By: KnowBe4
Published: 22 Sep 2021
Last Updated: 8 Aug 2023
From September 15 to October 15 each year, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of ancestors who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
At KnowBe4, we continue to build a diverse workplace culture where all Knowsters can be their authentic selves, including our Hispanic and Latinx communities. In today’s blog, we hear from some of our Knowsters that share about their heritage, how they are celebrating, and how they feel supported at KnowBe4.
Where is your family heritage from? I'm from the midwest; I was born in Iowa and raised in Illinois. Both of my parents are from Mexico.
How do you feel supported at KnowBe4? I love the diversity at KnowBe4! I feel my Mexican heritage is loved and welcomed by my peers.
What is something you’d like to share about your culture? Mexican culture not only has the most delicious and flavorful food, but it's big on enjoying life. We love to work hard and play hard! In my family, we traditionally have large family gatherings, and we all dance to cumbias or norteño music.
Who inspires you from your heritage? I can think of so many! From my sisters to leaders like Cesar Chavez and Benito Juarez, artists like Frida Kahlo and Guillermo del Toro, athletes such as Oscar de la Hoya, Alexa Grasso, and "Canelo"... the list goes on and on!
How will you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? I am celebrating by spending the weekend with my family. We will have lots of fun with food, drinks, and music!
Where is your family heritage from? I was born in Uruguay and moved to the United States when I was 13 years old. My grandparents moved to Uruguay from Italy, and later my parents moved to Florida.
How do you feel supported at KnowBe4? I feel supported by being a part of an amazing global organization that respects and supports all cultures. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work in LATAM and provide support to the region's local languages.
What is something you’d like to share about your culture? Uruguay is the smallest Spanish-speaking country in South America, with a population of about 3.4 million. The culture of Uruguay is known to be heavily European influenced, mostly by large waves of European immigrants, the majority of the immigrants coming from Italy after WWII. We drink Yerba Mate. Uruguay has the most cattle per capita in the world; four cows per person. We also hosted the first World Cup ever and won it!
Who inspires you from your heritage? I'm inspired by all the different Latinos that understand how important it is to maintain your culture; share it with others and embrace it!
How will you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? I celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by sharing my traditions, culture, and learning about other Latin American countries.
Where is your family/heritage from? My family and I are from Colombia.
How do you feel supported at KnowBe4? KnowBe4 integrates my diversity and culture into my work environment; always making me feel at home and part of the team!
What is something you’d like to share about your culture? Colombia has amazing food; arepas, patacon and empanadas. The music is diverse and the dancing is excellent. Colombia has beautiful mountains and beaches. We also have the largest wax palm trees in the world! We are also known for our coffee, exotic fruits, flowers, and emeralds.
Who inspires you from your heritage? Gabriel García Márquez & Fernando Botero inspire me.
How will you celebrate Hispanic heritage month? I plan to celebrate with music and an authentic Colombian dish.
Where is your family heritage from? My grandfather on my mother's side was born in Villalba, Puerto Rico.
How do you feel supported at KnowBe4? I love being able to celebrate all types of cultures through events and our employee resource groups. It's a safe space for conversation and nice to work for an organization that truly celebrates diversity.
What is something you’d like to share about your culture? Most people are surprised to know there are actually red-headed Puerto Ricans. My family has many!
Who inspires you from your heritage? I love Lin-Manuel Miranda. Not only does he celebrate our little island in his work, but he truly supports our people and gives back to the communities. From Hurricane Maria to the COVID-19 pandemic, he is the epitome of "orgullo" (pride).
How will you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? My boyfriend is also Puerto Rican and we are planning a trip to the island, my first visit! In honor of this month, we will probably make some Puerto Rican food at home and support local Hispanic and Caribbean restaurants too.
Where is your family heritage from? I was born in Venezuela. My dad is from Bolivia, and my mom is from Venezuela. My mom's dad was from Italy, and my dad's dad was the Duke of Macedonia.
How do you feel supported at KnowBe4? I received more support in the first year alone at KnowBe4 than in the last 15 years in other companies combined.
What is something you’d like to share about your culture? The food! Arepas, empanadas, black beans, rice, fried plantains, and shredded beef are some of the best meals on this planet!
Who inspires you from your heritage? Simon Bolivar inspires me.
How will you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? I will celebrate with a plethora of food!
Where is your family heritage from? I'm from the Bronx, New York. My grandparents on my mother's side of the family are from Puerto Rico, and my grandparents on my father's side of the family are from the Dominican Republic.
How do you feel supported at KnowBe4? I can recall a time about a year ago I was struggling, and my vice president, director, and sales coach developed a plan for me to help turn things around. They believed in me and refused to give up on me.
What is something you’d like to share about your culture? On my Puerto Rican side, the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York is big each year and celebrates the roots, music, and culture of Puerto Rico where you can connect with individuals who have many stories about the country's history. My Dominican side is all about family and music; bachata and merengue are well known. When I go to the Dominican Republic, it's always important to have our family gatherings.
How will you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? I will celebrate by doing what I do each and every day; spending time with my wife who is from the Dominican Republic. I am also creating the foundation of what it really means to be a Hispanic American, which will transition to my future children.
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