Diversity & Inclusion

Nuestra Gente: David Rojo on the Diversity of the Latinx Community

David Rojo

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are shining a spotlight on ¡Adelante Nasdaq!, the Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Nasdaq that brings together our Hispanic, Latinx, indigenous communities and allies. During this month, we are highlighting members of our Nasdaq family, speaking with them about their roles at our global technology company and what it means to be an ally.

We spoke with David Rojo, Partnerships and Customer Success Manager for Latin America, who is Mexican and speaks both Spanish and English. 

Tell us about your role at Nasdaq.

We provide 24/7, 365-day client support for Boardvantage and DirectorsDesk, two Nasdaq Governance Solutions products. We assist in the creation, management and distribution of board materials for boards of directors. I support all clients and will support LATAM accounts in Spanish when needed.

How would you describe Adelante to a new employee?

It is an amazing opportunity to meet employees from Nasdaq’s various business units, attend and plan events, as well as highlight Nasdaq’s commitment to being an inclusive and diverse workplace!

What has been your most memorable Adelante event?

Adelante has hosted a few Career Panels with high school and college students, and these panels have been among my favorite experiences at Nasdaq! We met students at different chapters of their education, and it was insightful to see what specific topics mattered to them. Some were focused on applying to full-time roles, others on building up their resume, and many were still exploring what careers they might be interested in! These panels were beneficial for students to learn about the next steps after college and high school, and they gave our Adelante members an opportunity to share their own experiences. I hope to see some of these students at Nasdaq! I also loved being able to hear from students at my alma mater, Georgia Tech. Go Jackets!!

What are some of the biggest issues you think are important to address in the Latinx community?

Mental health is a topic that many in our community do not even think exists. It seems to be a source of pride to see how much you can handle physically and emotionally without asking for help. I think of my parent’s generation. They were among the first group in our area to migrate to the United States (Georgia). Many made the difficult journey of crossing the border, but I feel like that may have been the easiest part. Upon arriving, they were lonely; they didn’t speak the language or have their family with them – their only goal was to work to send money home and nothing else. These are pretty impactful events that I don’t believe they’ve ever addressed because they are still in the work-only mode, and over time, I believe this takes a toll on one’s mental health. 

During this pandemic, as our lives slowed down, I think it was the first time that many, like my parents, reflected on that part of their life. I am extremely fortunate to have my entire family live in the same city, and I do not take this for granted. It has definitely kept me in a good headspace. I cannot imagine the years of isolation and loneliness that members of our community experienced when arriving in the States. We now have an established community where new immigrants can feel welcomed. However, I would say that the majority still do not consider mental health as part of their overall health, and I hope that we begin to change this mindset.

How to be a good ally to the Latinx community?

Understand that the community is diverse. There is an abundance of music, food, history and culture that varies by Hispanic/Latinx individuals. I grew up in a Mexican household in the South, and it wasn’t until college that I was personally exposed to cultures from South America, the Caribbean, Spain and different regions of Mexico. I wish I had taken some time to learn about these cultures before then. 

Visit our Nasdaq Careers page to explore information about working at Nasdaq.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Lyanne Alfaro

Nasdaq

Lyanne is a producer, host and social media strategist at Nasdaq. Her team helps reimage the way Nasdaq tells stories about Nasdaq’s role in the future of technology via video, podcasting and social content. You can find her on social media @LyanneAlfaro

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