Valdez often faces skepticism when she discusses the economic contributions of her community, humorously recalling comments like, “It can’t be that my housekeeper produces $4.4 trillion.” Raised in Mexico City and educated at the prestigious Tecnológico de Monterrey, she later recognized the impact of market research during her time at Nielsen, helping companies identify untapped markets.
In 1996, she immigrated to the U.S. to work for the Clinton Administration and settled in Los Angeles. Despite her impressive background, she experienced a sense of starting anew, as her Mexican achievements didn’t resonate in the U.S. This realization prompted her involvement with the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC), founded in 2010 to counter harmful stereotypes about Latinos in business.
Initially serving as a consultant, Valdez became president and CEO in 2015. She advocates for shedding Latino stereotypes in corporate settings, highlighting the economic potential of embracing Latino culture, as evidenced by the rise of Latin music and brands like Modelo beer. Valdez emphasizes that businesses that recognize this shift will prosper while those that ignore it risk failure.
