Booz Allen’s Latin American Forum: A Resource for Professional and Personal Support

Forum promotes an “extended family” philosophy to meet the needs of employees of all cultures.

Diego Rincón, Booz Allen Hamilton associate and president of the firm’s Latin American Forum, puts it this way: “We want to showcase the wide varieties of Hispanic and Latino experiences.” So the Latin American Forum—one of numerous forums available to Booz Allen staff as part of the firm’s diversity initiative—welcomes anyone with an interest in Latin American cultures.

And many respond: There are currently 350 members on their event list, including Booz Allen senior consultant Chris Osburn, a non-Latino who serves as community outreach chair.

“The forum provides a social environment where you can unwind with those of similar interests, and learn about the values and beliefs of many cultures,” says Osburn, who traveled extensively in Central and South America but grew up in rural Georgia.

“I had very little exposure to other ethnicities until I got to college,” he says, “and I learned a lot in my travels. The forum is another example of why diversity and tolerance make good sense, both in business and life. Being open-minded exposes you to a wealth of opportunities and experiences you may never have otherwise. And that helps you contribute more towards your job and community.”

Cultural education is integrated into the forum’s social events, says Rincón. “The Latin American culture is family oriented, so our forum is a place where we can be comfortable, share our time and experiences, and cultivate a circle of friends who understand where we came from.”

Booz Allen employees with Latino backgrounds who relocate to a new town without their family or friends can have a hard time adjusting. The Latin American Forum eases that transition while also opening doors to professional development. These objectives are part of the forum’s mission to provide growth opportunities by:

• Celebrating Latino and Hispanic cultural events and diversity within the firm
• Providing the firm with easier access to skills and experience of Latino and Hispanic staff
• Supporting the firm in recruiting Hispanics and Latinos
• Providing access to area cultural events
• Supporting the local Hispanic and Latino community

Acknowledging—and Dispelling—the Stereotypes

Professional development chair and associate Israel Rivera has seen many changes in the Latin American Forum during the five years since he joined.

“It used to be primarily a networking forum, but now it’s that and much more,” he says. “Promoting diversity in an organization involves educating people about how the beliefs and values of different cultures apply in the work environment. Everyone’s cultural experiences impact their careers, and their culture can strengthen their professional interactions.”

Creating the forum also meant actively addressing stereotypes. Says Rivera, “Stereotypes are facts of life, and they originate from limited exposure to other cultures. One of our goals was to address the myths directly with educational events.”

Rincón says there are certain characteristics of Latin American cultures that are still widely believed but no longer true. “The forum helps us show how things are now, not how they were in the past.

“Latin Americans at Booz Allen are not disadvantaged minorities,” Rincón continues. “We have not been brought down by the system—we work with the system. We’re successful for reasons that include where we come from. We bring a broad spectrum of knowledge and experiences to Booz Allen, and provide insight into Latin American sensibilities to help the firm work more productively with clients worldwide.”

Rivera agrees. “Our cultures are not inhibitors. Hispanics have more opportunities today than ever before, and there is more minority growth in professional industries.”

Even the forum’s name prompted a lively discussion about the connotations often attached to ethnic terms. “Latin America” and “Latino” commonly apply to those born in Central or South America, while “Hispanic” usually denotes citizens of Spain, the Caribbean, or Mexico. To best represent the breadth of their multiple cultures, the group put it to a vote, and “Latin American” was ultimately chosen as the most all-inclusive term.

“Educating People in an Interesting Way—with Good Food”

To ensure events are as diverse as the forum’s roster, members rotate planning responsibilities. Their most popular event to date: The ongoing Latin American Film Fest, which has featured films from Mexico, Argentina, Peru, and other countries and always attracts a crowd. Movies are selected based on their popularity in a specific country, and often incorporate elements of politics, sensitivity, or history rarely found in Hollywood productions. Authentic cuisine from the featured country is served at the screening.

Other popular events include salsa lessons and Spanish “practice sessions” for non-Spanish speakers. Broadcasts of the World Cup at Booz Allen attracted many soccer aficionados. The forum also supports community efforts, and recently completed a very well-received outreach program with the University of Maryland to introduce Latin American and African American freshmen to careers in technology and management.

Says Rincón, “I was raised in Peru, where a good college education is not easily available. If you did get to college, you competed against many for only few available positions.” Today, however, more Hispanics are completing MBAs and recognizing the opportunities available in the consulting, business, and technology sectors.

The greatest challenge for the Latin American Forum is time management; business travel schedules can be intense for forum members and they also juggle a long list of projects and deadlines, which leaves little time for forum-related activities. “We’re continually staging more complex and visual events to keep up the momentum,” says Osburn.

But despite the hurdles, the forum remains one of the firm’s most successful. “I meet a new member at every event,” Osburn adds. “Our events are always easygoing, fun, and educate people about other cultures in an interesting way—with good food.”

story posted June 13, 2006