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It seems impossible to network these days since there are no more live career events or job fairs you can attend. Let me tell you that is not true. You can still keep on building your network using different tools that can help you connect with potential employers. Believe me, there are many professionals that are still willing to help even though they haven’t met you personally. It is also possible to find a new mentor or maintain contact with your previous one online.

We are living in times of high technology, in which people use social media frequently every day. These days most professionals you would like to reach out to are working from home, which in some ways may be an advantage. This means that they may have increased flexibility so as to be more likely to answer your message or call.

I would strongly recommend using LinkedIn (among others you like) to network. Recently, I have seen some posts of professionals who are willing to help building resumes or even reply to any doubt that you have regarding job searching. They know it is not an easy time for job seekers and they are there to help. You can also send messages to professionals you would like to network with.

Remember, the way you approach them is very important. In this message, you should state who you are professionally (something that can make a positive impact on them) and the reason why you want to connect with them (For this it is good to review their profile beforehand). Then you can ask kindly for a few minutes call instead of a coffee chat. Commenting on articles they create or share is also a very good way to connect. Besides, you can also create your own content and encourage participation. Finally, take a quick look at Eventbrite; they already created some virtual events which might be helpful for you.

To ensure you keep on building your network and have the right mentor we are working with the Hispanotech Mentorship team to deliver the program this year. We are evaluating different formats for the events as well as the calendar. Keep a look out for announcements on Hispanotech LinkedIn or website. We will give more details to coming soon!

STAY POSITIVE AND KEEP ON NETWORKING!

Evelyn Rodriguez

Director of Mentorship program

As you are aware, COVID-19 has been rapidly changing our lives, and all indications are that it will continue to do so for some time to come. As a result, we are all adapting our behaviors and plans in order to mitigate, confront, and eventually recover from this global crisis. At Hispanotech, we are also working hard to adapt and continue to offer value to our Members and to the community.

In person networking and events are not possible at this time, so we will start offering online webinars and virtual events starting in April. Do keep an eye on our schedule of upcoming events , which will include topics to help manage your career,  finances, and well being.

We are also reviewing our 2020 Mentorship program, to take into account the added difficulties Mentors and Mentees will find given the physical proximity restrictions, and the consequent economic stoppage and impact on the job market.

Planning for our CCX2020 Conference & Career Expo continues, however we will not announce a new target date until we have more clarity. This is a full day event with 32 sessions in 4 tracks, and an expected attendance of 700 people, so we have to make sure public health conditions will be propitious and safe.

This is a good time to stay connected and expand your network using social media channels. Through our LinkedIn you will be able to interact with our 2,000+ direct connections, as well as our 420,000+ second level connections. In fact, COVID-19 has shown us just how connected we all are; let’s make the best of it!

Regardless of the current challenges and uncertainty, we know the time for recovery will come, and it will also present increased needs and opportunities to come together and rebuild, and hopefully the world will be stronger and wiser than before.

Stay healthy and stay connected!

Hispanotech Board of Directors

Why do we need to focus and support Hispanic Women in Technology (WiT)?

According to Statistics Canada, 1 in every 5 women was born outside Canada.  In Toronto alone, more than half of women are immigrants. Spanish is the third most common language among female immigrants who had a mother tongue other than English and French. Given Hispanotech’s mission “to help Hispanic professionals to integrate and advance their careers in Canada”, it is not surprising that it has a team dedicated to empowering female Hispanic professionals in technology.  When offered with the opportunity to form part of the Board of Directors to support WiT, I immediately said yes!

My passion about helping women in tech, started after I graduated from University and got my first job. While I was a computer engineering student it was “normal” to be the only woman on a group of students. When I got a job in a big Telecom and was denied the opportunity to join the Radio Frequency Engineering team because “women should not be allowed to climb radio antennas” I was shocked. This was the trigger for me to make a conscious effort to ensure I would contribute to build workplaces where women would have the same opportunities as anybody else.

Then I became an immigrant and the equation got even more complicated. In my opinion, immigration is one of the most amazing opportunities that any human being can have: it makes your personal growth increase exponentially. Canada stands out from the places I have lived, as the one with the biggest impact on my understanding of who I am. Canadian society encourages people to be themselves and provides the means to integrate immigrants while respecting their uniqueness and valuing their diversity. Nevertheless, we also know the beginning is never easy – no one knows you or your capabilities. We need to start all over again.

On the same report of Statistics Canada, one-third of immigrant women between the ages of 25 to 54 has a university degree, compared to less than one-quarter of their Canadian-born counterparts. However Labour Force Survey data shows that immigrant women earned less and had a significantly higher rate of unemployment than Canadian-born women. The good news is that the rate of unemployment improved the longer the women immigrant resided in Canada. That’s why our goal at Hispanotech WiT is to reduce this period of unemployment; and in order to do so we focus on four pillars:

1. Mentoring: to help to successfully navigate the Canadian job market,
2. Connecting: through networking events,
3. Inspiring: showcase women as empowered leaders, and
4. Alliances: foster male allies and advocates who support women.

If you want to become part of WiT or learn more about our strategy, please contact someone from our group: Ana Lobo, Denisse Rodriguez, Maria Castellanos, Lina Florez, Donaji Gomez or me. Everyone is welcome!!!

References:

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2019001/article/00006-eng.htm

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2013001/article/11874-eng.htm

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-503-x/2010001/article/11528-eng.htm

Fifth Generation wireless networks (5G) are finally becoming a reality and will realize the potential of a fully connected world. 5G will enable other technologies like Internet of Things (ioT) and Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR), which all working together will drive the new industrial revolution.

5G are expected to be 100 times faster than 4G networks, with low latency and ubiquity. Thanks to 5G’s bandwidth and low latency, AR /VR will allow teams work side by side despite the distance, or consumers will be able to enjoy virtual experiences in education, medicine and travel from the comfort of their homes. This plethora of technologies will affect almost all industries and the future of work:

In Media and Entertainment, they will disrupt the industry with new capabilities in mobile media, especially with the conjunction of 5G and VR/AR, offering an immersive, almost real interaction. Streaming services, gaming, music, movies, and downloads will be substantially faster.  Solving current latency problems will be crucial to adopt cloud-based gaming, especially with multiplayer features, on mobile devices.

In Retail and Tourism, these technologies will allow tourists to learn via Virtual Reality, about the history, geography and culture of remote places from the comfort of their homes; or via Augmented Reality, to enjoy an immersive story on-site, perhaps including storytelling and contextual information. Consumers, on the other hand, will enhance their shopping experience with virtual dressing rooms without the motion sickness that the current technology offers.

In Marketing and Advertising, current mainstream content is displayed in digital banners based on images, however, with faster data transfers, ad campaign content could be produced and consumed in the forms of video, and interactive immersive experiences in VR/AR. In addition, it may enable eye tracking and biometrics to allow a more efficient campaign tracking and measurement. All this Marketing experience will help brands to connect and engage with consumers in a more cost-efficient and satisfactory manner.

In order to design new products and services that will take benefit of these technologies, it is crucial to build high-performing Teams with a diverse group of individuals that can work collaboratively with a common goal in mind.

As Technology professionals, we are usually making decisions, solving problems  and working in Teams to accomplish business goals. However, sometimes our Team is not optimized for high performance, innovation and achievements. This is where Diversity and Inclusion play a fundamental role. But, what is the meaning of those two terms?

Diversity refers to human differences. They could be related to gender, race, age, ethnicity, religion, physical ability, education, experience, personality, or others. A working environment is diverse when the teams have diversity in its members. However, inclusion goes a step further, and it is not only counting with a diverse team, but also creating an organizational climate that foster collaboration, support and respect for these differences.

In diverse and inclusive organizations, everyone wins, as employees learn to collaborate, whereas the organization accomplish its goals in a more efficient manner:

1. Creativity and Product Development – Software development is a highly collaborative process. Developers should work in Teams. A diverse Team is more likely to solve problems because they have different point of views, but rather than argue, they work for a common objective. They are able to see problems from different angles and build a solution that addresses them all. That way, better products and better services are designed and implemented. Diverse teams use creativity to achieve more, more efficiently
2. Happier environment and employee engagement – People with different backgrounds and lifestyles challenge each other more. A great leader will take benefit of diversity to promote creativity and innovation, where ideas are considered and everyone participates in decision-making. This workplace environment makes employees feel happier and accomplished. They feel as a valued member of a Team which will lead to employee engagement and loyalty to the Brand.
3. Learning and Personal Growth – In diverse and inclusive organizations, the leadership mission includes programs that help teams to work collaboratively, respect people’s opinion, brainstorm new ideas, and look for a common benefit for the organization. Programs like Women in Technology encourage the development and participation of women in the technology field through mentorship, role modeling, training and networking.

Hello Hispanotech Community,

If you are new in Canada and are looking for advice, ideas, how to start or improve your professional career path, or looking for relationships with friendly and professional people, you are in the right place. I am a civil engineer from Peru with experience in infrastructure projects. I arrived in Canada last year eager to start here but, also with many doubts about how it is better to do so.

Through networking in an institution where I took a course, I received the recommendation to join Hispanotech, where they received me with great hospitality and I was a lucky that the mentorship program was just beginning. Based on the evaluation of my resume they contacted me with my mentor.

Working with my mentor to start developing the best path career in Canada was vital, not only because she advised me on how to improve my resume, but also because she shared with me her experiences in the work she had developed and of course the emotional support reminding me that we can get ahead in this our new country.

Starting to work with the mentor based on the plan established in the mentorship program, being in constant focus to get your job interview and pass it, always keep the positive energy, finally comes the opportunity of the interview that was one waiting and finally one begins to work in his field.

Thank you Hispanotech for opening this door of learning, support and positivism to those of us who make Canada our new home.

This 2019, Hispanotech celebrates 10 years inspiring the Latin Community to connect, succeed and give back in Canada. Last September 19th, our community was part of this big celebration!

In an entertaining and memorable evening, our members, partners and friends enjoyed the genuine Latin spirit, music, food and networking, while learning more about the past, present and future of Hispanotech.

We recognized the vision of our Founders and the commitment of our Volunteers and Directors, all of whom have selflessly contributed their time and effort over the last 10 years. Among the activities: our Founders shared the story of Hispanotech’s beginnings and initial growth, whereas our current President communicated the vision of Hispanotech’s future. There were prizes, laughs, and many pictures to remember this milestone in our history.

Many thanks to our sponsors: Ernst & Young, Tenet/Groupe Access, RBC Wealth Management, Impact Insurance and ICTC for helping us to keep fostering the power of networking.

In addition, we would like to express our gratitude to all who attended the event, our Founders, our Board of Directors, and the amazing Team of volunteers, that were fundamental to this event’s success.

Top 3 Benefits of volunteering for Hispanotech

Have you tried Online Dating sites back home? Well, let me tell you that meeting people in Canada is not as easy as meeting people in your hometown; Mainly because as Hispanics, referrals are a substantial factor in making a choice over services: “My cousin told me she found her boyfriend at _____” or  “Maria told me that Luisa met her husband using ____.” In Canada, without family and friend’s opinion, your best approach is online research.

In December 2018, when I moved to Canada, I knew Facebook would be the path to meet people, make some friends, and socialize with new groups. My concern was to meet colleagues who can talk about a career in the Canadian landscape and at the same time, understand the cultural Hispanic angle. My research led me to Hispanotech, and I have to say not only online. I remembered attending interviews at different corporations looking for Spanish speaker professionals, and when I asked them which was a competitive professional network in Ontario to join, their first response was: Hispanotech.

I visited their website and clicked on the Membership tab, where they also offered volunteering opportunities. Laura, their volunteer coordinator, responded me back with an invitation for a first event at the Metro Hall, my first Spanish professional event at one of the postmodern buildings in Toronto, I felt excited. When I saw they were actively looking for volunteers in marketing, I raised my hand and rolled up my sleeves; I was ready to prove my capabilities and help them developed their annual goals.

As a volunteer, I earned benefits and privileges:

– Network, professionals at Hispanotech have been a few years in the market, they wear the Canadian experience on a Hispanic skin. No one better to assess your career, understanding where you are coming from.

– Events, as attendee and volunteer I participated in professional and social gatherings at Google, Side Walk Labs, PWC & EY. The exposure to lectures on multiple industries and experienced professionals gives visibility to my professional goals in Canada.

– People, this is one of the best benefits. Laura, Carlos, and Gabriel have made my Hispanotech volunteering something “placentero“, a pleasant experience, by recognizing and encouraging my talents.

– The cherry on the top is the mix of the above in a casual context: You make smart friends, attend sweet pubs, and have fun!

In the end, I realized Hispanotech is the platform to draw the best of my skills, experience, capabilities, and knowledge. It is on me to make the best out of this opportunity. All summarizes on playing your best self because you never know who is watching. Stay active, smart, and productive: Nothing compares to the rewards of self-satisfaction.

Reflections on Hispanotech’ s 10^th Anniversary

In 2019, Hispanotech.ca celebrates a milestone 10 years in operation, so this is a good time to remember our beginnings, assess our present and imagine our future.

Hispanotech.ca was founded by six successful information technology professionals that wanted to share the lessons they had learned, to help other Hispanic immigrants that were trying to understand, integrate and succeed in the Canadian technology sector. These six Founders formed the initial Board of Directors and, even though they passed the baton long ago, you can still find them participating in events, volunteering as mentors and providing advise to our Board.

Since its inception, Hispanotech’ s main activity was on technology events that promote networking. As every immigrant knows, the biggest loss they experience when they move to a new country is their network of friends, relatives, school buddies and work colleagues. Hence the emphasis on networking. The weather, transportation and geography are manageable concerns, as are cultural differences, but for Hispanics moving to Canada, as is the case for many visible or noticeable minorities, there is also the language challenge, and the fabled Canadian experience. To help with language, all Hispanotech events are conducted in English.

As a more comprehensive response to these challenges, we started our Mentorship Program five years ago, adapting the TRIEC program to produce results in a shorter timeframe of 3 months, and we have since enhanced it every year. A key differentiator of our program is that Mentees receive guidance from a Mentor in the same industry and, more importantly, a person from the same background that has successfully navigated through the same challenges.

We must highlight that our focus is on career success, not cultural assimilation. One of our guiding values is that we are thankful and happy to be Canadian, yet we are proud of our Hispanic heritage. We love our new country AND we celebrate our roots.

Our Hispanotech brand has remained the same, however over the years we have expanded our concept of tech to be more than just information technology, and to include all areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). And we have also expanded Hispanic to include our cousins from Brazil. In fact, this being Canada, we do embrace diversity and accept members from any background, religion and sexual orientation, and 5% of our Members are not Latinos.

As we’ve grown, it has become clear that collaboration with other associations is important, partly because many of our Members participate in multiple groups, and also because working together helps alleviate the workload on our all-volunteer organizations. We started this mindset with our leading role in the LNBB initiative (Latinos Networking Beyond Boundaries) as well as by opening our Mentorship Program four years ago to be a joint initiative with other professional groups.

As we look to the future, we realize and accept that, beyond helping our Members, Hispanotech is well positioned and has a responsibility to play a leading role in the Hispanic community. In addition to joint activities, this may take the form of scholarships, support for community organizations, and donations to our countries of origin, to name a few.

Furthermore, the Hispanic professional community is also well positioned and has a responsibility to give back to Canada, by sharing our lessons learned with other immigrant or native communities that may not have reached the same level of professional maturity.

After ten years of Hispanics helping Hispanics, we see our role evolving to Hispanics helping Canada. And we gladly accept the challenge to lead the way.

By Lucía Gallegos – Guest Contributor

When I arrived in Canada ten years ago I was not sure how things will go for me. I had to create a new personal and professional version of myself and this was a scary process. Constant questions came to my mind such as, how am I going to survive in this new environment? Would I be able to find a job in my area? Different emotions were triggered as a response: anger, fear, stress, anxiety. However, after some strategic planning, I realized I was not asking the right questions and this was keeping me in a loop: paralyzed and terrified.

In Mexico, I worked in the Public Relations and Communication industry, but I was not sure how to continue with that professional path here. After some ups and downs, I started to think outside the box and asked myself instead: How can I redesign my objectives in a new professional environment? What tools do I need? What tools do I already have? Who can help me to design a clear map? Bingo! That was the moment when I realized how badly I wanted to redesign my career, and this was the perfect opportunity to accept the challenge.

With a new professional vision I was ready to take some action. I went back to school and completed a Master´s Degree in Counselling Psychology. Once you know where you are heading to, it is easier to get there. The only piece that I was missing was finding someone who would help me to surf the waves. It is not the same to have an objective when you are familiar with the environment, than to start a journey in the unknown. Leaving the comfort zone is a challenge full of high doses of adrenaline and cortisol that affect the nervous system and our performance and personal life.

I struggled to find a mentor in the beginning. There were different options outside, but finding the perfect one for me was like finding a dancing partner who could understand my rhythm. Once I found the right match, things looked clearer and I started to feel more confident to the point that I was able to achieve my objectives.  This was such a rewarding experience, that when I realized that  Hispanotech was providing mentors and mentees with the opportunity to develop their potentials, I did not hesitate to become a mentor and share my experience and knowledge with the community; keeping in mind that I also wanted  to learn from mentees and other peers.

Mentorship is a win-win situation.  It is a strong relationship with another individual who has different areas of growth and strengths. It is a commitment that involves discipline, creativity, passion and humour, tons of humour.  It is about the opportunity to share challenges with empathy and sympathy. It is not only a place where professional development occurs but also healing and empowerment.  In addition, this program also provides mentors with the opportunity to discover and work new skills and interests in an environment that supports professional development.

Anna (her real name is kept confidential) was the first mentee I worked with. She had professional experience in the health area in her country of origin, and since I have experience in the mental health industry in Ontario, we were aware of the different certifications and registrations that these types of professions needed in Canada, and how these requirements can make someone feel unmotivated and disappointed.

Together we designed goals and strategies for the next weeks.  When you have an objective in mind, good intentions and energy are not enough; work, planning and action are needed.  Anna and I identified the tools she had, but it was important to make sure she understood that she was the artist of her own project. My job was to share my professional experience, to provide her with a different perspective, direction and empowerment techniques.

It was important to be on the same page, so we agreed on the following:

• Create SMART goals
• Embrace challenge
• Communicate
• Learn from each other
• Commitment
• Mutual feedback
• Enjoy the journey
• Have fun!

Those weeks working together with Anna were a rewarding experience. She was able to build a strong professional network, develop clear goals, and design her professional and personal vision for the next five years. She also realized that to become a certified professional in mental health is not impossible once you know what steps to follow.

To be a Hispanotech mentor is an experience full of compassion and gratitude.  It also involves self-knowledge and achievement.  The more we commit with our community, the more we grow together.

Lucía Gallegos. MA, R. P. (Q) offers Psychotherapy and Counselling Services, including helping immigrants to successfully adapt to a new country like Canada.

Contact her at www.luciatherapy.com – luciatherapy@outlook.com – luciatherapy on Twitter and Instagram