10/17/2023
How Two P&G Hispanic Leaders Drive Their Career Growth from a Cultural Perspective
Lessons in leadership happen every day. They provide employees with ongoing opportunities for personal growth and professional advancement, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions and equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to adapt to new challenges. They’re also a part of the P&G career experience. Both internally and through various external programs and opportunities, our leaders are part of a company that values diversity, inclusion and a culture of belonging.
This year, two Hispanic employees were part of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility’s (HACR) Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers (YHCA) program. This three-month, intensive program focuses on leadership development, mentorship and community engagement — equipping participants with the tools and insights needed to thrive in today's dynamic business landscape, while leveraging their cultural backgrounds, experiences and insights as a strength.
Here they share the experiences and lessons they learned and are applying everyday — and how their cultural experiences play a significant role in their work and leadership at P&G.
Santiago Gutierrez Buchting – Global Technical Readiness Leader, Fabric Care
Time at P&G: 9 years
Why did you choose P&G as a place to work? I only possessed a little knowledge about P&G initially. My sole reference point was my beautiful wife, who I considered more intelligent than me and who was already working at P&G. With her endorsement, I felt assured in my decision. However, upon reflection, I can now provide a more comprehensive answer as to why I chose to remain with P&G. The primary factor is the company’s PVPs (Purpose, Values and Principles), which closely align with mine. The PVPs are universally present, regardless of one's location in the world. Additionally, the people at P&G, who contribute to our strength, agility and resilience, are a key reason I have decided to stay.
Why did you decide to apply for the YHCA program? I have come to a profound realization that P&G makes an impact in the communities where we operate. Understanding the significance of making a meaningful contribution and striving for a more significant impact, I appreciate the power of connections and networking with like-minded professionals with similar backgrounds and visions. Recognizing this, I viewed the program as an exceptional opportunity to enrich my experiences, broaden my network beyond the boundaries of P&G and bring back a wealth of ideas and best practices that hold great potential to positively help P&G and our communities.
Leadership development is a key aspect of the YHCA program. Can you share some of the leadership skills you learned that you are now applying to your role at P&G? Throughout this training, I acquired invaluable insights that have greatly influenced my professional growth. Foremost among these is the significance of presence. One can perceive and absorb knowledge by actively engaging in the present moment. It is imperative to attend meetings and events, establishing genuine connections that foster personal and professional development. Furthermore, I have learned the power of making a statement. Whether through thought-provoking inquiries, constructive feedback, or insightful comments, you can ensure that others benefit from your presence and contributions.
In addition, life is brimming with possibilities, waiting to be seized through the right approach, collaboration with like-minded individuals, and utilizing available resources. Lastly, I have embraced the value of curiosity. I assume a growth mindset and consistently strive to be the person who relentlessly poses questions and listens attentively. With these lessons firmly ingrained, I am poised to navigate the professional realm with confidence and excellence.
The program also focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion in the corporate world. How has this emphasis influenced your approach to leadership? The only way we’ll have different ideas or innovations is by bringing different people to the table — people from different backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and mindsets. Leadership is about opening doors and providing opportunities to everyone. Servant leadership prioritizes the greater good, the team or the organization. Bring your ideas to the table, but also help create space for others to share theirs and feel valid in their contributions.
How do you like to spend your time outside of work? When I’m not working, I’m with my family, spending quality time either playing a board game, gardening, going out for ice cream or traveling on vacation. Family is first for me, and I try to spend as much time as I can to create memories and to prepare my kids — the leaders of tomorrow — to become a better version of myself.
Jeanean Ayala – Communications Manager, Global Newsroom
Time at P&G: 3 Years
Why did you choose P&G as a place to work? A few years ago, I was looking to move from an agency role to in-house with a company that offered several important things — long-term career potential, a place where learning is strongly encouraged for professional growth, incredible people to work with and the ability to take control my own career. I found that P&G offers all these things.
Why did you decide to apply for the YHCA program? I was drawn to the program’s core of combining culture as a strength with corporate leadership development. Many of the program’s graduates, like me, are first-generation college graduates and are often the first in their families to work in a corporate environment. It can feel like uncharted territory, so completing a program like YHCA offers an opportunity to learn from other Hispanic professionals on how to succeed professionally while leveraging your own cultural values and experiences.
Leadership development is a key aspect of the YHCA program. Can you share some of the leadership skills you learned that you are now applying to your role at P&G? Negotiation skills. The nature of my role in communications requires that I work with different teams and stakeholders, and balancing their needs and goals with my team’s larger objectives is itself a practice in negotiating. As part of the curriculum, each YHCA participant had to take an assessment to learn where their negotiation strengths and areas of improvement are, and learning different tactics and approaches helps makes this area of my profession less intimidating to navigate.
The program also focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion in the corporate world. How has this emphasis influenced your approach to leadership? As a communications professional at P&G I’ve learned that to better serve all our consumers across the globe — by leading new innovations, creating products that fit their unique needs and crafting communications that best resonate with them — our workforce also needs to reflect that diversity. In my role, I’m passionate about leading storytelling that helps make our employees feel seen and represented. Through P&G’s Hispanic employee affinity group, I’ve found opportunities to get involved and help build a community for our employees.
How do you like to spend your time when you’re not working? I love escaping to new places. For me, that frequently takes the form of reading (lots of it!) and traveling to new destinations each year.
10/13/2022
Young P&G Hispanic Leaders Graduate from Corporate Diversity & Development Program
In 2007, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) launched its Young Hispanic Corporate Achiever’s program to highlight the achievements of young Latino professionals in corporate America. The program also serves to further the association’s mission of increasing Hispanic representation on corporate boards and in the C-suite. Each year, HACR launches a rigorous process to select candidates for a rigorous three-month leadership development, education, and training program focused on corporate diversity, professional leadership advancement and community engagement.
This year, two candidates were selected from P&G to participate in the program. Here they share their experiences and lessons learned during the intensive virtual program and in-person summit. They also discuss how culture plays a significant role in their work and leadership style at P&G.
Israel Escamilla, Senior Manager, Brand Building Purchases
Time at P&G: 10 years.
Why did you choose P&G as a place to work? When I learned about P&G’s purpose, values and principles, which were consistent with those from my upbringing and education, it was a clear choice for me to make. At the end of the day, you know that the company focuses on meaningful work, cares for its people and enables us to be successful together as we carry out the larger vision.
Why did you decide to apply for the YHCA program? A Hispanic leader at P&G, who previously graduated from the HACR YHCA program, reached out to say she wanted to recommend me for the 2022 cohort. I saw that the program included components that were important to me: education from a cultural perspective, a platform to make connections with others who shared similar career trajectories, and an opportunity to expand my knowledge of the various industries across the country. This program was a great opportunity to share and build on the leadership skills I’ve gained at P&G.
What’s one valuable lesson you learned from the program? I learned the value of embracing your personal story. Since this program, I have been able to reflect on the journey that’s gotten me to this chapter in my life and use it to connect with my peers, my leaders and my external business partners. The COVID pandemic was a huge change moment in everyone’s lives, our stories now all look different in some way. I’ve learned to make an intentional effort to acknowledge and really understand how that’s affected my team based on their family stories, their culture and their stages in life, which has helped me to build even deeper and more meaningful partnerships.
What’s one Hispanic value that you feel prepared you for a leadership role at P&G? Growing up as an underprivileged immigrant and the oldest of four children, I had quite the traditional upbringing. Working with my dad on the family farm in Mexico and in his concrete pouring business in Texas, I was able to watch him live a servant leadership life as the provider and the protector of the family. I learned to ask myself, “How can I serve with my time and with the resources I do have? How can I help my community advance?” Bringing this mindset focused on adding value and building genuine relationships and networks has enabled me to achieve meaningful goals for the company.
What work at P&G are you most proud of? My key project during the COVID-19 pandemic was P&G’s Safeguard America campaign, where I led the purchasing work for our hand sanitizer business. Getting to work on a product that was critical at the time and to see how important it was for the company, the world and the people we serve was a highly rewarding experience.
How do you like to spend your time when you’re not working? Building meaningful relationships with great people is something I deeply care about. In the winter, my fiancé and I enjoy traveling across the country doing ski trips with our friends. Any other time of the year, we love hosting people in our home and playing golf. I lead a young professional’s golf league of men and women from various companies, industries and backgrounds in the Cincinnati area, which gives me the opportunity to be surrounded by amazing people while doing something challenging and fun. I also serve on the board of directors for the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, doing empowering work that I’m very passionate about. It’s an excellent way to represent P&G while serving my city and community.
Saul Meza, Global Flight Operations Pilot – Captain
Time at P&G: 10 years.
How long have you worked at P&G? Four years this upcoming January.
Why did you choose P&G as a place to work? When I was a P&G intern, I traveled a bit. I was fortunate to travel to Africa on one of those trips and spent a day in Tanzania. We met with a local tribe who received access to P&G PUR water packets, which turn unthinkably dirty water into purified clean drinking water. I witnessed first-hand the unmistakable impact of P&G innovation not for market share or profit, but simply to help improve the lives of others. It left quite the impression.
Why did you decide to apply for the YHCA program? Last year I was privileged enough to work with a P&G Hispanic leader who was a previous HACR YHCAer. She was excited to share the opportunity with others in our P&G Latinx community. After researching the program, I knew the combination of professional development, networking and personal growth opportunities was too good to pass up.
What’s one valuable lesson you learned from the program? The program reminded me of something I heard a lot as a Mexican boy growing up in “La Villita” (Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood): when you find yourself in the elevator moving up, don’t ever forget to send the elevator back down. Each one of us individually holds a unique story that’s made even greater and more powerful by our collective Latinx history, which is filled with heroes from all walks of life. By finding ways to mentor, guide and advocate for others in nuestra familia, we add to our Latinx legacy both inside and out of P&G.
What’s one Hispanic value that you feel prepared you for a leadership role at P&G?
There’s a saying in Spanish – Donde come uno, comen dos (where one person eats, so does a second). Selflessness is engrained in the fabric of our Latinidad. We’re always looking for ways to help others and help place them in a positions that can lead to success.
What work at P&G are you most proud of?
I head our Equality and Inclusion efforts at Global Flight Operations. With only 10% of all professional pilots listed as minorities, and women making up only 8% of the pilot workforce, it’s clear to me that something needs to change. It can be as simple as wearing a uniform to schools in an effort to show minority students it’s possible to have a career in aviation. Or it can be more complex, like mentoring an aspiring aviator through a complicated industry. I am proud to lead a team that looks to empower underrepresented groups in aviation.
How do you like to spend your time when you’re not working? I have an incredible wife and two beautiful, high-energy toddlers. Much of our time now orbits around them and keeping them as engaged as possible. Naturally, I’m passionate about travel, but more so exposing my children to the vast communities of colorful, unique and beautiful people all over the world.
