E87 — Jon Valdez — Miami Born, Fuqua Made: A Lesson on Pride, Heritage, and Purpose

In this episode, host Sam Shain sits down with Jon Valdez to discuss his transformative journey of self-discovery, identity, and leadership.Jon shares his story beginning with his early childhood in Miami's Little Havana with his Cuban immigrant family, to an abrupt move to rural South Carolina. He opens up about the bullying he faced, the pressure to hide his authentic self, and the challenge of navigating his intersecting identities as a Latino and a queer youth in a conservative environment.The conversation shifts to a major turning point when Jon moved to Washington, D.C.. There, he finally felt safe to come out, build a supportive community, and meet his partner of ten years, Lucas. Jon details how his desire to make a broader impact ultimately led him to Duke's Fuqua School of Business. At Fuqua, Jon transformed into a proud, visible leader, serving as the President of Fuqua Pride and on the cabinet for the American Latinx Management Association (ALMA).In this episode, we cover:Moving from the bilingual city of Miami to rural South Carolina at age seven.The struggles of middle school, dealing with slurs, and eventually finding representation through media.Coming out to himself and his family, and finding his chosen family in the nation's capital.The modern love story of how Jon met his partner, Lucas, and how they navigated the MBA journey together.Why Jon chose Duke after MBA Pride weekend and his mission to make the campus more inclusive.Jon's post-grad plans to join DaVita's leadership development program in Chicago.Tune in to hear a powerful testament to the reality of "Team Fuqua" and the beauty of bringing your authentic self to every space you enter.