Careers

Global Opportunities

In 1982, I was given the opportunity to take on a foreign assignment. And along with my family moved to Mexico City, and worked there for two years - working with multi national clients. It was really that assignment that opened my eyes as to what KPMG was and is all about: serving great multi-national companies, working with great people, and really requiring individuals to step up personally. And the rewards were pretty significant…in terms of additional opportunities.

I returned to California in 1984. In 1994, as a partner, I was asked to take on a second foreign assignment, again in Mexico City. Being Hispanic, I'm bilingual, and understand the culture as well. And I was asked to lead a team of partners and managers to assist our practice in Mexico, to deal with some of the new foreign trade laws around NAFTA. And also to deal with the emerging marketplace there.

So I spent four years there with this team. My family went with me. We really helped that practice expand, restructure and really focus on the market.

Culture

I think we have a culture of developing people, and serving the market the right way. I think our people understand that we care about them, that we're providing them opportunities to develop their career, change jobs within the firm, get involved in the community, and travel overseas with the organization. I would say it's one of an entrepreneurial spirit in the sense of allowing people to develop their careers, at the pace that fits them.

Diversity

Yes, I have the pleasure of being a co-chair of our Latino, national diversity network. I, along with my co-leader, Mandy Fernandez, set the strategy and action plan together. We're developing the action plan for our network, and we're involved with really reaching out to our employees in that sector of our firm, helping with recruiting efforts, helping with development, mentoring, and really assisting those individuals to succeed with their careers here at KPMG. We're also involved with connecting with an external organization called ELFA. It's an opportunity for our professionals to connect with two or three thousand other successful professionals in the marketplace that are Latino, Hispanic, so that they can understand the value of a network; the value of combining their culture and language skills with our professional objectives.

Community Involvement

Well, in the office, as managing partner, I set the tone for our community involvement. I'm very involved with the INVOLVE group. And we've identified various communities here in San Francisco and the San Francisco bay area that we want to support. For business reasons, for community reasons, or things that are good for the souls, I like to say. I personally am on the board of directors of the Boy Scouts of America, the San Francisco chapter. We try to serve over 10,000 young boys that, like camping, developing values, or developing a skill set. You know, KPMG allows our employees and partners to indeed get active in their communities. And our people and employees like it. And the community appreciates it. And at the end of the day it is good for all.