Here to Lead

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“Here to Lead," a podcast brought to you by The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), highlights the incredible accomplishments of American Latino leaders. Hosted by Marco A. Davis, CHCI President and CEO, “Here to Lead” features in-depth and inspiring interviews with leaders on their lives and leadership journeys, our nation’s most pressing issues, and how Latinos across the country are leading us into a brighter future. A celebration of Latino excellence, identity, and culture, “Here to Lead” also highlights the impact of the organization’s work and discusses the vital importance of Latino leadership for the United States.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute


    • Oct 9, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 30 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Here to Lead

    How can uncertainty be a blessing-in-disguise? (with Rep. Veronica Escobar)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 31:45


    On this episode of Here to Lead, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, representative of Texas' 16th congressional district, shares the joy she experienced growing up in multicultural communities, which contributed to her love of learning. She recounts how her start in politics was unplanned, yet became a full commitment. Tune in to hear her discuss how embracing the uncertainty of life, being adaptable, and engaging with your community can help you better -- and more strategically -- navigate your personal and professional paths.

    Passion-driven leadership as a key to equitable education (with Elisa Villanueva Beard)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 38:58


    On this episode of Here to Lead, Elisa Villanueva Beard, the CEO of Teach for America, talks about the impact of mentorship and encouragement, particularly when it comes to getting to the next step on your path. Elisa illustrates her commitment to educational equity, critiques problematic educational paradigms, and inspires people to find passion in their work.

    Daring to go all-in and say yes (with Xavier Gutierrez), Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 23:40


    On this episode of Here to Lead, Xavier Guitierrez returns to discuss his decision to transition into leadership with the Arizona Coyotes hockey team despite reservations and journey transforming it from a sports team into a beloved organization. He talks about how passion, diversity, influence, and consistent acts of leadership can make a huge impact.

    Daring to go all-in and say yes (with Xavier Gutierrez), Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 24:09


    On this episode of Here to Lead, Xavier Guitierrez, the first Latino president and CEO in the National Hockey League, shares his journey of carving his path to success, empowered by his family and mentors' belief in his potential. Even after hitting a highly publicized low point, Xavier has experienced the power of resilience. In this episode, he speaks to how even significant challenges can forge a path for us to leverage opportunities for greater success.

    Why courage is paramount to community-driven leadership (with Sen. Alex Padilla)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 27:25


    On this episode of Here to Lead, Senator Alex Padilla -- the first Latino Senator elected to represent California in the United States Senate and member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus -- talks about what motivated him to take leaps of faith at the beginning of his civic career. From honoring his parents' sacrifices to committing to authentic representation in his community, he underscores the importance of acting in alignment with personal values.

    What does it take to mold great public servants? (with Mildred Otero)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 26:45


    On this episode of Here to Lead, Mildred Otero, President of Leadership for Educational Equity, talks about tenacity and effective leadership. She details what it takes to mold great public servants, including investing in learning opportunities, facing challenges head-on, and valuing the dignity of work at all levels of influence.  

    Adriano Espaillat - Pushing for change

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 25:35


    On this episode of Here to Lead, CHCI Chairman and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) sits with Marco Davis to share his journey of coming to the United States from the Dominican Republic to eventually becoming the first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. He tells us what pushed him to serve in leadership roles and how his persistence helped him overcome many of the obstacles that stood in his way.

    Yvette Urbina - Creating Authentic (Latino) Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 31:08


    On this episode of Here to Lead, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Programs and Content at Warner Bros. Discovery Yvette Urbina shares the culture shock she experienced when leaving California for college. She also speaks to us about the importance of representation in the media and the work being done both in front of and behind the camera to tell authentic stories.

    Fin Gomez - Opening doors in journalism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 29:02


    On this episode of Here to Lead, Fin Gomez, political director for CBS News and the first Latino journalist to ever serve on the White House Correspondents Association's board, joins Marco Davis to talk about his upbringing and what led him to be the successful journalist he is today. You'll hear about his experience working on a number of  presidential cycles and the importance of Latino representation in media, specifically the need for Latino journalists in politics.

    Stephanie Valencia - Thinking Audaciously

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 41:30


    On this episode of Here to Lead, CHCI Public Policy Fellowship alumna Stephanie Valencia sits down with Marco Davis to talk about her audacious vision and big ideas. It is that audacious vision that led her to co-found a new Hispanic media company called the Latino Media Network; co-found Equis Labs, an organization that invests in leaders and ideas that will create a more active, powerful Latino electorate; and co-found Poderistas, one the fastest growing digital communities created by and for Latinas.

    Rep. Joaquin Castro - Shifting the Latino Narrative

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 26:19


    On this episode of Here to Lead, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) shares what it was like growing up in a family of public servants and how his parents' activism inspired him to get involved in his community and eventually run for Congress. He also talks about the work he is doing in Congress to change the Latino narrative in American media and push back against negative stereotypes.

    Amanda Renteria - Knowing your “why”

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 30:23


    On this episode of Here to Lead, Amanda Renteria walks us through her career pivots from working in the financial industry, to becoming a teacher, to becoming the first Latina Chief of Staff on Capitol Hill. She opens up about her run for political office, how the loss didn't equal a failure, and how understanding her “why” has been pivotal throughout her career

    Dr. Ellen Ochoa - We Are All Scientists

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022 33:13


    Dr. Ellen Ochoa shares her journey as one of the only women, and only Latina, in STEAM. Through hard work and perseverance, she made her way into our history books as the first Latina woman to go to space. Dr. Ochoa opens up about her career trajectory, her leadership philosophy, and her advice for the next generation of Latinos in STEAM.

    The Present, and the Future, is Latina

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2022 33:37


    Rep. Linda Sanchez never saw herself as a leader growing up but once she learned to operate as a leader, there was no stopping her. Throughout her career in Congress, she's broken a number of glass ceilings - paving the way not just for Latinas, but for all women to do the same.

    congress latinas linda sanchez
    Rep. Darren Soto – The desire to serve

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2022 30:51


    In this episode of “Here to Lead” Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) joins Marco Davis to talk about his journey from childhood in New Jersey to making a life in Florida, and his path to public service that led him to Congress. 

    Rep. Pete Aguilar – A leader who brings people together

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2022 23:25


    On this episode of “Here to Lead” Congressman and CHCI Advisory Council Member Pete Aguilar (CA-31) sits with host Marco Davis to talk about his life growing up in Southern California and what pushed him to run for his first elected office.

    Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García- The community organizer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2022 39:25


    Congressman and CHCI Advisory Council Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) joins this episode to talk about his journey from growing up in Mexico to arriving in the Windy City of Chicago not knowing any English, to organizing and eventually representing his “barrio” in Chicago.

    Amb. Julissa Reynoso – Never forgetting home

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2022 22:12


    Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, Julissa Reynoso, joins this episode of Here to Lead where she shares her story as an immigrant in New York having to learn a new language. Through commitment, hard work, and discipline she later finds herself in some of the most powerful spaces in the country – and the world – as Chief of Staff to First Lady Jill Biden and an ambassador representing the U.S. overseas. 

    Secretary Miguel Cardona – Being bridgebuilders to serve the greater good

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2022 23:28


    Secretary Miguel Cardona joins us for a candid conversation. He shares stories of growing up as a proud Puerto Rican in Meriden, Connecticut and how those roots led him to one of the most powerful institutions in our country. He explains how his biculturalism shaped him and what he's doing every day to ensure that all children, especially Latino children, succeed.

    The Journey to Public Service

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2021 47:38


    On this special episode, Marco Davis sits with three CHCI alumni who serve as Chiefs of Staff for Members of Congress: Sandra Alcala, for Congressman Filemon Vela (TX-34), Berta ‘Bee' Alicia Guerrero, for Jimmy Gonzalez (CA-34), and Gerardo Bonilla Chavez, for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14). Sandra, Bee and Gerardo share stories about their personal and professional journeys, their experiences as Latinos working for Members of Congress, and how participating in leadership programs like CHCI's has enriched their lives. Sandra, Bee and Gerardo also share powerful stories about how they experienced the attacks on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021.

    Monica Lozano - Legacies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 39:22


    Monica Lozano, transformational leader across the public, private, and non-profit sectors with notable time at the helm of Impremedia, the parent company of the Spanish-language La Opinión news outlet, shares how her family's legacy of hard work, love for their Mexican heritage, and passionate defense of American Latino civil rights has inspired her own approach to leadership, tough decision-making, and her advocacy for Latino leadership in our nation's multiracial democracy.

    Esteban Santos - Challenges Are Not Barriers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2021 27:40


    Esteban Santos, Executive Vice President of Operations at Amgen, lays out his personal and professional mission to develop a diverse pipeline of hardworking talent in America’s corporate workforce, particularly within the STEM fields, and how Amgen is leading the biotechnology sector in their investments in healthcare innovation and cultivating Latino leadership.

    Alejandra Y. Castillo - Each Other’s Keepers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2021 35:34


    Alejandra Y. Castillo, former CEO of the YWCA USA, noted public leader, and alumna of the CHCI Public Policy Fellowship, shares powerful lessons of compassion learned from her Dominican American upbringing in Queens, her life-long passion for learning and advocacy on behalf of women and people of color, her thoughts on business and economic development for Latinos, and how her perspective as an Afro-Latina has inspired her vision for a more just and equitable future in a multiracial American democracy.

    7. Jamie Dimon - Lessons from the C-Suite

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 22:54


    In this special bonus episode, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Jamie Dimon talks about growing up in New York, the changes brought to the city by the COVID-19 pandemic, what he’s learned about good leadership, corporate and personal efforts to advance communities of color, and the business community’s role as stewards of progress for the American people.

    6. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) - A Fighting Spirit

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 31:25


    In this episode, Congresswoman and new CHCI Chair Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) talks about how growing up in a large, blended family with immigrant parents in Southern California inspired her path through college and law school to the U.S. House of Representatives, and her lifelong fight for equity and justice for American Latinos and communities of color.

    5. Rep. Ruben Gallego - The Right Reasons

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 28:12


    Congressman and outgoing CHCI Chairman Ruben Gallego (AZ-7) joins this episode to talk about his life and work, including his journey to Harvard, his time in the Marines, organizing in Arizona, running for office, and how he plans to chart a bold path to positions of leadership for Latinos across the country.

    4. Marcelo Claure - That Inner Voice

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 39:50


    On this episode of “Here to Lead,” Marco Davis sits down with Marcelo Claure, CEO of SoftBank Group International and COO of SoftBank Group Corporation, to talk about his life as a global citizen, the importance of Latino entrepreneurs, investing in education for American communities of color, and the future of business and technology in a post-pandemic world.

    3. Maria Contreras-Sweet - Latina Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 36:33


    The Honorable Maria Contreras-Sweet, former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration under President Obama and highly successful business executive, joins Marco Davis on “Here to Lead” to discuss the state of Latino economic advancement and how we can inspire Latinas across America to confront gender stereotypes and lead an empowered life for themselves and their community.

    2. Pedro Pizarro - Strength in Diversity

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 20:56


    On this episode of “Here to Lead,” Marco Davis talks with Pedro Pizarro, President and CEO of Edison International, the parent company of one of the nation's largest electric utilities, about how his values and Latino perspective have shaped his life of service, both within the corporate world and advising government leaders, and the need for diverse leaders and a cooperative global response to solve today’s most pressing challenges, including COVID-19 and climate change.

    1. Oscar Muñoz - Proof, Not Promise

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 21:08


    In our inaugural episode of “Here to Lead,” CHCI President & CEO and host of the podcast, Marco A. Davis is joined by businessman and Executive Chairman (and most recent CEO) of United Airlines Holdings, Inc., Oscar Muñoz to talk about his life’s journey of challenge and hard-earned success, corporate America’s responsibility to the Latino community, and ultimately his personal philosophy on leading with simple honesty and dedication.

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