Latinas at Work: Journeys to Leadership
Latinas at Work: Journeys to Leadership is a multi-phased study exploring the life stories and leadership experiences of Hispanic women professionals and executives in profit and not-for-profit organizations. With the Hispanic labor force projected to increase faster than any other group—36% between 2000 and 2010—this study is particularly timely. Despite the growing number of Latinas in professional and management positions, little is known of their unique experiences in work organizations, the issues they face, or the strategies they use to manage and succeed. While recent studies have begun to address the experiences of women of color in corporations, the situation of specific subgroups within this larger category of “women of color” also needs to be understood.
Using a variety of methods, including literature reviews, surveys, focus groups, and interviews, this study will identify: 1. the contributions Latina leaders make to the fabric of organizational life in the United States; 2. the strategies they use to successfully meet the challenges they face; and 3. the recommendations that flow from the findings for policy and organizational changes to support Latinas’ leadership and contributions to their organizations.
Latinas at Work: Journeys to Leadership will improve understanding of the diverse Latina population in the U.S. and chronicle Latinas’ growing impact on companies’ bottom lines. It will inform debate on critical issues relating to workplace equity and the need to implement strategies that will enhance the recruitment, retention, development, and advancement of Latinas in the workplace.
Madrinas: A Latina Leaders Network has endorsed the study. Qualitative and quantitative findings from each phase of study will be widely disseminated. Dr. Evangelina Holvino, Senior Research Faculty at CGO, is the principal investigator.