Family, Heritage, Legacy: LatinX Workmates Thriving Across Generations at Workday

Our UNIDOS Employee Belonging Council (EBC) was created to build a strong sense of community among our LatinX Workmates. For many, community connections start well before they become Workmates. Personal connections often inspire people to join a company — whether it’s a friend, mentor, or in some cases, a parent. Sometimes the legacy of belonging and opportunity runs deeper, with parents and children finding their paths crossing at Workday, connected by both family and our UNIDOS community.

Today, we’re excited to sit down with Liz and Rodrigo, two Workmates who influenced their respective children, Cristian and Natalia, to join the company. We’ll explore what sparked their passion for the industry, how their career journeys began, and the unique experience of building a career alongside a parent. We’re also opening up the discussion about LatinX representation in tech. Together, we’ll explore how their experiences reflect both the challenges and opportunities to close the representation gap in tech.

Uniting our LatinX Community- The UNIDOS Way

Rodrigo, a founding member of our LatinX Employee Belonging Council UNIDOS, shares his journey to becoming a Workmate and how he connected the dots between his LatinX heritage and work.

“I joined Workday nearly 10 years ago to lead the development team for the Absence Management product. In 2017, I transitioned to lead the Time Tracking team, guiding its impressive growth from 15 to 60 members across multiple locations, establishing strong hubs in Dublin and Atlanta. In late 2016, I became a founding member of UNIDOS.” Rodrigo continues, “Through this group, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to Workday’s culture by participating in awareness, recruiting, community outreach, and cultural events supporting the Latino/Hispanic community.”

A parent’s work environment is more than a paycheck — it’s a window into what their children may come to expect from their own future jobs. Which is what happened to Natalia, who grew up surrounded by Workday. Now a Senior Associate Software Development Engineer, Natalia reflects on how her father’s experiences shaped her perspective on the ideal employer. She values balance, people-centric values, and advanced technology.

“Dad has been here for 10 years, so I was always going to these fun events and lunches on the Workday campus. I saw how happy everyone looked. I’ve always been passionate about technology and knew it was my future, and the values and work-life balance I saw Dad experience at Workday were exactly what I was looking for in a company.”

After her senior year in college, Natalia accepted a role as an Application Developer at Workday, impressing the team with her exceptional skills. She’s also a member of UNIDOS, a community that has been a vital part of her journey at the company. Through UNIDOS, she has found not only a space to connect with other LatinX Workmates, but also a source of support, empowerment, and career growth. In her own words, Natalia shares how being part of UNIDOS has impacted her sense of belonging and her career path at Workday.

“I love it here,” says Natalia. “And UNIDOS is awesome! It is awesome getting to meet other LatinX employees through the group. Learning how similar we are culturally is a great way to connect with people, and provides me with valuable networking opportunities. I have been able to gain insights and advice on how to navigate my career at Workday. It’s really created a sense of belonging and empowerment that helps me feel even more included and supported in the workplace.”

Cristian agrees. He initially joined Workday as an intern after his mother Liz, our Chief of Staff and Senior Director of Business Operations, encouraged him to apply — “She has always raved about Workday” — and now, Cristian is one of our full-time QA Engineers. He’s also actively involved with UNIDOS, which Liz has been a part of since its inception, along with Rodrigo. Cristian echoes Natalia’s sentiments that UNIDOS has been a cornerstone of his Workmate experience, allowing him to make cross functional connections and gain valuable career advice.

“UNIDOS has provided me with an amazing platform for networking and mentorship,” says Cristian. “It’s allowed me to learn from others’ experiences and grow both personally and professionally. It has also opened up doors for collaboration on various projects within Workday, helping me expand my skill set and knowledge base. The Adelante program was one particularly positive experience! It provides career advice and guidance over a few months, and is very helpful whatever stage of your career you’re in. I still have regular get-togethers with the Workmates I met there.”

Our Employee Belonging Councils aren’t just about fostering a sense of community within Workday, they’re also about giving back to the communities in which we live.

“UNIDOS has not only provided me with leadership opportunities and networking, it’s also given me the chance to give back to my community,” Liz continues, “I’ve created programs that help with outreach, professional development, exposure, and increased representation. The various diversity and inclusion initiatives I’ve been a part of through UNIDOS have all been such valuable experiences.”

Liz created Adelante!, a grassroots initiative created to help set 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.

Championing LatinX Identities

LatinX identity plays a significant role in shaping the work experience by bringing a blend of perspectives, values, and cultural strengths to the table. For many LatinX employees, identity is deeply intertwined with family, community, and resilience — values that often translate into their approach to collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership in the workplace. At Workday, we celebrate how these diverse backgrounds fuel innovation and create more inclusive teams. For Liz, her LatinX identity has enriched her career by providing her with a sense of identity, pride, and empowerment.

“It has been a source of strength and motivation that has positively influenced my professional growth and experiences,” she explains as she reflects on her career.

One moment from her early years in tech, when Liz was working at another company, stands out in her mind. In her powerful reflection, Liz shares how a comment from someone at a previous company made her realize that some people would see her as different, regardless of her achievements. Rather than shrinking or denying her heritage, she chose to lean into her identity, using it as a source of strength and pride

“[At a previous company], I had a leader ask me if I swam across the border to get to America. I realized then that no matter what heights I reached or how hard I worked, there were going to be people that saw me as different and not always in a positive way. I had the choice of trying to blend in more and deny my culture or I could embrace it and show people that being a Latina, and being different, made me a great employee because I was going to work hard, share a different perspective, and treat others with respect, kindness and curiosity, in the same way I wanted them to treat me.”

Cristian echoes his mom’s sentiments, recognizing that advocating for diversity and representation in the workplace is a continuous effort. An effort that requires support from leadership, allyship, and a workplace focused on valuing inclusion, belonging, and equity.

“Being part of the LatinX community has taught me the importance of advocating for diversity and representation in the workplace. I have actively sought out opportunities to support other LatinX professionals, whether through networking or simply sharing my own experience, and UNIDOS has been a significant part of that.”

Rodrigo’s experience highlights the significance of representation in leadership, particularly for underrepresented communities. As a senior manager with a LatinX background, Rodrigo understands firsthand the unique perspective and passion that his heritage brings to the workplace.

“I believe my culture fuels the passion I bring to my work and the way I inspire others to perform at their best in every task. Workday is the first company where I’ve had the opportunity to actively support the Latinx community in a leadership role, both internally and externally. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the growth of Latinx employees in newer generations and witness their career progression.”

Empowering LatinX Talent to Thrive in Tech

While generational differences may exist in how we communicate or navigate the workforce, we’re connected by our collective goal of working hard and supporting one another. For many in our LatinX community, this experience goes beyond just professional growth — it’s about legacy.

As parents and their children work side by side, they’re not just building careers but creating lasting connections. From the support of family, to UNIDOS chapter members, to the broader Workmate community, these bonds empower the next generation to dream bigger and aim higher in tech, a field where LatinX professionals are traditionally underrepresented. Together, we’re breaking barriers and inspiring future leaders to bring their full selves to work and excel.

Natalia, Rodrigo, Cristian, and Liz all share advice for others looking to embark on a tech career.

• Make connections.

“Get involved!” advises Natalia. “Grow your networks and friendships in the LatinX community because having that sense of community, your sense of purpose will increase and others will inspire your growth.”

• Aim high and chase new horizons.

“High tech is an industry where Latinx candidates can and should thrive,” says Rodrigo. Our hard-working ethos, coupled with a genuine care for others, positions us to excel and go above and beyond expectations. We should inspire the younger generations within the Latinx community to aim higher, explore bigger opportunities, and increase our presence in a field where we have traditionally been underrepresented.”

• Don’t be afraid to shine.

“Know that you belong here,” stresses Cristian. “I know that we usually don’t see people of Latin backgrounds in tech, and that being in the industry can be intimidating, but I just want you to know that you do belong here. All the work that you put in will pay off. And, when you get a chance to show what you can do, do not be afraid to show it off!

• Find an organization that embraces nontraditional education.

“If you’re thinking about a tech career, go for it!” finishes Liz. “You have the potential to make a real impact here. Not everyone in tech needs a degree in computer science or engineering. Do your research and find out what careers are available to you. Reach out to other LatinX professionals in tech.”

While National Hispanic Heritage month gives us the opportunity to celebrate Hispanic and LatinX culture, UNIDOS gives us the opportunity to celebrate our heritage year round. That’s what makes work days brighter here.

A brighter work day is just around the corner. ☀️ Explore career opportunities here. For more #WDAYLife content, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.