October 1, 2024
As we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States (U.S.), we spoke to Stephen Cornejo Garcia, global head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at UL Solutions. We discussed the importance of this recognition month and how it is a time to learn about and understand the diversity of being Hispanic or Latino/Latinx/Latine in the U.S. Learn more about his path to UL Solutions, how his family’s multi-ethnic background impacted his values, and why diversity, equity and inclusivity are important in the workplace.
Please tell us about your background.
I'm a Chicago native from the South Side, born in the Bridgeport neighborhood. I grew up in Berwyn — a near-west suburb of the city — and have lived in the Chicago area my whole life. I went to DePaul University in Chicago, earning a degree in commerce and art design.
I have a multiracial background. My father is of Mexican descent, and my mother is of primarily Irish descent but Western European as well. I grew up at a time when there weren't many Latinos in our neighborhood, and I did not know any other multiracial families. We were different from our neighbors in many respects.
My family emigrated to Chicago for work. They worked in meatpacking in the Chicago stockyards — in railroads and the hotel industry — and were very much a part of the working class.
All this is the backbone of my experience. Hard work is a big deal to me, and my faith and family shaped my values.
Can you tell us about your career path?
My career started in business, and I quickly developed an affinity for consulting. While working with a small firm, one of the biggest professional services firms in the world recruited me.
I was traveling a lot and finding my place as an organizational development consultant, which is essentially someone who works to improve organizational systems with a focus on people — change management, organizational and team effectiveness and coaching.
My vision for my career at that time was to be a partner, but the firm went out of business suddenly. My wife, Maria, and I were about to have our second child, and she was in the middle of graduate school. It was a challenging time for us. Fortunately, I secured another job as a consultant with a large financial services company.
I was thankful to be employed again, but considering my future career aspirations, it wasn’t a great fit for me, so I moved to a national insurance company a year later. I was there for 19 years and held various roles with progressively more leadership responsibilities.
In one of those roles, the chief diversity officer asked me to help create a company-wide diversity strategy. That project blossomed into a permanent role, and it became a transformative experience for me. It was a good intersection of my core capabilities and my personal passion. I ran the diversity function at that organization for nine years before coming to UL Solutions.
What do you enjoy about working at UL Solutions?
One of the first things that appealed to me was the genuineness of the people. From the start, people were truly curious not only about the DEI work I was doing but also about me as a person. I feel fortunate to work with people I believe are sincerely interested in and welcoming of others.
I came to UL Solutions at a good time in my career, considering what I had to offer, what I wanted to achieve and the company’s needs. I arrived at a time when the DEI program was somewhat established and ready to ascend to the next level.
Why do you think National Hispanic Heritage Month is important?
Hispanics and/or Latinos have been an integral part of American history. We’ve always led and contributed to society, but the recognition for our roles and contributions has not always been commensurate with the impact. Hispanic Heritage Month helps us celebrate our diverse cultural heritage and remember the importance of our community in American history.
The Latino community is very diverse. Every nation — Mexico, Cuba, Ecuador, etc. — has its own rich cultural heritage, but we share many common values. While it’s not a monolithic group, it is a close-knit community. National Hispanic Heritage Month helps us, as Latinos, celebrate our culture and educate others about who we are and our contributions to society.
What are you most proud of about your heritage and traditions?
For me, being Latino became more salient as I grew into adulthood. I was aware of traditions as a child but didn’t truly understand their significance. I have been blessed to have many people in my life — most notably my wife, who encouraged me to do more self-exploration to understand what my cultural identity truly meant to me. So, celebrating my culture today is multidimensional, just like me.
For me and many Latinos, family and faith are at the center of our values and traditions. For example, at Christmas, we attend religious services and come together to celebrate our faith with family members. My wife’s family emigrated to the U.S. from Panama, so we have diverse traditions even within our immediate family. We have our cultural traditions, for example, making Mexican tamales as a family and singing Christmas carols in English and Spanish.
How can we encourage more Hispanic/Latino students to pursue STEM careers?
Part of it is creating more awareness about what STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers are all about. Younger people may not truly understand what a STEM career could be and may not realize the vast opportunities they can pursue.
I think we need to help children understand that these opportunities are just as viable for them as they are for others. Start as early as grammar school — mentoring and volunteering — so kids can see someone like them in these roles. If they can see others like them in these careers, they will more likely be able to see themselves there as well.
I know firsthand the importance of seeing successful people who looked like me and had similar life experiences. I was the first person in my entire family to go to college. We need more people who encourage others and help them see their future vision. That’s why I participate in mentoring programs like Conexion for Latino professionals.
I feel like it’s my responsibility to encourage and support the next generation of leaders and other generations looking for support. People need to understand that their background will not hold them back. In fact, it will be a strength for them to harness.
Why do you feel focusing on DEI is critical for companies?
The marketplace is increasingly more diverse and global. Companies positioning themselves to leverage diversity, equity and inclusion will come out ahead.
We’re at a pivotal time amidst increased scrutiny of the value of DEI to organizations. However, the data on the impact of a diverse workforce led by inclusive leaders correlates with increased engagement, collaboration, innovation, creative problem-solving and financial results. Companies need leaders who know how to manage a diverse workforce and create an equitable and inclusive culture to provide long-term value to their shareholders.