Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month! Did you know 60% of the UrVenue family is Hispanic? It’s true — every day, team members who share Hispanic culture and heritage contribute to UrVenue’s continued success. We’re thrilled to honor our Hispanic employees during National Hispanic Heritage Month.
UrVenue’s Chief Growth Officer Tracee Nalewak attributes much of the company’s success to a culture where diversity is honored. “The UrVenue team is made up of employees from wide ranging backgrounds and cultures, including many who come from Hispanic communities. Those unique perspectives play a big role in why we’ve been so successful,” she says. “Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion has been a priority from the beginning.”
Today, we’re taking a look at National Hispanic Heritage Month, how Hispanic team members are contributing to the tech workforce, and what role their heritages and cultures have had in building their careers.
What is National Hispanic Heritage Month?
National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the history, cultures and contributions of American citizens and residents whose ancestry includes roots from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
President Lyndon Johnson established the observation of Hispanic Heritage Week way back in 1968. Twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan expanded the observance to a 30-day period starting on Sept. 15.
The observance dates are not arbitrary — Sept. 15 holds significance as the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico’s independence day is Sept. 16 and Chile’s is Sept. 18. Dia de la Raza, which recognizes the mixed indigenous and European heritage of Mexico, also falls into the 30-day timeframe.
Hispanic UrVenue team member perspectives
We asked five UrVenue employees to consider what it is about their Hispanic backgrounds that have helped to propel their careers in tech.
Janet says she’s noticed an increase in Hispanic tech workers, driven in part by a simple idea: technology doesn’t have anything to do with language in the traditional sense. “It’s about the software language,” she says. Being able to speak fluent Spanish has been invaluable for Janet, too, when she needs to communicate with teams in both the U.S. and in Mexico.
Armando appreciates that he’s been able to succeed in tech on the strength of his tech skills and hard work. His background, he says, included a lot of encouragement to pursue his interests earnestly. “As a child, I was always told to give it a shot, and if you’re going to stick to it, be loyal,” he remembers.
Eddie notes that Hispanic companies are making their mark in 2022. “We’re making great progress,” he says. Talented workers who put in the effort are sure to succeed in tech, and that includes Hispanic employees. Eddie says it’s a big advantage to be able to communicate fluently in Spanish with venues that are primarily made up of Spanish speakers. Being able to help clients with tech issues in their native language can make all the difference when it comes to delivering excellent customer service.
For Mariasun, removing language barriers is about more than just communicating efficiently. It’s about truly understanding Hispanic culture. “When you have people who speak your own language, you feel at home,” she says. “It’s ‘la familia.’”
Yaritzi appreciates the close-knit, familial nature at UrVenue, especially when it comes to cross-border connections. “It’s nice to have that community,” she says. Growing up, Yaritzi valued that same sense of community and close family structure that she sees as part of what makes UrVenue special.
Nalewak says she is proud to work for a company that honors and appreciates its diverse team. “Like the team said, it’s all about ‘la familia,’ not only during National Hispanic Heritage Month, but every day of the year.”