CommCore Blog and News

_{HACR President & CEO, Cid Wilson}

In the October issue of The Observer, we are featuring one of CommCore’s long-time clients, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR).

CommCore: Can you provide an update on HACR’s Power of Hispanic Inclusion effort?

CW: For over 35 years, HACR has been on a mission to advance Hispanic inclusion in Corporate America. We are powered by over 100 corporate members and our coalition board of directors of 14 major Hispanic organizations who guide HACR’s mission. Our dedicated full-time staff and I execute our mission through our programs, research, and advocacy. As the thought leader in the Hispanic inclusion movement, HACR shares best practices, fosters inclusive corporate cultures and develops Latino leaders who aspire to rise up the corporate ladder at their companies. We believe that The Power of Hispanic Inclusion^TM is not only our message to corporate America but also a message to all of America that our Latino community is a significant economic force in the U.S. However, our representation in corporate America, especially in the C-suite and corporate boards, is significantly lagging. This is our call to action.

CommCore: As CEO, you are the public face of HACR. What are some of the ways in which you leverage communications to help define the organization’s initiatives?

CW: As corporate communications have evolved, so have HACR’s and mine. We have a multi-pronged approach to our communications. That includes the organization’s use of social media, press releases, traditional media, and other digital means of communication. I recognize that as President & CEO of HACR, I too have a measurable following. I use my own platform to promote our mission as well as leverage my influence to promote the work we do, including making public statements, sharing ideas, promoting thought leadership, and ultimately influencing the movement to create a greater culture of inclusion and belonging for Hispanics in corporate America. I too use traditional media frequently, and I’m thankful to CommCore for their help in prepping me to be an effective person on-camera when conducting interviews with the media.

CommCore: Why is storytelling so important in your role?

CW: Storytelling is a very important way to build rapport with others. For me, I often share how I got my first big break working in the mailroom at a Wall Street investment firm which led to my meeting my eventual career mentor and sponsor who helped me move out of the mailroom and up the corporate ladder. From there, I rose to my first corporate board seat and was the #1 ranked Wall Street executive according to Forbes in 2006. But communications extends beyond sharing my professional story; it’s how I tie into the goal of greater diversity, equity, and inclusion for underrepresented communities. While I am proud of my professional and personal accomplishments, we all have great stories to share. The key is to share yours widely and publicly so that others can learn, connect and magnify positive inspiration.

CommCore: During the pandemic, what have been the biggest shifts in communications that HACR has made to maintain relationships with its members and stakeholders? How has this strengthened your mission to advance the inclusion of Hispanics in corporate America?

CW: When the pandemic hit, we had to re-evaluate our communications strategy. While our social media strategy had some minor strategic adjustments, we had to make major adjustments in how we manage traditional television media. That included learning about camera positioning of our computers, using backgrounds when talking to traditional media, and having tech checks in place prior to going live with the media. We also invested in our virtual platforms so that our stakeholders can continue to participate in our programs, mission, and advocacy. This strategy has actually expanded our reach and we now have more program participants and followers than we did pre-pandemic. As we emerge from the pandemic, we plan to take these learnings to continue to grow and expand our relationships, followers, and participants.

CommCore: If HACR’s leadership programs and summits transition to a combination of in-person and virtual, how will you create and maintain audience engagement in this hybrid approach?