The Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at DTCC foster an environment that respects and values diversity and inclusion. In addition to providing opportunities for professional development and growth, ERGs play an important role in working with senior leadership to address workforce policies and serve as a resource for innovative solutions that drive positive change.
The UNIDOS Mission is UNIDOS (UNITED) in creating an inclusive work environment and promoting professional development for our DTCC Latinx community and empowering our Latinx leaders to drive DTCC's business objectives.
Read on to learn more about Cristina, UNIDOS's recently appointed Co-Chair.
Q. Tell us about your role at DTCC?
I am a Senior Associate on the SIFMU First Line Risk and Control (FLRC) Group at the Jersey City office. I started my career in Global Business Operations as a Pipeline candidate in 2018, and in turn had the opportunity to rotate and learn the different core functions of SIFMU.
The SIFMU FLRC team group enables effective and efficient strategy execution and comprehensive management of risk, resilience, and governance priorities primarily for all SIFMU.
Q. What do you consider to be your biggest business accomplishment to date?
I am one of the original team members when the SIFMU FLRC (at the time known as SIFMU CoE) was created in 2019. That opportunity allowed me to be part of the foundational work of building out the mission and goals of the team. I led and assisted in the creation of several different workflows, metrics, reporting and documentation, in support of a proactive governance and oversight of risk and control activities that impact SIFMU.
Q. Describe your ERG journey?
I became involved with UNIDOS when I joined DTCC, because I have always been actively involved in the Latinx community, whether it was organizing educational programs on campus or partnering with local community non-profit organizations.
Being a first-generation Latina, and an only child, I didn’t have readily available resources or a network to lean on. Now as an early career woman, I want to be a resource to the next Latinx generation and help build upon our comunidad (community) through the diversity and inclusion efforts within DTCC.
Q. Which two organizations outside your own do you know the most people at and why?
I currently serve on the ALPFA NJ Professional chapter as a Board member. ALPFA is a non-profit professional organization that strives to empower and develop Latinx leaders. Although I joined the board late last year, I have been able to connect with so many individuals across the country and share our stories and ideas. It is an incredible feeling to be apart of a community who share the same passion of promoting and advancing Latinx talent.
I am also a member of a multi-cultural sorority, Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. (SIA). The goals of our organization are to strive towards the expansion of awareness of the Latino culture and serve as models of excellence among women. I joined during my junior year of college and have built long lasting relationships with incredible strong and inspiring women across the country.
Q. What is your favorite ERG activity and why?
My favorite ERG activity is UNIDOS’s Cafecito programming. Those forums allow me to meet and engage with different leaders within the organization that I wouldn’t on day to day interact with. Hearing their stories and success is inspiring for me and fuels my motivation, professionally and personally.
Q. Tell us a little bit about your plans/goals for your ERG this year?
Our main goal for UNIDOS is to provide different types of programming that focuses on workplace belonging and professional development for our members. We are also working closely with a group of Senior Latino and Latina Leaders in helping retain and advancing Latinx talent at DTCC. This focus group, alongside with DTMA, is pivotal in pushing the agenda of providing the necessary resources to our community.
I UNITE with my colleagues in providing the resources to empower and amplify the voices of our future Latinx leaders.
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