Rocio visiting
Sheikh Zayed
Mosque while on
a solo trip to
Dubai and Abu
Dhabi after Fall
Semester finals.
My current journey at Harvard has been daily travel trips to
diverse cultures, perspectives and experiences. I was born in
Queens, NY, a magical place that celebrates the rainbow of countries
represented by immigrants from around the globe. Claimed the
most ethnically diverse place on the planet, Queens has been one of
my key shapers to my appreciation of this world’s beauty and
struggles. Being part of the Harvard Kennedy School community, I
have the ability to embrace in the dialogue and exchange of
ideas of our planet’s most pressing problems.
Annual Hasty Pudding Theatrical, February 2018.
I have had the opportunity to learn from Presidents and CEOs
alike and learn from subject matter experts in an array of fields,
including technology, media, diplomacy, government, entrepreneurship
and financial services. It has also been a year of profound
introspection that will allow me to become a better influencer,
manager and leader once I return back to the workforce.
Perhaps, my greatest lesson at Harvard has been that the
Latino experience is a new story. Not that our parents or those
who migrated decades before us aren’t part of it, but because they
are the prelude of the national shift that we will face this decade.
They have positioned the Latino millennial segment to its current
seats. It is now our job to rise up to those positions of leadership
where our representation is absolutely required.
College Beat
Our Story
By Rocio Tua
MPA 2018 Candidate
Women in Public Policy Oval Program
Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Corporate America’s executive leadership
lacks diversity. Minority representation is
lacking in elected government offices. With
all the challenges that this reality presents, I
am hopeful and optimistic about all the rich
leadership opportunities that I will take on as a
young Latina professional in this country.
Being Latina means being American and Latin American at the
same time. I am not one without the other and that’s what makes
growing up Latina in this country very special. We are building
this nation with a new voice, growing economic presence and
embracing our LatAm values as we lead in our respective industries.
Researchers estimate that by 2020 Latinos in the United States
will contribute to approximately a quarter of GDP growth,
representing nearly 13 percent of the country’s total GDP, and
we will represent nearly a quarter of the total population by
2040. Latinas are representing $1 trillion in spending and $7
trillion in purchasing power among U.S. women.
From an education perspective, Latinas have made dramatic
progress, as college enrollment rates outpace both non-Hispanic
whites and African Americans. These are exciting figures and
trends, but there is a wealth of work in front of us. According to
the latest U.S. Census Bureau report, women in the workforce
full-time are paid 80 cents for every dollar paid to men. Latinas
are paid approximately 54 cents for every dollar paid to white,
non-Hispanic men. As I tackle this national problem, I decided
to join the Harvard Kennedy School community for the tools,
relationships and leadership opportunities that will support me
in closing this disparity.
India Trek, December 2017.
LS
Rocio Tua is currently a candidate for the Master’s in Public Administration
degree at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
She spent the past 10 years in the financial services industry and is
now enjoying her graduate studies and the creative process as she
re-imagines the future of the U.S. Latino experience.
Want to comment or have any questions on this article? Email us
at info@latinastyle.com
44 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 24, No. 2, 2018
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