For 20+ years, Hernández has been hiring, guiding and supporting individuals from all backgrounds, creating inclusive and diverse workplaces at every organization. She is currently a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Latino Corporate Directors Association and the G-100 Board Excellence Program. Expect to hear more from her this year in the multicultural marketing space, especially with a focus on Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
What’s your boldest prediction about The industry in the next 10 years? Over this coming decade we will see the redefining of a new generation of storytelling… multicultural, multiplatform and interactive.
What movie or show is must-watch for celebrating diversity? Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a special movie for a few simple reasons. Unlike most big Hollywood films, especially superhero ones, this one has mostly Black and Latino actors and a creative team, which is still rare. The film also does a great job of showing the richness and variety of African cultures, as well as Latino culture. Another big point is that it includes darker-skinned Latino actors, which is important because there’s been a lot of talk about colorism in Hollywood. In short, Black Panther is a great example of MULTIculturism and inclusion.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about diversity within your industry? The biggest misconception in the media industry is that diversity is about checking off a box. The reality is that diversity is critical to media’s success, especially as “minorities” become the ’New Majority’ and if you want to succeed as a media outlet you need to authentically amplify diverse voices and stories across all levels of content creation, leadership and decision making. You need to reflect the diverse complexions and identities of America’s increasingly diverse population. And media companies need to hire employees and empower them to shape narrative, break stereotypes and influence our culture. As our country’s demographics continue to change, especially as we look at GenZ and Alphas, the brand that reflect and amplify diverse voices are going to be the ones that will survive… and thrive.