Press Release

http://www.wsav.com/story/23397274/worldventures-appoints-new-chief-people-officer

Escalera Program

NCLR ESCALERA

Angel Rodriguez

I am so proud to have been one of the founding leaders for this amazing program; along with Jorge Hinojosa, David Gonzales, Carlos Vinegas, Richard Montanez, and Hector Ramirez during my Frito-Lay days.  Those were good times with a real sense of purpose - below is Program Recap.  Just amazing success - Viva Escalera!          

In 2001, NCLR, in collaboration with and through the support of PepsiCo Foundation and PepsiCo, Inc., created the Escalera Program: Taking Steps to Success. Expanded with the support of Shell, the program promotes economic mobility for Latino youth by increasing educational attainment, career planning, and access to information about advanced careers. The program aligns with NCLR’s goals to eliminate barriers to employment and economic mobility while increasing the capacity of NCLR Affiliates to provide effective workforce development, education, and leadership services for Latino youth. The intent of the Escalera Program is to design a replicable program model for serving Latino youth that NCLR Affiliates throughout the country can implement. The program’s principal components are career exploration, technology skills development, leadership development, personal development, and academic support.

NCLR, with its Affiliates, has customized the Escalera model to address various youth population needs and create awareness about high-demand careers.

 

Impact

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, the national high school completion rate for Hispanics is 73%. To date, 88% of students who have enrolled in the Escalera Program have successfully completed the program and graduated from high school.

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, 44% of Hispanic high school graduates were attending college. To date, 87% of Escalera Program graduates have chosen a path to upward economic mobility by enrolling in postsecondary institutions. Escalera graduates are persisting in college past year one at an average rate of 89%.

The 2011 graduating cohort of the Escalera Program earned a combined total of $779,675 in scholarships.

Update on Program Successes

The Escalera Program was presented at the following conferences: 2010 Annual Members Forum of National Youth Employment Coalition, 24th Annual Conference of Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, 2011 NCLR Annual Conference, and 2011 Youth Symposium of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals.

NCLR published Beyond the Classroom: Creating Pathways to College and Careers for Latino Youth, an evaluation of the Escalera Program. The two-year study compares the college and career preparation of Escalera students and non-Escalera students.

NCLR published Plugged In: Positive Development Strategies for Disconnected Latino Youth, which profiles the disconnected youth pilot of the Escalera Program and addresses the obstacles faced by young Hispanics who are disconnected from school and work.

The NCLR Escalera Program and One Economy partnered to implement the Digital Connectors Program, which works to deliver the power of technology and information to low-income people. Seven NCLR Affiliates instructed 100 young participants to serve as digital literacy instructors and completed over 6,900 community service hours nationwide.

www.nclr.org/.../economic_policy/escalera_program

Leadership Interview - 2010

Leadership Skills from Angel Rodriguez, Business Leader - from 2010

 

Join Calgary Consultant Stuart Crawford withFrito Lay VP Angel Rodriguez as we discuss Leadership in today's world. Angel recently decided that speaking on Leadership post his career at Frito Lay was needed. Having the right leadership in place for the smallest businesses right through to the largest is crucial to success. Tune into Angel Rodriguez and Stuart Crawford for a 30 minute discussion on business leadership.

 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/themspshow/2010/07/22/leadership-skills-from-angel-rodriguez-frito-lay-f

 

YOUR CONFIDENCE FOUNDATION

  

Your Confidence Foundation

During my time at Frito-Lay, GE, and in the Community, the topic of Confidence has proven to be Critical because strong confidence is at the Core of any leader and Elusive because it is a constant effort to solidify as well as maintain.

My Point Of View on Confidence is based on my many conversations and experiences during my personal leadership evolution.  I hope that they will prove useful for you as you evolve and build Your Confidence Foundation.

Others will certainly Believe in You, Motivate You, and Inspire You.  However, you can’t wait for or depend on external confidence injections.  TRUE Confidence comes from within.  YOU have to believe in YOU.  This belief in YOU is fortified with the right combination of Self-Esteem, Personal Accountability, and Courage.

• Self-Esteem- Our self-esteem is often degraded by the that “little voice” in our heads, the “voice” of self doubt.  That “voice” that has been with us for as long as we can remember, it has been with us in the good times and the tough times.  Too often, the deep concerns from our lifetimes are relayed to us by that “voice”.  It says things like “I’m not good enough” , “I don’t belong here with these people from a different background”, ”don’t they see that I have doubts”, “I got promoted to a new role but can I really handle it”, “why do they believe in me?”, ”why are they looking at me as I try to make a point”, “I blew it last time, don’t mess up again”, etc.  We need to stop the “voice” of self-doubt.  The messages need to be POSITIVE.  We should tell ourselves “these people want to hear what I have to say”, “I belong here as I’ve earned my way”, “I need to leverage my strengths and work on my opportunities”, “I can’t wait to learn from others as well as share my insights”, “I feel honored to have people believe in me and I will make them proud!”, etc.  This changing of the “channel” is critical to success.  A positive mental attitude  will allow you to celebrate your strengths as well as approach your capability needs with purpose.  You don’t want to let yourself down.
• Accountability- Personal Accountability is the glue that holds your foundation together.  I often have asked people “if you have a friend who let you down, made you feel bad, missed appointments, and did not uphold commitments – how long would they be your friend?”.  The answer is always “for not long”.  Why do we do these very same things to ourselves?  We let ourselves down for a variety of reasons. However, over-commitment and the subsequent frustration  are often primary drivers.  These roadblocks can be dealt with thru reasonable goal setting along with personal clarity.  Think about the many roles that you play in your life – a mother/father, son/daughter. servant, brother/sister, professional, employee,  executive, community leader, friend, citizen, human being, etc.  Think about the many areas in which you engage – emotional, intellectual, physical, financial, spiritual, societal, professional, etc.  These areas need goals to be fulfilled.  I recommend that you decide where you will play your focus over the next year as it relates to your multi-year plans.  Consider your many roles as you make your decisions.  For example, on the emotional level, you may decide that you need to place more of a focus on being a better parent to truly fulfill your family’s potential.  Then set goals around how you will engage with your children, time you will spend as a family unit, how often you will call your parents, etc. The long term impact will be that you will role model for your children how a parent should express their love.  You also might want to combine focus areas.  For example, if your long-term goal is to be a Senior Executive and you feel that your Financial base is light.  Going after an MBA satisfies your Intellectual need while enabling your Professional goal.
• Courage- I have often said that “Our resolve is greater than our circumstances”. We don’t always see this when are in the storm or faced with a challenge.  To draw upon this courage, you should leverage your confidence foundation by calling upon the entities that give you strength.  Who are you fighting for?  Who is depending on me?  Who has inspired you? A tact that could work is to think about the important people in your life – past and present.  Lao Tzu’s quote says it all - ”Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”  Despite the challenges you face, there are people who have believed in you and whom you won’t let down.  When fear creeps in, turn it on it’s ear and leverage it to drive you to maximize your success.  Move Forward With Courage.

Well, that’s all for now.  I hope that these insights resonated with you.
Special thanks to each of you for your support.  Please let me know if there is anything that you would like for me to comment on.
Take care, Angel

A MESSAGE TO OUR YOUTH

A Message To Our Youth

Several dear friends have asked me to craft A Message To Our Youth.

I’ve had the honor of speaking with hundreds of young people and have been a contributing force behind several community initiatives at GE and Frito-Lay.   

In my opinion, there are Three ”A’s” for young leaders to always consider as they forge their path to success – Attitude, Aptitude, and Action. 

• Attitude – As a young leader, you might feel alone, unsure, and misunderstood.  These feelings are natural.  Regardless, don’t let them prevent you from making your positive mark on the world.  Realize that there are many others who have felt the same way and have risen above the negative emotions to achieve tremendous results.  Also, realize that that you are NEVER alone.  There are many people who want you to succeed and are willing to help – Family, Friends, and Community Leaders who truly care.  Don’t let pride or fear prevent you from asking for the support.  I often hear “I did not want to bother you” or “I did know how to ask you”.  These are incorrect thoughts that limit your success.  In fact, most people are very interested in sharing their experiences.  They will often see themselves in you.   Honor them with your respect and you will receive wisdom beyond your imagination.  However, I do acknowledge that Life will likely throw obstacles in your path.  See these roadblocks as an opportunity to grow, a chance to learn.  Your WILL to succeed WILL overcome your circumstances.  Please have the strength to remain positive and/or count on other’s to be strong for you.  Don’t forget that you will always have people that believe in you – often more than you believe in yourself.  Winston Churchill once said “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty”.  Powerful words from an amazing leader.  It is a message about your frame of reference – how YOU see the world.   If you see things in a Optimistc  light, you will attract Optimistic results.   Also, you will feel better mentally, physically and spiritually about your life – your present and future. Tal-Ben Shahar’s book “Happier” is a terrific study on the effects of a positive outlook on life.  I highly recommend it.   Finally, you should take the approach that you will improve EVERYTHING that you touch and leave a positive mark on others.  You will quickly develop a reputation of someone with a bright future and be admired by your classmates, friends, and family.  You will begin to form the foundation of your Legacy, the road map to your greatness.  You will grow into the leader that you are destined to become.
• Aptitude - Webster’s Dictionary describes Aptitude as “capability; ability; innate or acquired capacity for something; talent; readiness or quickness in learning; intelligence”.  Please pay special note to the “innate or acquired capacity for something” comment.  Sure, some people seem to just be born for things.  This is often referred to as a person’s innate gift.  However, there are many skills and gifts that are developed by a relentless focus on improving your skills, on improving your knowledge, on improving your Aptitude.   I have seen many talented young people squander their innate gifts thru a lack of focus.  I have seen them passed up by “los que tienen mas ganas de aprender” – the young people who simply want to learn more.  To  increase your Aptitude, I suggest that you focus on several key areas; your Formal Education, your Writing Skills, your Communication Skills, and your Frame of Reference.  Your Formal Education is first and foremost.  Surround yourself with friends who share your same drive and who will push you to be better.  Don’t worry if you are not “popular” or feel out of place.  The students who focus on their Aptitude will eventually grow into the most successful people in their communities and in the World.  Put the time into developing good study habits, becoming accustomed to taking tests, and engaging with your teachers.  Your grades will speak to for you as you look to secure support for College and beyond.  Secondly, your Writing Skills are incredibly  important.  There are many ways to improve these skills.  Most notable is to fully embrace the rules of Grammar – don’t just gloss over them in class.  Learn them and apply them.  Additionally, I highly suggest that you commit to reading 10+ books a year in an effort to expand your vocabulary, study different writing styles, and increase your writing skills.  Also, you will develop a true love for literature  that will last a lifetime.  Thirdly, strong communication skills can be a huge asset for you as you effectively convey your message to others.   A common roadblock faced by young people is that “Little Voice” that I have referenced in previous blogs.  That voice asks “Am I saying things right?”, “What is he or she thinking about me?”,  and “Do they know that I don’t understand?”  Silence that “Little Voice” by speaking with confidence, staying focused on the person you are speaking with, and being an active participant in the conversation by asking good questions.  In addition,  if you get an opportunity to speak in public, strongly consider taking it.  Speaking in front of groups takes a lot of practice as you build your confidence and technique.  To this day, after hundreds of public speaking opportunities, I still get nervous. However, my technique and my confidence augment my resolve.  Strong Presentation Skills will take you many years to develop and you should start early.   If you have any questions on how to build these skills, please reach out to me. Finally, please expand your Frame of Reference.  Life goes way beyond your neighborhood, school, and circle of friends.  The past has many, many lessons.  Learn about your family history.  There are many people who came before you and paved the way for your success.  Your family stories will give you context and strength.  Also,  become comfortable with current events, learn about people from different backgrounds, explore other parts of the world, and make friends from around the world.  Technology has enabled a glorious age of connectivity.  Leverage it to increase your Frame of Reference.  
• Action – “Analysis Paralysis” applies to situations where people think about things so much that they wind up not doing anything at all.   We all know people that are always in the “Well, I was going to do that but I thought that …” mode.  To avoid this trap, young leaders need to develop a plan for success complete with yearly goals, evaluate those goals, and take meaningful action.   Without action, the days turn into months, the months turn into years, and you are left with a lack of growth.  In developing your plan, think BIG.  George Bernard Shaw once said “Some people see things that are and ask WHY, I dream things that never were and ask WHY NOT?”  Give yourself the license to dream and hold yourself accountable for achievement.  Ask yourself  ”Why Not Me?”.  If you identify a legitimate gap, then develop an action plan to secure the support that you need.  Remember, Success build upon itself and is contagious.  Once you get the taste of it, you want it more for yourself and others.  Be certain to share the positive results of your actions with others.  A close friend and spiritual advisor once told me “there is nothing wrong with abundant success. The only thing wrong is not sharing it.”  Great planning, goal setting, and meaningful action will reap positive results for you and all those in your life. 

Well, that’s all for now.  I hope that this reflection resonates with you and enables your growth.

Thank you so much for your support.

All the best

Your Brand, Your Reputation

Your Brand, Your Reputation

Companies build their brands via a clear plan, consistently invest in their growth, and relentlessly protect their images.
Individuals must do the same. However, many people don’t spend enough time on their Brand, on their Reputation.
Plan Your Brand Building
Lay out a 15 year plan for your journey.

• Ask yourself the tough questions – where do I visualize myself? What is important to me? What are my strengths and opportunities? Where is my Passion? What will people say about me before I arrive and after I leave? What will be my legacy? Seek Personal Clarity and establish your “VISION”.
• Clearly assess how the your Aspirations, Capabilities, and Choice Flexibility all intersect and/or complement each other. This is a VERY important item. Your Aspirations will change over time as your life matures. Your Capabilities will also evolve as your career progresses and you identify your strengths. Your level of Choice Flexibility is the true “governor”. It is impacted by the important factors in your life as well as your willingness to “sacrifice”.
• Identify the Core Life Message that will guide you in every arena. For example, mine is “Impact The Lives Of Thousands For The Better”. Everything that I focus on has this Life Message at the center.
  Set your goals along multiple layers – Professional, Personal, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Financial, Spiritual, Community, etc. Be reasonable in goal setting. Laying out numerical and/or situation based metrics is a great tactic. Year over year consistency is the key.

Invest In Your Growth

• With your plan in hand (or at least on paper), move forward with courage and intentionally seek opportunities to build your skills, craft meaningful relationships, and establish your image.
• Take inventory of the relationships in your life and align them against your goals. Are there opportunities for reciprocity? Engage in discussions with others about your goals and ask “how can I help you?”.
• Develop a Personal Board Of Directors. Imagine a conference room table with the “right” people in the room discussing, aligning, and advising on a very important item – YOU and YOUR SUCCCESS. Think about the 6-8 people in your life that you can seek counsel from with the assurance that they will be honest with you and feel vested in your success. Level does not matter – caring candor does. Do not limit the “board members” to current corporate partners – ensure that your entire life vision is reflected.
• Secure professional support in areas that you are not comfortable with or need support. Examples include Time Management, Writing Skills, Presentation Skills, and Technology.

Protect Your Reputation

• Be very aware of your leadership image. This is especially important as you progress upwardly in your career. The shadow that you cast expands exponentially with each promotion, with each success, with each positive interaction. This is an area that many great leaders have experienced a “speed bump”.
• “Dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres” means “tell me who are with and I will tell you who you are”. It is an old saying in the Latino culture that has been shared by grandparents across generations. This is also an area where great leaders have faced issues. Surround yourself with as many people as possible who share your values, have your drive, and exude positive energy. If there are people in your circle that limit your growth, then you should minimize their impact. Remember Greatness attracts Greatness.
• My experience is that when you face obstacles – you lift yourself up and realize that your resolve is always greater than your circumstances. Find the true confidence within and rise like the Phoenix that you really are. There are many who admire you and are counting on you.

Well, that’s all for now. I hope that these insights make a difference.
Take care of yourselves and those that you love.
I am at your service. Thank you.

Seize The Moments Of Truth

Seize The Moments Of Truth

 

Over the last few years, I’ve had several close friends who have faced “Moments Of Truth” – job interviews, exams, personal challenges, tough decisions.  We engaged in tremendous discussions on how to Seize The Moments Of Truth. Several of them asked me to blog about our learning's on how we maximize the powerful combination of  Courage, Preparation, Purpose, Confidence Aura, and Faith.

• Courage – The great Eleanor Roosevelt once said  “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself,  ’I lived through this….I can take the next thing that comes along’.”  To burst through expectations and achieve success in critical situations, we must first acknowledge our concerns, our fears.  I have often mentioned the “little voice” that serves to distract us and steal our confidence.  Our fears must be flipped directly into positive action.  Al Bru, former CEO of Frito-Lay coined the phrase“Adelante Con Valor” which means “Move Forward With Courage.” It is this type of  Courageous Mindset that will serve to fuel your success.  Imagine yourself in a positive situation.  Think about how great you feel after the successful interview, acing the exam, and making a great decision.  This visualization of success is very powerful.
• Preparation- Along with this Courageous mindset must come a definitive effort to enable an Improved Skill Set, your capabilities, your knowledge.  It is not enough to merely wish your way to a positive outcome.  If you have a big presentation, know your content and practice your delivery.  If you have an exam, study the material and don’t cram.  If you have a big job interview, learn about the company, prepare your answers to tough questions, and craft meaningful questions.  This preparation might even involve asking for support from others.  The brave Cesar Chavez said ”You are never strong enough that you don’t need help”.  Prepare yourself for the moments to come.  Knowing that you have done all that can to be “ready” will give you tremendous strength.
• Purpose – Juan Lopez from Amistad & Associates, a great friend and mentor,  once asked me “Angel, why is it YOUR time?”  Frankly, I had a very tough time with the answer.  I did not quite understand what he meant by it.  It was a sobering moment as I realized that I had no immediate response.  I had not spent the time needed to define my purpose, the compass that I would need to achieve my potential.  It was not until I crafted my Life Message, “Impact The Life Of Thousands For The Better”, that I began to embrace my destiny- to achieve success as I served others.   Accepting why I am destined to succeed, has given me confidence during the great times and strength during the tough times.  Knowing Your Purpose will drive you to effective decision making and strong actions.  I specifically want to direct this point of feedback to our young people, those future leaders who are considering their possibilities.  Be sure to ask yourself “what am I passionate about?”, “what am I good at?”, “who am I trying to please?”, and “why is this important?”   If you have big decision like choosing where to go to college, analyze the pros and cons of the choice, think about how the school might open doors for the future.  Think about how the choice enables your purpose – a purpose based on your passions and considerations.  Give yourself the license to dream big, you have a lifetime ahead of you and many people who will celebrate your success.
• Confidence Aura – In my opinion, the most successful people are those who are self-aware, those who are conscious of how they are perceived.  It has often been described as one’s Aura, our image.  Lucian Freud, the noted English painter, was quoted as saying “the aura given out by a person or object is as much a part of them as their flesh.”   The ability to create your aura of confidence is critical to your success.   As you approach your Moment Of Truth with courage, preparation, and purpose, you will give off a sense of confidence that others will pick up on.  Stand Tall, look people right in the eye, smile at them, and be genuinely happy to have the opportunity to succeed.  When you walk into the room, people will notice and will be drawn to your positive energy.  Have your “mojo” at it’s best.  I have been asked “what’s the difference between Confidence and Arrogance?”  The fine line between the two is based on your Humility.  A sense of humility acknowledges that you are indeed a work in progress. While you are confident in your skills and potential, you know that you are bound to get better.  Also, practice maintaining an internal Peace in tough situations.  Establish calming signals for yourself when you feel nervousness coming on.  Physical cues like curling your toes, making a fist, or paced breathing are very effective.  No matter what happens outside, stay cool on the inside.  This will help you explain yourself better, avoid “fast talking”, and allow you to think more clearly.  This insight is best captured by modern day philosopher and spiritual leader, Deepak Chopra, “In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you”.
• Faith – Faith is the most critical building block.  It is based on the belief that the Creator does not gives us anything that we can’t handle.  We must savor life’s lessons  on every level.  The greatest performers know that they were placed in a Moment Of Truth by the Higher Power.  Success which glorifies the confidence placed in them by the Great Spirit is the only option.  They also perpetually “Give Thanks” for their success by acknowledging how Faith made a difference.   This Faith permeates everything in their lives – how they impact others, how they lead, how they prepare, how they perform.  Mohandas Gandhi, a historical leader of enormous significance, proclaimed “My Life is my message”.  Amazing words to live and succeed by, all based on on a powerful Faith.

I hope that these insights are helpful as YOU Seize Your Moments Of Truth.