Frank Carbajal on Latino Leadership: From Migrant Farmworker Son to Silicon Valley Voice

Frank Carbajal grew up the son of Mexican migrant farmworkers in California's Imperial Valley, where summer temperatures hit 115 degrees and his mother worked the fields through her third trimester. Today he's the founder and president of Es Tiempo LLC, a co-author of three books on Latino leadership, founder of the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit at Stanford University, and a former keynote speaker in Ken Blanchard's network. In this conversation with Simma, Frank talks about what it actually means to be Latino in America today — and why that word doesn't fit everyone who could claim it. He breaks down the Bracero Program that brought his parents to the U.S., the "101 Infrastructure Divide" that shows how Latino hands built Silicon Valley while Latino representation in tech sits in the single digits, and why his mother told him being bilingual is a superpower. This is a conversation about immigration, identity, family, and what it takes to move from picking fruit in the fields to standing in front of executive boardrooms — without ever forgetting where you came from. What You'll Learn What the Bracero Program was, and how it shaped Mexican American families in California for generations Why "Latino" is not one identity — and how to talk to people about their background without making assumptions The real numbers behind Latino representation in education, the corporate boardroom, and venture capital How to start a conversation across race and culture without getting yourself into trouble Why being bilingual is a competitive advantage, not something to hide What "the 101 Infrastructure Divide" means and why it matters for anyone working in or with the tech industry How to spot the difference between performative diversity and actual connection Key Takeaways Latinos are not a monolith. There are 20 Latin American countries, multiple generations of Latino Americans, and people who identify as Latino, Latina, Chicano, Mexican American, American, or simply as a leader — and all of those answers are valid. The hands that built Silicon Valley are not the hands sitting in its boardrooms. Latino representation in tech leadership and venture capital is still in the low single digits despite Latinos making up over 40% of California's population. Conversations across race work when you start with what's in front of you — food, art, family, a shared interest — not with politics or assumptions. Bilingualism is a superpower. So is resilience. Frank's parents had third- and fourth-grade educations and built a life for their children through nothing but hard work. Leadership, not identity politics, is the through-line that travels across borders, languages, and generations. Timestamps [00:00] — Simma's opening: why this podcast exists for anyone who wants to talk across race but is afraid of saying the wrong thing [02:30] — Meet Frank Carbajal: Es Tiempo LLC, Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit, two published books, and the award he's most proud of (hint: it's not the corporate one) [05:00] —  What legacy means in a Latino family [07:00] — The elephant in the room: why race conversations are crucial conversations, and what "healthy conversation" actually looks like [09:00] — The numbers don't lie: 65 million Latinos in the U.S., but only 1–2% of PhDs, 1.5% of CEOs and board members, and less than 2% of venture capital [11:00] — What is the Latino community, really? Why "Latino" doesn't fit everyone — and why some people say "Just call me a leader" [14:00] — The Bracero Program explained: Frank's parents, migrant farmworkers, and the pathway that shaped a generation of Mexican American families [17:00] — Born on Juneteenth in 115-degree heat: Frank's mother worked the fields through her third trimester and almost died giving birth to him [19:00] — The 101 Infrastructure Divide: how Latino hands built Silicon Valley's buildings by hand — including NVIDIA's $4.9 trillion headquarters — while Latino representation in tech stays in the single digits [22:00] — When Simma brought a Spanish-speaking facilitator to a workshop, and her class hated him. Why language alone is not connection. [25:00] — Frank's mother's wisdom on sangrón: how she could spot arrogance instantly, and why she'd rather work with a humble white person who spoke Spanish than an arrogant Latino with a sense of entitlement [28:00] — Bilingual is a superpower: Frank's parents told him to never be embarrassed, and why he tells his own daughters the same thing [30:00] — "Wow, you speak without an accent" — the microaggression Latino professionals know too well, and how Frank handles it [32:00] — Afro-Latinos, Caribbean Latinos, Mexican Americans, Chicanos, Latinos of European descent: why the Latino community is not a monolith, and the language families use to describe all the shades within it [35:00] — Frank's Brazilian soccer coach who was Afro-Latino, spoke three languages, and taught a 10-year-old Frank what unity actually looks like on a team [37:00] — How to have a conversation across difference without stepping on a landmine: Frank's mentor's advice about reading the room — start with the Frida Kahlo painting on the wall, not politics [40:00] — Simma and Frank agree: food and stories are how you build a bridge. Why curiosity beats tiptoeing every time. Guest Bio Frank Carbajal is the founder and president of Es Tiempo LLC, a leadership development and keynote speaking firm. He is the founder of the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit, held at Stanford University, which brings top Latino thought leaders together from across the country. He is co-author of Building the Latino Future: Success Stories for the Next Generation (with a foreword by management guru Ken Blanchard) and co-author of El Futuro Latino, published in 14 Latin American countries. He was part of Ken Blanchard's keynote speaker network and works with CEOs, executives, managers, and small business owners on leadership development. Frank received the 2013 Father of the Year Award from Building Peaceful Families and the 2013 Portraits of Success Award from the Hispanic Development Corporation. He serves on the advocacy committee for the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. He is the son of Mexican immigrants, the husband of a Salvadoran American wife, and the father of three daughters. Connect with Frank Carbajal Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: Search Frank Carbajal (C-A-R-B-A-J-A-L) Company: Es Tiempo LLC Click here to DONATE and support our podcast All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist, helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker, and facilitator. Simma is the creator and host of the podcast, Everyday Conversations on Race. Contact [email protected] to get more information, book her as a speaker for your next event, help you become a more inclusive leader, or facilitate dialogues across differences. Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition)  Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Tiktok Website Previous Episodes Dr. Gina Paige on African Ancestry: How DNA Reconnects Black Americans to Their African Roots From Black Panther to Corporate America: Elmer Dixon on Race, Revolution, and Why DEI Is Not Dead Why We Can't Stop Talking About Race: A Conversation with Carole Copeland Thomas Loved this episode?  Leave us a review and rating