Conexiones: Building Connections Across Workday

My name is Liz Valadez and I’m the Chief of Staff and Sr. Director of Business Operations in the Product Development and QA organization. I have a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from St. Mary’s College. My dissertation was based on a study I conducted on the experiences of first-generation Latinx in the tech industry.

I have been at Workday for over 7 years and I got involved with Employee Belonging Councils (EBCs) shortly after I became a Workmate. To this day, I am very much involved with our EBCs. I helped launch the Latinx EBC and am still currently involved leading the Conexiones workstream.

The Latinx global strategy consists of three tracks: Community & Engagement, Professional Development and Early and New Talent. Conexiones, which translates to “Connections,” is a program in the Early and New Talent track. Conexiones was created to uplevel our Latinx community, both internally and externally through education, social equity, and connections.

The Genesis of Conexiones

Conexiones was established shortly after I completed my Doctoral study where many of the professional challenges experienced by Latinx professionals came to light. The track was created because 41% of black people and 44% Latinx people are first generation college students and lack the social capital and resources afforded to those who are not the first in their family to graduate from college.

First generation students graduate from colleges and universities to become first generation professionals. A lack of social capital means that there is a lack of resources that are created from the relationships we build with others which can help us achieve our professional goals. The lack of resources and relationships means there is no one to give us professional advice, no one to provide guidance, and no one that can aid in our professional development. Programs like Conexiones help foster an environment that supports first generation professionals in being successful as they begin their careers.

Conexiones is designed to empower underrepresented groups, including Latinx, Black, and female Workmates, to achieve their professional goals. The program, initially established by myself in partnership with a group of dedicated Latinx EBC members, continues to evolve with new initiatives, addressing systemic gaps. The team, driven by a shared passion for uplifting the community, works tirelessly to provide resources and opportunities for professional growth.

The programs that make up Conexiones include:

• Networking opportunities through internal social events such as Cafecitos, presentations, Cantinas, and fellowship meetings.
• Student education delivered to 4-year university undergraduates and graduates, community college students, high school students and middle school students
• Early talent development which includes Adelante!, a high touch cohort-based professional development program aimed at providing the understanding and means needed to fuel professional growth and achieve career success at Workday.

Adelante!: Setting Workmates Up for Success

A significant part of Conexiones is the Adelante! program. Loosely translating to ‘move forward’, Adelante! is a grassroots initiative created to fill a noticeable gap in setting Workmates up for success once they were hired. Adelante!’s goal is to provide elevated onboarding resources and additional support to Latinx new hires at Workday. The program started with a small cohort of Latinx EBC members and we now have a cohort of Black@Workday EBC members who also participate in Adelante!. Moving forward, our plan is to open up to all EBC members, no matter where they reside.

Many of the Conexiones programs have made an impact, but the program that has been most impactful is Adelante!. We have received positive feedback from both Workmates and managers.

“It’s hard to put into words how incredible this program is. I genuinely think the ROI I have gotten from this program has been tremendous. I am a first generation Latina in Tech and the community I grew up in was really Under Resourced and the expectations are 1. High school dropout 2. Pregnant at a young age 3. Work anywhere but Corp America. When I first started here my imposter syndrome was really bad. I didn’t think I had any value to provide, belong or produce great work. But that has changed after Adelante! and now I feel like I do have the tools in my toolbox to be successful. I’m happy I’m able to be a small part of this and can’t wait to see its ripple effect.” -Workmate Testimonial

The Future of Conexiones and Adelante

The Conexiones and Adelante! programs have predominantly been US-based. However, with the establishment of a Latinx chapter in Dublin, plans are underway to expand into EMEA. The goal is to open Adelante! to all EBC members globally, thereby ensuring that the resources and opportunities are accessible at a global level.

Our goal is to continue to evolve Conexiones with new programs that empower and enable Latinx professionals to achieve their career goals. We will continue to look for gaps that prevent Latinx people reaching their full potential and build programs to solve those gaps whether that be for the community, students or professionals.

By providing resources, guidance, and opportunities, these programs are empowering underrepresented groups to achieve their professional goals. The success of these initiatives underscores the importance of representation and inclusivity in the workplace, reinforcing Workday’s core values and prioritizing people. I look forward to the continued expansion of programs like Conexiones and Adelante!

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