Latino Business Speakers Bureau: Hector Gonzalez
story by: David Gomez
Humble beginnings are powerful lessons that can build character, responsibility and humility. The struggle and the burden to uselimitedresources effectively can instill the value of efficiency and the benefits of frugality. Business built organically with owner’s capital typically outlast and outperform competitors who set off with a lot of debt. Hector Gonzalez has learned the lessons of humble beginnings throughout his life and they have taught him to succeed in his career as well. Born in the border town of Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mexico, and raised in Eagle Pass Texas, Hector sees his story as a product of his parents’ desire for a better future for their family. His father only had an education equivalent to elementary grade, but he understood the value of education. In addition to relocating to the US with his family,Hector Gonzalez Sr. provided for his five children an undergraduate degree through hard work and a very modest budget. His determination to see his sons through school meant that he would focus his resources, however few they were, to provide what they needed to succeed. In a way, Hector’s greatest mentor in life and career is his dad. He demonstrated that so much can be accomplished with so little and in a way prepared him to lead the HR organization at TysonFoods, Inc.
Hector is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Tyson Foods, Inc. and has served in thisrole since 2007. In his role, he supports several groups including labor relations and compensation. However, Hector does not boast of his success. Hebelieves that the success he has accomplished, he did not accomplish on his own. First, he credits his father for instilling in him the value of education along with valuing integrity, honesty, and humility, among other characteristics. His parents did a lot with very little,but he never felt like he was missing anything. “There is a lot that unconditional love fills in for,” he says. He understands that the contribution in his life from his father may be the most influential. However, he also credits everyone who believed in him and who coached him in his career. He was mentored by great leaders, but he also goes a step further and credits negative leaders with a positive lesson. He learned what behaviors to avoid and how to be a better leader because of them.
Mastering any skillcan be deceivingly tricky. It usually looks effortlessand untrained people can get the impression that anyone could do it, but thisis simply not the case. Hector makes this point when he shares what strategies have worked for hissuccess. He says that it is important for leaders to understand their business. He says “to impact the business you have to know what makes your business tick. You have to know what the risks and opportunities are.” He stresses the importance of fully knowing how the business works to deliver the best outcomes, it creates ownership and efficiency. In his life, Hector has witnessed the efficiencyof paying the college tuition of five young men with a small salary. He knows it can be done and it requires afull understanding of revenues and expenses and having a very clear vision along with unrelenting discipline. He embraces the challenge of leading his teams with this same approach.