‘I’m Proud Of My Background’: A Celebration Of Latinx Heritage Month

Lifestyle

September 8, 2020

John Vomhof Jr.Staff Writer

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Best Buy strives to attract and invest in talent that reflects the diversity of all communities and fosters an inclusive culture that embraces our differences.

We want all our employees to have an opportunity to achieve their dreams. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re highlighting a few of the many Latinx employees across the company who are doing just that.

Here are their stories.

Mario Hernandez, Territory Vice President, Fort Worth, TX

Mario Hernandez grew up with a large, multigenerational family in a small duplex in New Orleans.

He says he was “raised by a lot of people,” but he recalls his mom as the “superhero” of the household. She would work overnight shifts as a nurse, then come home to care for him, his sister, father, grandparents and an aunt who was ill.

“She sacrificed herself for her family, and she instilled that in me,” he said. “That had a tremendous impact in teaching me about work ethic.”

Mario started working to support the family when he was 15 years old and has gone on to a successful retail career. He joined Best Buy as a sales manager at a New Orleans store in 2002 and now serves as a territory vice president, overseeing the day-to-day operations for hundreds of locations.

He refers to himself as “a developer,” but it has nothing to do with his computer science degree. He says his favorite part of his job is helping mentor younger employees, especially when he’s able to set an example for those who share his Hispanic heritage.

“I’m proud of my background,” Mario said. “I always tell people to develop yourself and pick up new skills, but don’t let that change the core of who you are. Don’t lose yourself — your family and heritage that make you who you are.”

Diana Bueno, General Manager, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Diana Bueno has always been competitive, going back to her time as a track and field star when she was growing up in Colombia.

“My mother and father always supported me in my activities, and giving my best effort was never negotiable,” she said. “They helped me realize goals cannot be reached without hard work, consistency and persistence.”

Those lessons helped her earn an athletic scholarship in Puerto Rico and have also helped her thrive in her career at Best Buy.

Diana started as a customer service specialist 12 years ago and quickly advanced to a variety of supervisor and assistant manager roles. She’s now the general manager of a high-performing store in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

While her competitive side drives to achieve strong business results, it’s the human side of the job that really inspires her.

“My personal and professional foundation is based on the values my parents instilled in me: hard work, empathy toward others and serving others without expecting anything in return,” she said. “They have helped me become a better leader and a better person.”

Fernando Martinez, Home Expert, New York City

When Fernando Martinez’s family moved to the United States, he was 14 years old and didn’t know a single word of English.

It was hard at first, but he soon acclimated to his new life in New York. So much so, in fact, that he chose to stay when his parents returned to Mexico a few years later.

“I felt like I was part of this country at that point,” he said. “I decided to stay and make a life here.”

Fernando became a permanent U.S. resident in 2013 as part of the Dream Act, and soon thereafter, he joined Best Buy. He started as a sales associate in the home theater department and later sold appliances.

He’s now a Home Expert, a role in which he visits customers’ homes to help them find the right products to meet their needs. He’s passionate about helping people bring their dreams to life.

And that’s what he’s been able to do, too. He loves his job and the life he’s made in the U.S. He and his wife have two young children and hope to buy their first home.

“I’m a success story,” he said.