Finding Your Ladder: Dr. Cristina Padilla on Latina Leadership and Cultural Identity

In this enlightening episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo welcomes Dr. Cristina Padilla, a distinguished Latina leadership scholar, consultant, and coach. Dr. Padilla shares her journey as a first-generation Mexican American navigating professional spaces, her approach to culturally relevant leadership development, and valuable insights for Latinas and other professionals of color seeking to advance in their careers. What You'll Learn in This Episode: How cultural frameworks like "trenzas" (braids of identity) offer alternative perspectives to understand intersectionality The impact of being first-generation Mexican American and a child of immigrants on professional identity development Navigating career transitions without clear guidance or representation The power of creating spaces where Latinx professionals can connect and find community Practical strategies for overcoming cultural humility barriers that might hold back career advancement The importance of seeking validation, coaching, and multiple mentors throughout your career journey Key Insights for Professional Development: Embrace Your Cultural Identity Dr. Padilla shares her personal evolution from hiding her Mexican American identity as a child to finding strength in it as an adult. She discusses the concept of finding a "third space" where bicultural professionals can comfortably navigate multiple identities without feeling pressured to fit neatly into any single category. Create Your Own Table "If you can't find the ladder, if you can't find the table, then create your own." Dr. Padilla emphasizes the importance of creating spaces and opportunities when traditional pathways aren't accessible, sharing how this philosophy led to her co-founding Fluence and developing leadership programs specifically for Latina professionals. Challenge Cultural Humility When Necessary While humility is a beautiful cultural trait, Dr. Padilla advises professionals from cultures that emphasize modesty to recognize when this value might hinder career advancement. She encourages Latinas and other women of color to brand themselves, take ownership of their accomplishments, and pursue higher positions even when they don't feel completely ready. Seek Validation and Support Dr. Padilla's research and coaching experience reveal the importance of validation for Latina professionals who often don't recognize their own readiness for advancement. She recommends pursuing coaching opportunities when available and building relationships with multiple mentors who can provide different perspectives throughout various career stages. About Our Guest Dr. Cristina Padilla is the Chief Community Officer and Co-Founder of Fluence, a leadership development training and coaching organization. With a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego, she brings academic rigor to her work developing culturally relevant leadership programs for Latinx populations. Her research focuses on Latina leader identity development, with several peer-reviewed publications to her credit. Dr. Padilla is particularly passionate about her work with the Latina Success Leadership Program for MANA de San Diego, where she serves on the steering committee. Connect with Dr. Cristina Padilla: Fluence: www.fluencepro.com LinkedIn: Cristina Padilla, Ph.D. Chat with Host Lola Adeyemo: LinkedIn: Lola Adeyemo Personal Website: www.lolaspeaker.com Want to Get Involved? Apply to be on the podcast: Application Link Join Immigrants in Corporate Non-Profit Community: Membership | Facebook | Instagram Are you an HR, Culture, or DEI Leader? Email [email protected] to Get Your Workplace Community Employee Resource Groups (ERGs / BRGs) Launched, Leveraged, and Thriving! Send us Fan MailSupport the showThank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:www.immigrantsincorporate.orgConnect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.