Spotlight on our HOLA Latin American Employee Resource Group
At Scotiabank, a culture of inclusion is at the heart of our Global Community of Scotiabankers. Our 15 Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are grassroots initiatives that celebrate diversity and foster equity and inclusion.
October is Latin American Heritage Month!
To celebrate we had the pleasure of speaking with Katya, Pablo and Diego who lead the HOLA ERG Executive team. We learned more about HOLA, the Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Advancement and how it not only promotes the Latin American culture but also provides a forum for networking and skills development, not only for Latin Americans but for all people that like the Latin culture.
Why do you think this ERG is so important to Scotiabank?
Diego: HOLA ERG is embedded in the DNA of this Organization, it started in Canada +10 years ago to represent the interests of the Hispanic/Latin employee community. The HOLA Latin Network ERG Workplace membership has almost doubled from approx. 2K to 3.8K in one year, currently being the 3rd largest Global ERG following Women ERG (4.5k members) and LGBT+ ERG (9.6K members), with tremendous potential to further expanding both in Canada and globally. By being the Leading Bank of the Americas, we are committed to supporting the communities and the employees in the countries that we serve, hence Latin America represents one of the Bank’s main sources for business, growth, and employees. HOLA ERG provides a global platform for Networking and Skill building through its different programs, which are open not only for Hispanic/Latin employees but for all Scotiabankers worldwide who are interested in advancing their careers, skills, and professional journeys.
Why is the HOLA ERG important to you?
Diego: HOLA ERG is very important to me, the platform has been a catalyst for leadership, professional, and personal advancement. Through HOLA ERG I have been able to collaborate with leaders and teams from different areas of the Bank in initiatives that promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, helping all Scotiabankers feel valued, appreciated, and respected for who they are at work. I feel very humbled for the opportunity to be part of the HOLA Leadership Team and work with a pool of talented, motivated, and passionate volunteers in driving a vibrant and respectful culture that welcomes everyone regardless of race, sexual preferences, or cultural background.
What drove your decision to get involved?
Pablo: I have always thought that the key trait of any community is to help each other. When I immigrated to Canada, I noticed that the Latinx community was scattered all over the place, and in HOLA, I found an effective way of helping the Latinx community become closer and better. I joined HOLA 4 years ago, but it wasn’t really until 2021 when I decided to take a more relevant role to help shape future initiatives and make our membership stronger, larger, and ultimately contribute to bringing our community closer together.
What are some of the key upcoming initiatives for the HOLA ERG?
Pablo: We have a strong language program that includes Spanish classes, English pronunciation classes and the 1 on 1 Language exchange where we match an English speaker with a Spanish speaker to practice each others’ languages. However, we are not only about languages, we have also launched a Mentorship program that combines the power of 1:1 mentorship with peer to peer and group mentorship, and the HOLA talks, quarterly conversations with experts that share practical financial and professional advice. In the next fiscal, we will launch the Speakers Corner workshops on how to develop and deliver powerful presentations, and a Mobility program to provide Canadian (and other country) newcomers with a Buddy that will support them as they get established in their new country.
What is the one thing you are most proud of since being involved with the HOLA ERG?
Katya: HOLA has gone from being a “social club” to a supporting network of Scotiabankers that want to help each other personally and professionally. We have a strong group of volunteers that are working hard to develop initiatives for HOLA members all across the Americas, from Canada to Chile. These initiatives are created to elevate and inspire, enrich and engage, and empower and transform. When we see success stories like someone becoming bilingual or finding a new job within the Bank thanks to our networking programs, or making new friends from other countries, I feel proud that we were able to provide these tools that impacted someone in a positive way.
As we continue to celebrate Latin American Heritage Month, we thank Katya Castaneda, Pablo Cuevas and Diego Martinez Co-Chairs of the HOLA ERG for their time and continued dedication to our Scotiabank Latin American community.
Check out Scotiabank’s full list of Employee Resource Groups to learn how we are fostering inclusion and growing an environment to thrive, for every future.