Arilyn I. Martinez Cora >www.linkedin.com/in/arilynmartinez

Arilyn I. Martinez Cora, Filmmaker and Director, Interview by Laura Rosado

What do you need to be a leader?
To be a leader you need to listen and pay attention to the situations that need to be resolved. It is also necessary to have a good team, which you could delegate and divided the responsibilities to work as a team and as a result become successful in any project.

What inspired you in your life?
My inspiration comes from my parents, especially my mother who was oppressed in a given moment of her career and she took the oppression and converted in positivism and she decided to go back to school and she did a master and that education gave her the opportunity to reach higher positions and eliminated the oppression.

Does being Hispanic/Latina have any influence on your business?
Yes because my target are the Latino community specially the teenagers and the women.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to drive ahead?
When there are obstacles in the way I think a lot about the problem and I talked to my friends about it and also to myself to see how I can the problem then I write down things what I can do to fix the problem and that helps me to be back on track and continued in a positive way.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
The biggest challenge is to find finance for my projects.

What was your childhood ambition?
As a teenager I wanted to be an actress. I try multiple times but it didn’t work and I decided to work behind scenes, which I enjoy the most.

Tell us about three leaders that you admire.
Jenifer Lopez because she started from zero until she created her own empire.
Carolina Herrera because her dedication led her to maintain her career as a great designer.
Sila Maria Calderon the first woman governor in Puerto Rico that although many people talked negative things about her; she helped the poor communities bringing art through education and that’s something that I have not seen in other governments.
Oprah because even thought she passed trough a lot of struggled she move forward on a positive way helping others and herself.

For business meetings, which do you prefer: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
For business meetings I prefer breakfast because the mind is fresh and ready to process new information. But there are times that if its hard to meet because of the tight schedules I don’t mind to meet at any time if it is to improve my projects.

What sacrifices in your personal life did you have to make in order to become successful in your business?
I have to say be mind it and have my feet on the ground and be realistic about the money. Things that I can do and things that I cannot so my money could long last.

What is your favorite quote?
Everyday is an opportunity to succeed by me.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Here in NY no but in Puerto Rico yes. Here in NY I surround myself with people who are in the entertainment world and it is normal to see people like me and a little bit different to me but talented. The good thing is that we all accept each other as we are. I come from a small town in Guayama, Puerto Rico where people have regular schedules and normal jobs and they don’t understand much the meaning of filmmaker but I explain to them sometimes they understand other times they don’t understand much I just laugh sometimes get harder t como yo y hasta un poco diferentes a mi pero talentosos y lo bueno es que todos nos aceptamos como somos. Ahora en Puerto Rico es distinto vengo de un pueblo pequeño Guayama, PR donde las personas tienen horarios regulares y trabajos comunes y no entienden mucho lo que conlleva ser cineasta pero me la paso explicándoles y pues de manera jocosa ahí veces que entienden ahí veces que no entienden jejeje.

Biggest mistake made?
I think that the mayor mistake that I have done was not trusting my team in the past. This something that I say on the Q & A is very important to believe in the people that we have around. They shake hands every day. It is important to listen and believe in the people that are around us that is the only way to achieve success.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I think I am an innovative because with my projects I expose women from another point of view.  Exposing the reality of our lives, how we really are, how do we feel, how do we struggle and how we become stronger, and how do we succeed on our daily lives.

About the Artist:
Right now I’m a filmmaker and my director statement is to teach and persuade teenagers and women through images and films that convey a positive way to make the right decisions in their daily life. Also I’m improving my skills as writer, director and producer on my own projects but I will like to open up and work for other people in the film industry. Which I do now as a production assistance.

Lin Manuel Miranda > www.linmanuel.com

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Actor,Composer, Playwrite, Lyrist and Rapper. Interview by Laura Rosado of PlanetM

1) What is it that you need to be a leader?

I don’t think of myself as a leader.  I think of myself as a collaborator.  That’s the fun of creating theater. That by definition, you cannot do it alone.  I work with directors and choreographers, and other writers, and I play a very specific role - and I am very aware of the role I play.  I think that’s the most important gift that a leader can bring to any project - the ability to get everyone talking and on the same page, and the best idea in the room wins.  A leader is not afraid of where the idea comes from, but recognizes what the right idea is, and implements it. 

2) What are some of the things that have inspired you in your life?

Everything in life has truly inspired me.  And as an artist, that’s my job.  An artist’s job is to be inspired, to fall in love with that story so good, that you feel you are the only one who can tell it… that the melody or song in your head can only come to you, not to anyone else.

Our job as artists is to be open.  Sometimes that’s difficult, because sometimes you want to shut down, and you don’t want to let anything in.  But artists must let everything in.  And then, the stuff that sticks, that’s the stuff that we are meant to make. 

3) Does being a Hispanic have an influence in the work you do? 

Everything about me has an influence on the work I do!  I think that growing up Latino, in a Latino neighborhood, speaking Spanish and English… all of it informs my work.  I think that even when the subject matter of what I’m writing about isn’t “quote unquote” Latino, I think that there is a sensibility there, which is informed by my Latino upbringing, that is a part of who I am.

4) What is the biggest challenge that you face?

The biggest challenge that I face, is the challenge that all artists face: which is recognizing the right idea to run with.  Musicals take a long time, so you can start working on one, and three years down the road realize: “Oh, this isn’t it.”  As artists, we fall in love with our work for our living, and sometimes projects don’t work out.  But any artist’s challenge is to nurture an idea from it being just an idea, followed by the hard work of building the infrastructure, of building the thing – it’s own thing.

5) If you could change anything about what you do, what would it be?

I would make theater ticket prices cheaper!  That’s easier said than done, obviously, and that’s actually not my job as an artist.  My job is to write the shows, not produce them.  And things are expensive to produce.  But luckily, there are ways to make theater tickets afforfable.  For example, we recently announced a new initiative by the Rockefeller Foundation, that will provide tickets for “Hamilton” to 20,000 New York City students.  It would be great to see initiatives like this expand  and grow.

6 )What was a childhood ambition of yours?

I wanted to be either a Hollywood movie director, or a Hollywood stuntman.  But then I realized that I didn’t like getting hurt or going fast, so the stuntman idea went out the window.  Later, I discovered that I was always making up songs, and then at some point, I turned in that direction; and ran with it. 

7) Three leaders that you admire:

Martin Luther King:  I admire his mix of compassion, and urgency and social justice.  He was able to harness a lot of conflicting and really tough challenges, into an amazing movement.

Broadway Director Hal Prince:  He is the inventor of the “getting everybody in the room and on the same page” approach to stage directing and leadership.  His notion of “the best idea in the room wins” can be applied in all aspects of life.

Rubén Blades:  He has been a songwriter, an actor, a politician.  He just kind of does whatever he thinks he should be doing next.  And that is the mark of a true artist.  He doesn’t plan his career by what “looks good” or what’s “hot” at the moment.  It is about what’s inside him that he feels he must do.  And I hope I find that same internal compass. 

8) Business meetings preference – 

I love a good lunch meeting!  I never think of dinner meetings because I’m always doing a show!

9) Sacrifices that you have made to become successful at what you do?

The sacrifice is always time.  It takes a long time to write shows.  It takes a long time to make art.  And the only way to minimize that sacrifice, is to surround yourself with people who love you, who understand what your work is, and “get” what you are doing.  Even if that means a little bit less time for them.  I am married to a wonderful woman who is passionate about her own field practice.  If I am off writing all-night, she is off working too, and we come back, and find each other at the end of the day.

10) Favorite Quote:

“This Too Shall Pass” – It is my mother’s favorite quote.  It is true in the good times and the bad times.  It is just true.

11) Is it difficult to be unconventional? 

I don’t set out to be unconventional.  I think that leadership and success come from finding your “internal compass” – finding the things that you want to put into the world, and feel uniquely suited to do or to create.  That is very hard, but finding that story that you feel uniquely suited to tell or write is essential.

12) Description about the Company/Artist

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Profiles of Success recognizes Latino leaders in metro Phoenix

Valley leaders serving the Latino community took center stage Friday in the annual Profiles of Success program. The awards event is organized by Valle del Sol, a non-profit organization for the Hispanic community in the Phoenix metro area.

The group honored 12 individuals and businesses for their work serving the Latino community. During the ceremony, they also honored former Gov. Raul Castro, the first and only Latino to hold the state’s top office, who died in April.

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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

Election 2016: No Republican Candidates Addressing Hispanic Advocacy Conference

WASHINGTON -- If the GOP thinks they’re going to win more Hispanic voters in 2016, they appear to have decided that speaking at large gatherings of Latino leaders isn’t the way to go. None of the 2016 candidates will address the annual convention of the National Council of La Raza -- the largest Latino advocacy group -- being held next week in Kansas City, Missouri, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Republicans have long contended that winning Hispanics is key to winning the White House, as Latinos are the fastest growing constituency in the country. And President Barack Obama was able to secure his victory thanks to winning the Hispanic vote by a more than 36 point margin in 2008 and 44 point margin in 2012.

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The Advantages of a Diverse Board

There’s little question that the executive suites and boardrooms of America’s top companies have diversified over the past two decades. Plenty of research shows the increasing differences in gender, ethnicity, social class, and cultural background of directors and corporate officers at large firms. Proponents of diversity in business argue that minority leaders can provide unique insights and broaden their firms’ knowledge networks, bringing their varied perspectives to bear on the complex decision-making process that occurs at the board level.

However, most of these studies have focused on how diversity at the apex of a company can show up in relatively broad measures of corporate performance, such as stock returns in the wake of a minority executive’s appointment or the perceived ability to employ a more multicultural workforce. As a result of this wide-angle view, the findings have been fairly ambiguous and inconsistent.

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National Latino convention coming to Utah July 7-11

SALT LAKE CITY — Next month, tens of thousands of Latino activists and business leaders from around the country will descend on the Beehive State for a week of seminars and community building.

To make the week run smoothly, organizers seek volunteers for the League of United Latin American Citizens 2015 National Convention and Exposition at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City from July 7-11.

The convention will be the organization’s 86th national event, expected to bring around 20,000 people to Utah.

The convention addresses issues of the Latino community, as well as subgroups such as women, veterans and youth.

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25 Most Influential Hispanics in America

From music to politics to business, Hispanics are remaking America. TIME presents 25 titans leading the Latino charge into the 21st century

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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.

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