Ruben Diaz Jr. > bronxboropres.nyc.gov

Ruben Diaz, Jr Bronx Borough President. 

1) What do you need to be leader?

Leading by example is key. Sometimes you have to show your constituents that you are willing to make the same sacrifices that you are asking of them in order to achieve overall success. A good example is our "#Not62" campaign, where we are emphasizing to the residents of The Bronx to live healthier lifestyles. It would not make sense for me to ask this of Bronxites, preach about the importance of healthy eating and exercise, and then I do the exact opposite. Nothing wrong with indulging with a cupcake here or there but a key component of "#Not62" is showing off the different ways to be healthy via social media.

2) Being Hispanic...Does it have any influence on your business?

Considering that 54.6% of The Bronx's population is Hispanic and considering that 37.6% of businesses owned in the borough are owned by Hispanics, absolutely, it does have an influence on how I go about business. Being bilingual, as well as being born and raised in The Bronx, I can make a connection with Bronx residents. Growing up in the burning Bronx of the 1970's and the 1980's, I have gone through similar experiences as a large portion of my constituents, helping me in understanding the needs of the community.

3) In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

I don't believe in quitting, I believe in finding solutions. Because I have a lot of people depending on the decisions that I make, I cannot afford to cower to adversity. All you can do is keep going, pushing for results.

4) If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

If I could change one thing, I would have it so that whenever we go through the ULURP [Uniform Land Use Review Process], the public review process, that the borough presidents have veto power. The ULURP is whenever you have a project that is going to be developed on public property, and it has gone through the Request For Proposal process (RFP), or you need re-zoning – whether up-zone or down-zone an area – you have to go through the community board, the borough president and then the City Council. Currently, if the borough president is against a project, he or she can be overruled by the Council or the planning board. So I would have it where the borough presidents would have veto power.

I would also change that our budget be autonomous, being that we get elected by the people of our borough.

5) What was your childhood ambition?

I wanted to be an NBA basketball player. I was going to be a New York Knick in my mind.

6) Tell us about three people that you admire?

The three people I admire the most are my son, Ruben Diaz III – my son is just the best person on the planet. I admire U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and I admire NBA legend Magic Johnson.

7) For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

I prefer lunch meetings. I'm more of an introvert in the morning and when I have meeting at night, sometimes they can go on longer than you expect. At lunch, you're just sharper and you have more pep in your step.

8) What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

I sacrificed being around my wife when we were a young married couple. I got first elected into public office at the age of 23. I ran for office for the very first time at the age of 22. I sacrificed being around my sons. I was up in Albany, during my time on the State Assembly, three or four days a week, six to seven months out of the year for 13 years. That's a lot of sacrifices on your family time.

9) What is your favorite quote?

I have a lot of favorite quotes. Most recently, I used a quote in my "State of the Borough" address from former New York Governor the late Mario Cuomo's 1984 National Democratic Convention speech: "We believe in a government strong enough to use words like 'love' and 'compassion' and smart enough to convert our noblest aspirations into practical realities."

10)  Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

I believe in this line of work, you have to be innovative, always thinking outside the box. There are always pitfalls along the way, especially dealing with different personalities, various groups and various entities with their own set of goals that require innovative thinking in order to find solutions everyone can live with. You have to be quick on your feet, navigating past those obstacles in order to do what's best for your constituents.

11)  A brief description of the Bronx

The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City, with a population of 1.4 million people, and is home to the largest Hispanic population in the city. Since I was elected as Bronx Borough President, in 2009, we've seen unprecedented, transformative growth having built nearly 16,000 new units of housing, and created more than 15,000 new jobs, with unemployment down nearly five percent and investments record highs. We have seen a lot of success and growth during my tenure office and we will continue to build on these successes in the coming years.

See Mr. Mr. Ruben Diaz Jr. Biography

Latinos play a growing role in America's future

(CNN)In a country with 53 million Latinos, or 17% of the population and growing, only 34 of the 435 seats in Congress and four of the 100 seats in the Senate are occupied by Latinos. On corporate boards of directors, 4% of all seats are held by Latinos and less than 3% of C-suite level positions in Fortune 500 companies are represented by Hispanic individuals. In my home state of California, in Silicon Valley, the mecca of innovation and prosperity, the major technology companies report only 3.8% of their workforce are Hispanic.

Read full article

Johnny Castillo > www.forafinancial.com

Johnny Castillo, Relationship Manager at Fora Financial

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
My Hispanic background influences my work at Fora Financial in that it allows me to connect better with Spanish-speaking people. Even though some Latino clients speak English, they feel more comfortable talking business and numbers in their native tongue. Additionally, the fact that I can communicate with more people allows our company to expand into areas that it wasn’t able to before.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
In the face of adversity, I lean on a mentality that was instilled in me to never give up on what you really want. Instead of focusing on the adversity at hand, it’s better to focus on the solutions to overcome the adversity.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced? 
The biggest challenge that I have faced was when my family and I moved to the United States. We did not know the language or anyone here. My parents gave up their life to come to this country to build a better life for their children. The lessons they taught me, especially the importance of education, is the reason that I have been able to face any challenge that has come my way.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be? 
If I could change one thing about my life, it would be that I would have won the student body president race when I was in college. Coming to this country with my family as immigrants, we had to pave our own way and learn the culture of a new country. Determined to write my own story and become a leader, I ran for student body president. Even though I didn’t win, I felt it was important to put myself out there and show other immigrants attending college in America that they can be leaders. I am still saddened that I did not win because I think I would have been a strong voice and leader for my fellow classmates.

What was your childhood ambition? 
My childhood ambition was to be a professional athlete. Growing up in Columbia, I worshipped soccer, like many other children. Soccer was not just a pastime for my family and friends, but it was deeply rooted in our culture. I have always had a competitive spirit, which is why when I was younger I was drawn to becoming an athlete. As an adult, that completive spirit drives my entrepreneurial ambitions.

Tell us about three people that you admire?
Abraham Lincoln- He was a great leader and fought for equality. Without him, our history books might read a much sadder story.
Juan Pablo Montoya- He was the only Latin-American driver in NASCAR. This driver has entered and succeeded in his field where few other Latin Americans have.  
Albert Einstein- He was one of the most influential scientists of all time.  

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner? 
I have always had a preference for dinner meetings. They are less rushed than the other two, and it's also more acceptable to add in a cocktail to discuss business.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I only sacrificed my time in order to be successful at Fora Financial. I am an extremely motivated and driven person. My passion is working hard and finding success. I work daily with business owners that make sacrifices to keep their dream of owning a small business alive. My parents also made a sacrifice by moving to the United States so that my siblings and I would be able to pursue our dreams and find success.

What is your favorite quote?
“The most common cause of failure occurs when you sacrifice what you want most for what you want now.”

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
I think it is difficult to be unconventional. However, being unconventional means that one is thinking and striving to do things in better, more efficient ways. So while it is difficult, I’ve realized that being unconventional usually leads to greater successes, and that’s why I strive to be unconventional. Fora Financial can be viewed as an unconventional place to work. We are not a bank, yet we are able to provide funding to businesses of all shapes and sizes, and at a time where banks usually cannot and will not. Being unconventional has allowed the thousands of businesses with which Fora Financial works to grow and survive. I would say being unconventional is something of which to be extremely proud.

Biggest mistake made?
The biggest mistake I’ve ever made is not taking advantage of some of the opportunities that have presented themselves to me. One example of this is when I didn’t pursue my master’s degree in finance. I have learned from this mistake, and I try to pursue all the meaningful opportunities that come my way.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I consider myself to be an innovator because I wanted to work for a company that was in its infancy, yet is growing exponentially each passing year. And this is exactly what Fora Financial is doing. The technology platforms that we currently offer are truly innovative and are constantly evolving, making it possible to help businesses around the country thrive. In a time where funding options can be limited for small businesses, Fora Financial’s mission is to grow the small business sector.  

About the Company:
Fora Financial offers flexible, working capital solutions to small businesses in need of financing to sustain or grow their enterprise. The Manhattan-based company places a high value on trust and transparency and provides businesses with quick, customized financial solutions utilizing its state-of-the-art technology platforms. Founded in June 2008, Fora Financial has provided more than $178 million to over 4,500 customers.  See more www.forafinancial.com

Beatriz Hartman > www.consolidatedcredit.org

Beatriz Hartman, Business Development and Community Engagement with Consolidated Credit

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?

Absolutely! Being Hispanic has allowed me to reach far more people of many ethnicities.  The Hispanic population is so broad and diverse that being a Latina has helped me bring personal finance education and resources to people who may not otherwise received them - I’m proud of that.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

I always look at the positive aspect of any issue that I face. I try to look at challenges as something that will make me stronger, more resilient, bring new challenges and ideas/perspectives into my life. So I put up the fight and move on.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?

I’m lucky; I don’t think I’ve had a challenge that has been difficult enough worth mentioning, but it was challenging to move to a new country by myself.   However, I had a clear goal in mind and I kept focusing on that goal so every time I felt homesick, I would think of my goal and the things I wanted to achieve.  I still miss not having my family near to me, but I have things that I need to achieve and goals to meet. 

In the professional arena, I have the challenge of constantly learning where individuals want to consume personal finances information and developing community outreach programs that connect to those audiences, regardless of their language preference. In 2013, for example, I was invited by Univision to be the expert on a series of Spanish TV interviews to discuss new credit card regulations to help Latino families understand personal finances so they can make the best decisions towards their financial health (check our YouTube channel to watch videos: www.youtube.com/ConsolidatedEspanol). We are always open to speak on TV and radio shows to educate the Hispanic community on personal finances.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

Nothing! I’m grateful for all I have.  I give thanks every day and just ask for more days to keep growing, learning and living new experiences.

What was your childhood ambition?

When I was a child I always dreamed of becoming a famous Broadway dancer. I remember watching them and I admired them! I love to dance maybe that’s why…

Tell us about three people that you admire?

My parents – I wouldn’t be where I am if I didn’t have their daily unconditional support, and guidance.  In a way I’m who I am today because of the love and the values that they taught me throughout my life.

Ellen DeGeneres – I’m an animal lover.  And I admire the fact that she not only is a great animal lover, but she also uses her fame to create awareness about animal rights.  She truly cares about animals.

The founder of Consolidated Credit, the company that I work for, Howard Dvorkin because he has helped hundreds of thousands of Latino families face and conquer devastating financial hardships and avoid personal bankruptcy. He also started the nonprofit organization at his kitchen table back in 1993 and today Consolidated Credit is one of the largest debt counseling and personal finance organizations in the country with sister companies in Canada and the United Kingdom. To date, Consolidated Credit has helped over 5 million in the past 20 years.  He is truly an inspiration by having a vision and passion to help people in financial distress and turning it into a large multinational organization.  

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Healthy lunch J

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

I left Colombia 16 years ago by myself to pursue my Master studies.  I was very young and decided to leave my parents, siblings and friends behind for my dreams.  It was hard at the beginning being in a new country because I had no friends and I didn’t know the city where my university was located very well.  I had to stay in a hotel for a month while I looked for an apartment that was close enough to school because at that time I didn’t have money to buy a car, but in the end the leap of faith was worth it!

What is your favorite quote?

“No dejes para mañana lo que puedes hacer hoy”

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

Ok if you are confident and believe in yourself.

Biggest mistake made?

I believe that mistakes always turn into opportunities to learn and to become better, so in a way, my mistakes have always taught me something that in turn has made me a better person and has made me the person who I am today.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

Yes, I believe that most Hispanics are innovators; culturally it is in us.  No matter where you come from, Hispanics are characteristically creative and always innovating because we are competitive and hungry for success.

About the Company:

Consolidated Credit (www.consolidatedcredit.org) is one of the nation's largest credit counseling and has helped over 5 million people over more than 20 years with financial issues. Their mission is to assist families throughout the United States in ending financial crisis and solving money management problems through education and professional counseling. Consolidated Credit also has a Spanish-language site (espanol.consolidatedcredit.org) for those of the Hispanic community that are Spanish-reliant or Spanish-preferred. 

Diana Valencia > www.porternovelli.com

Diana Valencia, Senior Vice President, Multicultural Communications, Porter Novelli 

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?

Absolutely, I live and breathe multicultural. Being bi-cultural (growing up my family and I would travel to South America every six months, spending up to three months at a time) and bilingual has helped me to truly understand what triggers and motivates multicultural consumers. The ability to motivate and truly understand the consumer leads to transformation. Transformation leads to award-winning results.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

There is a choice not to?  Adversity is great.  It is what makes someone strong and successful. I’m so grateful for these experiences in my life. It has been these experiences that have made me stronger, successful and thankful for everything I have.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?

Managing different stakeholders all at once, from clients, employees, colleagues, and partners and effectively communicating with them and exceeding a different set of expectations. But over the years I learned to master this skill, and turn a challenge into a strength. 

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

Nothing!  I have everything anyone can ask for: health, a wonderful and supportive husband, loving family and friends. I’m thankful for everything in my life!

What was your childhood ambition?

To be an actress/singer

Tell us about three people that you admire?

My parents, for being such innovators, dreamers and for their dedication to giving back to the community. They emigrated from Colombia not knowing the language or environment and had to reinvent themselves. Their hard work and determination paid off and over time they became very successful.

Richard Branson, for being creative, a dreamer, a philanthropist and for never giving up.

Maya Angelou, for being a trailblazer, a thought leader and inspiration to women. She encourages people to seize “life by the lapels.”

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

For a meeting: Lunch

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

It’s all about making daily choices to stay on the road to success. I always strive to participate and create new experiences and opportunities that will help me achieve my best. I never however forget to spend quality time with the people that matter most in my life.

What is your favorite quote?

I have many, but if I had to pick one it would be: Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. ~ Harriet Tubman

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

Being unconventional is what sets you apart! To lead an exceptional life, one must be willing to take the road less traveled…and to paraphrase Robert Frost, that will make all the difference!

Biggest mistake made?

Not moving quicker and early in my career, being afraid to make myself heard. We must never compromise who we are merely for the sake of sensibilities!

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

Absolutely, innovation is key to building businesses and programs that target the multicultural consumer. Certain products and services have a limited awareness in this market segment, so I have had to create innovative product offerings, services and experiences that motivate consumers to embrace new brands. 

About the Company:

Porter Novelli is one of the world’s leading public relations agencies. With 90 offices in nearly 60 countries, Porter Novelli delivers best-in-class service to clients around the globe. As the agency that pioneered social marketing, Porter Novelli’s heritage is grounded in influence – motivating people to change deeply ingrained behaviors that are rooted in cultural and social norms. This is achieved by identifying and activating against key insights that drive transformational change-- going beyond just “solving a problem”. The result is greater than just influencing people – Porter Novelli makes them believe.

For additional information, please visit www.porternovelli.com

Porter Novelli is a part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc.

Faith Hope Consolo > www.elliman.com

Faith Hope Consolo, Chairman, Retail Leasing and Sales Division, Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Determination and a great idea, not necessarily in that order. Entrepreneurs really are a breed apart.

What did inspire you to start your business?
My first endeavor as an entrepreneur was staring my own modeling agency in college. I saw a need, and being a bit of a performer myself at that time, figured out a way to fill it. Alas, I wasn't tall enough to be a model myself. But I sold the agency after graduation for a nice sum to start my life!
 

How did you finance it?
Given that I was acting as an agent, not manufacturing something, I could self-finance.
 

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
I'm not Hispanic -- I'm of Italian and English ancestry. But I work with a number of Latino and Latina businesses, and while I hate to generalize, I do find that there is a unique drive to succeed in this huge community. The U.S. is now one of the largest Spanish-speaking countries in the world, of course, and that opportunity galvanizes entrepreneurs.
 

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
What other decision is there? As have we all, I've faced obstacles both personal and professional -- losing both my parents before I was a teenager, being a woman with no business connections in a very male-dominated industry. I simply got up each day, worked harder than everyone else and didn't take no for an answer.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Certainly the last economic downturn could have been a tremendous problem -- particularly in motivating staff. We went back to basics, pounded the pavement, and instead had some of our most successful years.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Even more business for me??

What was your childhood ambition?
I wanted to be an actress -- and in New York real estate, we all are!

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Larry Silverstein, Mary Kay, Salma Hayek

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner! I avoid morning meetings if at all possible.
 

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I work 24/7, and some friendships did sort of fade away. But I'm not sure 'sacrifice" is the right word -- it's more like prioritizing. My friend Elaine Wynn once said "You can have it all -- you just can't have it all, all at the same time." I've been a successful businesswoman, a wife, a stepmother, a mentor, student, friend .. just not all at the same time. I haven't sacrificed anything.

What is your favorite quote?
"Why not?"
 

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No. I don't think I'm that unconventional, but being a pioneer is just what I've done. 

Biggest mistake made?
I'm not a person who regrets -- every decision, even one that doesn't work out, is a learning experience.
 

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I do. There were few women in my industry when I started, and I work with a number of organizations to help increase our numbers. I started my own website years before many others in my business did. I opened a European office for my former company in the 1980s, when international brokerages were unheard of.
 

About the Company

Douglas Elliman's Retail Group is the industry leader in retail leasing, investment sales and consulting. We've brought some of the most famous names in international retail to the United States, and helped U.S. retailers expand abroad by offering site selection, negotiation, consulting and even visual merchandising services. See company site: www.elliman.com