Leading with Purpose: Supporting Hispanic Talent in Technology Artwork

Liz Career Coaching

Welcome to the Liz Career Coaching podcast, my name is Liz Herrera and I am your host, career coach and job search ally. I have dedicated most of my profession as a career coach and have worked with many clients and students that have found their niche or continue to strive to find career happiness, purpose and satisfaction. For many reasons, some people find themselves in a career path that does not align with their goals and overall purpose. If you are launching your career or ready for your next career move, this podcast will empower you to pave your path and take the action steps to get you where you need to be. Episodes will entail discussion and interviews around values, interests, finding career satisfaction, uncovering and leveraging strengths, and conversations with professionals in diverse industries. Music: https://www.purple-planet.comArtwork: Joseph Valenzuela Design

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Liz Career Coaching

Leading with Purpose: Supporting Hispanic Talent in Technology

September 09, 2024 • Liz Herrera • Season 8 • Episode 76

In this episode, I have a chat with Kelley Francis, Executive Director of the HITEC Foundation and a passionate advocate for increasing educational and professional opportunities for underrepresented groups in engineering, technology, and business. Kelley shares her journey from growing up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago to her work in the nonprofit sector, where she focuses on empowering Hispanic communities and women in tech. Highlights of the episode include:

Kelley's upbringing and how her family’s emphasis on education shaped her values.
Her decision to pursue Spanish and Business Administration despite external pressures to follow more lucrative career paths.
Her transition into the nonprofit industry, where she discovered her passion for serving underrepresented groups, particularly through her internship at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Kelley’s current role as Executive Director of the HITEC Foundation, where she leads efforts to provide scholarships, mentorship, and career development support to Hispanic students pursuing technology-related fields.
Kelley’s emphasis on the importance of mentorship, overcoming self-doubt, and the value of mindfulness and routines in her professional life.

Listeners will also hear about HITEC’s initiatives, including how career coaches and other professionals can support these efforts through mentorship or sponsorship.

Book Recommendation:

Uwavering: Rejecting Bias, Igniting Change, Celebrating Inclusion by Nellie Borrero

Connect with Kelley:

Connect with me!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizherrera1/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizcareercoaching/
Website: https://www.lizcareercoaching.net/
Email: lizcareercoaching@gmail.com

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Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
Sound from Zapsplat.com
Artwork: Joseph Valenzuela Design

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