Transitioning from embassy to boardroom: The story of Tony Garza
By BILL SARNO
After serving over six years as U.S. ambassador to Mexico under President George W. Bush, Antonio Garza faced a career change in 2009. He hoped it might allow him to stay in the country of his grandparents. The Ambassador grew up in Brownsville, Texas, where his grandparents had immigrated from Mexico. His father pumped gas a block from the international bridge. Humble beginnings but solid values are the foundation of his upbringing.
In the Garza household, education was paramount and driven home by his mother, who died when he was young. "I heard so many times as a child, 'porque la educación nadie te la quita’ (translation, no one can take education away from you)," he recalled. The Texas native achieved this objective and developed a significant profile in the corporate world. The former political trailblazer is now counsel in the Mexico City office of White & Case LLP, a leading global law firm, and is a member of several corporate boards. Garza has found that being a good director in a time of increased economic, social, and political challenges means being able to offer sound judgment on a wide range of issues.
As a director, Garza adds value by having a perceptive understanding on many issues, some of which naturally will be outside his expertise. "And the only way to do that is to have the ability to ask the questions that need to be asked, listen to the responses and thoughts of your fellow directors," he said. "You've also got to understand your environment, analyze risk, mitigate those risks, and then respond." The essence of effective board service, Garza suggests, is found in the writing of Israeli intellectual Yuval Noah Harari. In "21 Lessons for the 21st Century," the historian states that what is essential for success in the 21st Century is the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate constructively, and be resilient and creative.
As his ambassadorial term concluded, the Texan discussed his preference to remain in Mexico with friends and valued mentors. "One of them said I should consider a law firm. So instead of having one client, the U.S., I'd have the opportunity to represent multiple U.S. companies in Mexico," Garza said. "And that kind of made sense to me." At White & Case LLP, the South Texas native focuses on his clients and the various boardrooms where he now sits. "I take my duty to clients and shareholders seriously," Garza said.
Garza is a director of Kansas City Southern (a rail-based transportation company), chairman of its subsidiary Kansas City Southern de Mexico; MoneyGram; The Greenbrier Companies, and Americas Technology Acquisition Corp. Tony said board members face issues such as the pandemic, civil rights, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These situations have created challenges that encompass everything from trade and regulatory policy to supply chains, inflation and on economic downturn.
For future generations to have more opportunity to serve on corporate boards, Garza said the focus should be on a combination of what he calls the 'Big Three': awareness, advocacy, and accountability. Another challenge Garza addressed is the disproportionately low representation of Latinos in their ranks. "Now, I'm not saying there is no progress, but it's been slow," he said. Garza expressed the crucial need for a more significant commitment from corporate boards to diversity and to expanding their perception of what makes a good candidate.
Tony will continue to advocate for diversity in the board room and hopes to see real and rapid changes in Board composition for the next generations.
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Photo credit: Courtesy of MoneyGram
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Garza expressed the crucial need for a more significant commitment from corporate boards to diversity and to expanding their perception of what makes a good candidate.