DRC Hispanic Heritage Month Series: Maryanne Pina, Career Management Partners

By Matthew Berger, Director of Communications

Maryanne Pina, CEO and majority owner at Career Management Partners (CMP), a leading provider in executive search, assessment, coaching, and outplacement services, said people coming together for good is critical to make the Dallas Region inclusive for all.

Pina discusses how the business community can address the challenges within the Hispanic community in the DRC’s on-going Q&A series for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Maryanne Pina, CEO and Majority Owner

Why is it important to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month?

Identity is so critical to communities, especially in the formation of our next generation. Hispanic Heritage Month has been around since 1968, and this year’s theme is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.”  According to the 2022 Latino Donor Collective (LDC) U.S. Latino GDP Report, if U.S. Latinos were a standalone country, they would account for the fifth largest GDP in the world. Recognizing and celebrating Hispanic American contributions to the development and evolution of the United States is important for our continued growth and a stronger nation.

How can businesses address the challenges within the Hispanic community?

Companies who are unsuccessful at sourcing, attracting, and engaging this talent pool will continue to see a significant decline in their talent pipeline. We know that minimal career progression and high attrition hurt both Latinos and companies. Latinos are experiencing minimal career support and development. In fact, only 30% of Latino front-line managers say they have access to mentorship programs or training (IBM Report, 2021). As a woman and minority owned firm at CMP, we have seen a growing segment of our clients inquire about diversity, equity, and inclusion support — specifically for how to engage Latino talent.

Developing your cultural competence will enable you to better support the success of the Latinos you lead and work with.  Specifically, understanding Latino cultural scripts informs how to engage your Latino colleagues. For example, the cultural script of respeto (respect) is the deference to authority or a more hierarchical relationship. As a result, sometimes Latinos are slow to speak up or only share their opinion when asked by a superior or someone older than themself. To help you better engage and develop your Latino talent, visit Latino Career Assessment™, powered by CMP.

Please share with us some Hispanic-serving organizations in the Dallas Region you support.

As a daughter of Mexican immigrants and being raised in a border town with all my health and wellness visits being done in Mexico, I have come to realize the importance of access to healthcare for the North Texas Hispanic community. I believe in the mission of these organizations since they do important work for the community:

      • Los Barrios Unidos (LBU): provides quality care to all people, creating a safe, affordable, and accessible healthcare experience.
      • The Concilio: builds stronger communities by unlocking opportunities for Latino families.
      • DFW Hispanic 100: serves as a catalyst for increased participation of Hispanic women in employment, procurement, and social issues to create economic empowerment through leadership, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy.

What moment in your career shaped its current trajectory?

Short answer: A visit to the emergency room at 1:00 AM because a lack of career purpose and misaligned values. Now, I know each of us must do what we love. Life is too short to dread Mondays. At my core, I need to have variety and have a measurable impact. Helping others align their core values and career needs is very rewarding and is a key area of focus for our firm and the work we do with the Hispanic Community.  

Other executives in the DRC’s Hispanic Heritage Month Q&A series include Rafael Lizardi and Bridget Lopez.