projects and focus on future economies through STEM education and entrepreneurship. And from the ashes, a new day will emerge. A day of promise. A day of hope. A day in the future when we will all live in one barrio on a Silicon Island for all.
In this book Frank and I will discuss with Latino leaders from the pinnacles of industries what diversity and inclusion look like. We will discuss the milestones that must be achieved to reach a truly diverse and equitable society. We will remind Latinos from all walks of life that it is their inherent talent and skills that add value to enterprise and is the power that will continue to drive the engine of innovation.
We will provide the framework for corporations, governments, and individuals to build a more inclusive future in every industry by leveraging Hispanic ingenuity, skill, and innovation for a better future for all. We will show Latinos how to take that road less traveled and how that will make all the difference.
—José Morey Caguas, Puerto Rico September 2021
INTRODUCTION: THE LATINO DIGITAL LEADERSHIP MODEL
This book is a result of a series of interviews with Latino/Latinx leaders from Frank's first book, Building the Latino Future, who now expand on the evolution of Latino digital intelligence. We will show some of the key challenges facing the Latino community, and the common thread running through each of them, in elements based on seven principles—Decision Making, Intelligence, Game Plan, Inclusion, Technology, Abundance, and Leverage (DIGITAL).
Each letter of the DIGITAL Model represents what a great leader needs to possess, especially in the age of the digital evolution. The seven elements that make up the acronym DIGITAL appear as chapters in the book; but, as we are taking a new and innovated approach, they are considered evolution sections, as the purpose of this book is to see our contributions through an evolutionary process.
Combined strengths can be used as guidelines, and used to illustrate each element that leads the Latino community through evolutionary growth, but it also shows the common challenges Latinos face on their academic and professional journey. However, some of the practices and strategies to succeed have been through participation in a digital economy. It is with their skills with personal, transactional, and user‐generated data that these individuals have excelled in corporate platforms and in diverse sectors. Also, it is important to share, a core element for growth in the venture capital sector, which is why we add Digital Citizenship for the “Evolution of Latino Digital Intelligence.”
An effective Latino digital leader will be aware of business goals, such as in the industries covered in this book, and will learn from corporate America, venture capital, the nonprofit sector, academia, media, the arts, the technology sector. Latinx leaders under 30 know their job responsibilities support the continued evolution. The following describes the framework for DIGITAL.
DECISION MAKING: LATINOS AT THE TABLE – CHAPTER 1
We will share stories from corporate America to the boardroom. If Latinos are not invited to the table, we as a community will find ways to get to the table and build and create our own table.
Although these sections are labeled chapters, they are better known as evolution sections. This first evolution can be dealt with both organizationally and at an individual level; thus, you will read about these executives developing leadership skills. Great leaders must develop the ability to become great decision‐makers, possess emotional intelligence, be able to handle uncertainty and become more tenacious, and through these experiences will naturally transform to gain intuition and provide honesty and integrity at the boardroom table. They will provide due diligence research and include the stories of the great Latino and Latina executives. All of these folks possess these traits:
Confidence
Inspire others with authenticity
Commitment and passion for their craft
Good communicator, with full transparency
Decision‐making capabilities, at high‐pressure levels
INTELLIGENCE: INTELLIGENCE WILL PUSH YOU THROUGH – CHAPTER 2
In this second evolution stage, we share the stories of influential Latinos and Latinas in the healthcare industry, from physicians to hospital executives. During the times of the pandemic and postpandemic, an evolutionary set of traits that will propel us into the future includes levels of intelligence and emotional connection that will make every person feel empowered. The levels that are key are empathy, motivation, and authentic self.
All physicians and digital leaders practice these traits of intelligence to evolve in the twenty‐first century and beyond.
The forms of evolution in DIGITAL Intelligence are:
Empathy: Physicians practice body language to show forms of understanding and authenticity. Provide signs to empower others. For leaders, having empathy is critical to managing a successful team or organization. Leaders with empathy have the ability to put themselves in someone else's situation. They help develop the people on their team, challenge others who are acting unfairly, give constructive feedback, and listen to those who need to be heard.
Self‐awareness is another key element to strengthen leadership. Through these stories, you will gain insight and learn about humility.
GAME PLAN: THE GAME PLAN IS THE ACTION – CHAPTER 3
Think about your final goal. It might be a project you are working on, or a long‐term vision that will continue to develop and evolve. In this
