LatinX Heritage Month Featuring Carla Sinfon, from Orchid Agency

LatinX Heritage Month has arrived, beginning September 15 - October 15. It’s the time to celebrate the achievements, history, and heritage of Hispanic Americans!

In the spirit of curiosity and celebration, we are highlighting our incredible LatinX team members. Read on for Carla Sinfon’s, Sr. Marketing Operations Manager at Orchid Agency,  incredible story of compassion, resilience and inspiration as a Chinese-Peruvian LatinX woman.

Can you provide background on your family's Hispanic heritage and what this month means to you?

I’m a proud third-generation Peruvian. My family is a unique blend of Asian, Peruvian, and European heritage. Years ago, my great-grandparents emigrated to Peru from China for agricultural work. My grandparents and parents were brought up with an Asian and Hispanic background and culture, such as language, religion, etc. Growing up with a large family, my parents instilled many family values into my sister and me. The most important value is “family first”. 

For me, LatinX Month is a time to celebrate the culture I grew up with. For a long time, Latina culture has been disregarded as lazy. But now, it’s being recognized more as an asset. Showing care for family above all else! 

This month, I challenge everyone to celebrate the LatinX community. It gives us the opportunity, not only to show what we can do but to celebrate where we come from. Each country has so much to offer, from history to arts to cuisine. 

What professional or personal advice would you give to others of Hispanic heritage?

Don't be embarrassed by having a different set of values than your peers, sometimes a devil's advocate is just what your company needs to find a new solution. Latino culture is so much more than just stereotypes.

Always be confident in your voice and never forget that your background gives you a different perspective that those around you!

Siempre ten confianza en tu propia voz y nunca te olvides que tu cultura te da una perspectiva diferente al resto.

What is the most significant influence on your career so far?

My greatest influence has been my personal beliefs/values and the people I surround myself with. They have encouraged me to continue to learn, stay open-minded, and never lose sight of myself through my career, reminding me how far I've come and how far I have to go. I wouldn't be here without them. 

I had to learn many of the skills I use at work daily. But, being open-minded and always wanting to learn is incredibly important to my job. I work with technology, so it’s constantly evolving and changing.  I also work with big teams, so it’s important that I know and understand what the end goal is.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Yes, just be yourself! Our world is becoming more and more open-minded, and if you're comfortable in your own skin, you'll find others who will accept you for who you are, Latino or not.

For those who learned English as a second language, and use it daily at work, remember that it’s okay if you don’t know every word or understand every single thing. Someone recently told me to think of all the things I’ve already overcome by learning a new language and using it every day! If you can do that, you can keep learning and you shouldn’t be ashamed of trying.  

Wrapping it up!

We’d like to give a huge thank you to Carla for answering these LatinX Heritage month questions with such careful thought. We are very proud of Carla for the challenges she’s overcome to break down barriers in the workplace. Connect with Carla on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.