Latinos in Tech
Aristocrat Gaming

By Bill Sarno

Hector Fernandez and Oriana Branon (Camacho) represent something not prevalent in the corporate world, especially in the high-tech industry.

They are both Latinos and hold upper echelon positions at a technology-driven company – Aristocrat Gaming, a global leader in developing high-tech casino games. Fernandez was born in Guatemala, and he is the chief executive officer. Branon is a fourth-generation Mexican American, currently the vice president of communications and corporate affairs at the Las Vegas-based company.

Both Fernandez and Branon share a common thread with other Latinos who, in their careers, have rarely found someone who looks like them in the executive room.

Now, Fernandez and Branon are paying their success forward as they underscore the global company's attention to diversity, equity and inclusion.

"We have really built this amazing culture and it is a weird thing because we use the word 'love' which is very rare in corporate America," Fernandez said, adding, "We talk about loving our people, loving each other and doing right by others."

The CEO also cites the company's principle of prioritizing employee and community impact in decision-making.

The journey that took Fernandez to Aristocrat Games began in East Los Angeles as an immigrant child in a Spanish-speaking single-parent household.

His mother set the tone for his life. She did not tolerate excuses, demanding results. Fernandez also learned that anything is possible, but nothing is easy; you have to be willing to work harder than anybody else.

The young Guatemalan did not realize he was different until after a three-bus trip that took him to the private school he would attend on a scholarship.

"In East Los Angeles, everyone looked like me, but when I got off that third bus and walked over to the school, no one looked like me," he recalled.

Academics initially challenged Fernandez, but his diligence was rewarded in eighth grade when he was awarded the most improved student in middle school. "This meant a lot to me – I had come from being the last one in fourth grade," he said.

Fernandez attended Claremont Mckenna College, where he majored in economics and minored in accounting. He began his career in accounting at Deloitte, leaving three years later to earn an MBA at the University of Southern California. He spent time at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati and back to California at Amgen and Western Digital.

Recruited to Aristocrat in 2018, Fernandez was the chief financial officer for its Americas division and then promoted to president of Americas and EMEA. He became Aristocrat Gaming's CEO in March 2022.

For Branon, the consistent theme throughout her life has been a passion for storytelling. With a background in communications working for various tech companies, her Aristocrat narrative began last year when she and Fernandez were on a Hispanic Heritage Month panel. Fernandez reached out to Branon regarding the new role on his team, taking the time to personally recruit her to Aristocrat. "That is what it takes to build an amazing, diverse team," he said.

Moreover, Fernandez thought Branon would be more comfortable if she saw the company's leadership was similar to her. Mentorship, guidance and support from people of color and especially women, has been foundational to Branon’s career path. Her top goal in the new Aristocrat role: to pay it forward and make a difference, opening up pathways for others coming behind her.

While other companies focused on cost-cutting during the pandemic, Aristocrat made crucial moves designed to drive its market share. The company intentionally invested in research and development – the studios that turn out hundreds of new games annually.

Also, the company installed a simple principle. "It was our people, our customers, our business – in that order," Fernandez said, adding that every decision comes under that mantra

"We spend very little time talking about numbers," he said. "We spend a lot of time talking about our people and customers because if you can get those two right, which is hard, then the core of business will be there."

Fernandez said that Aristocrat boasts relatively low turnover, even during the Great Resignation. "When you look at our high potential list, those people we believe will be our future leaders. We have zero turnovers because we believe that coming to work is an extension of the overall life," he said.

Aristocrat has addressed the remote working challenge – Branon works at home in the Bay Area with a flex arrangement. Fernandez said that this allows employees to coordinate with their manager to elect the schedule they want.

In addition, the global company tries to improve the places it operates. "We lead with purpose – taking the profits we generate and investing them back into the community," the CEO said.

"We spend a lot of time and resources on responsible gaming, to ensure that we continue to lead with innovation so that players can enjoy our games, while also helping them to uphold boundaries.”

Branon observed that due to consumer demand and interest, the gaming and gambling industry’s intersection with technology advancement is continuing more and more. The opportunity to make a real impact at the forefront of an industry that is continually disrupting provides an exciting STEM career path.

Fernandez says, “If a first-generation Guatemalan from East LA can be a global CEO, anyone can. You just have to believe in yourself, work hard, and stay true to your core values.”

**

Editor’s pick: "We have really built this amazing culture and it is a weird thing because we use the word 'love' which is very rare in corporate America." Hector Fernandez – CEO, Aristocrat Gaming

**

Photo credits: Tyler Elliot, Josh Leung

Betting on a people culture at a gaming business