The Convergence of Technology and Diversity
Latinos in Tech
Guillermo Diaz, Jr.
Guillermo Diaz Jr., Founder & CEO of Conectado Inc.,
Chairman of the Hispanic Technology Executive Council (HITEC)
By Johanna Hoyos
Guillermo Diaz, Jr. is a transformative global business leader and champion of diversity, equity and inclusion. He is originally from Pueblo, Colorado, but left at 17 as he enrolled in the US Navy - gaining knowledge on networking, telecommunications, satellite systems, and security. His navy service also led to a scholarship where ultimately, he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration through the community college path and Regis University in Denver, CO.
After his service in the Navy, Guillermo ended up in Silicon Valley and started working in technology as a telecommunications manager at Alza Corp and then to Silicon Graphics, where he ran the worldwide communications network. Years later, Diaz was recruited by Cisco Systems, starting a career that lasted over 20 years. He began in infrastructure and networking, then learned new applications and built intranet programs and cloud/SaaS platforms - which ultimately ran $50 billion for the company. His success in prior positions led him to become Global Chief Information Officer, responsible for the IT organization, strategy, and services.
Guillermo has always been committed to giving back to the community. In parallel to serving as Global CIO, he also pioneered Conexión, Cisco’s Hispanic/Latino employee resource group. It launched in 2001 as one of the first ERGs within the company. Diaz was also a key executive sponsor of the Veterans Network as an ERG at Cisco and was part of the Diversity Council. To him, ensuring diversity, technology, and people intertwined was essential, thus promoting more visibility and possibilities to advance.
After Cisco, Guillermo decided to become an entrepreneur by launching Conectado. It is a digital Web 3 multiverse destination bringing together individuals, educational institutions (i.e., community colleges and universities), social impact organizations and corporations to increase representation. Conectado will accelerate access to opportunities through an immersive experience that brings digital, cultural, and human intelligence together. Hence, improving millions of lives - building safer, simpler, and more sustainable connections from the classroom to career to the boardroom.
"When I got out of the Navy, especially in Silicon Valley, I was one of the only Latinos in technology. It felt a bit lonely but luckily, I had great sponsors and mentors that were not Latino but supported me,” he reminisces. As part of his commitment to the advancement of Latinos in Tech, Diaz serves as Chairman of the Hispanic Technology Executive Council (HITEC). It is the premier global executive leadership organization of senior business and technology executives building outstanding technology careers to support minorities broadly.
Unfortunately, given the size of the Hispanic demographic, there is still a lot of opportunity to increase representation. "It is not only about learning to build technology skills but also confidence, courage, and the ability to communicate. These three C’s are equally important for our Hispanic community to succeed in technology," he says. “And I am very passionate about improving the opportunities for Latinos in STEM.”
Diaz finds new generations exciting. "If you look at the demographics Latino/as over-index on digital usage consumption and more user savvy compared to any other cohort." Many Latino entrepreneurs are building companies around new technologies, such as Web3.0 with the metaverse and blockchain. Guillermo believes we will see shifts over the next 2-5 years.
"Instead of worrying about being displaced by a robot, how about learning to program a robot," Diaz advises. In his opinion, this would be the roadmap for future generations to become successful in IT. "Taking the knowledge we already have as consumers and shifting it to makers, creators, and owners. That's the big opportunity for us."
Latinos have open ground to success in technology. Guillermo believes in seizing opportunities, "no matter what job you do, someone will do it; why shouldn't it be you? Someone is going to change the world; why not you?"
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He would advise his younger self: "Always remember where you came from, to inspire where you are going."
photo: Courtesy of Silicon Valley Latin