The second annual AL DÍA 40 Under Forty event will serve to highlight and showcase some of the most diverse and impactful young professionals across the Philadelphia region.

At the event, taking place on August 27, 2021, Jael Conde will be one of the 40 honorees. Currently, she is the director of community marketing at Mendoza Group, Inc. 

Jael Conde joined Mendoza Group in 2015, holding multiple roles, including project manager and community marketing manager before being promoted to director of community marketing in June 2021. Before joining Mendoza, she served as regional sales director for National Coffee Park in Colombia, where she is originally from. She was also social media director for El Sol Latino newspaper and marketing director for El Zol Radio 97.1 FM, both in Philadelphia. 

A Rutgers University graduate, she recently completed Disney Institute’s Approach to Leadership Excellence program and is working on her master’s degree in business, management, and marketing at Harvard Extension School. During her free time, Conde crews for Anthony Robbins Research International at different events across the country and serves as marketing director for the Latin American Book Fair. Additionally, she serves as a board member of the Hispanic Leadership Association of New Jersey and Accion Colombia. 

When I started my professional career in the United States, my biggest challenge was accepting jobs that did not fit my professional experience because I was just beginning to learn a second language. Additionally, I realized that job candidates with nonnative accents were less likely to be recommended for top management positions.

Promoting diversity equity inclusion in the workplace is just the beginning of a much larger strategy. All organizations should be honestly and authentically inclusive. The first step could be to create an inclusive environment and a strategic plan for true DEI. There should be a consistent strategy in place to ensure the diverse and inclusive environment elevates to provide opportunities to grow, contribute and be integral to operations. Organizations need to promote pay equity, create Employee Resources Groups—to help build a culture of connection and belonging and make room for everyone at the table because every person's voice adds value. No one person can, or should, ever be the "token" human to represent an entire community. Effective DEI strategies are important because they build culture, help to support employees, and create a thriving business. Inclusive company cultures facilitate innovation by encouraging input from a wide variety of perspectives.

Leadership to me is much more than a position or job title—it's about creating positive transformations throughout our organization and community. Being a leader means leading with my heart, not just with my mind, and making meaningful connections throughout the journey. Great leadership depends upon the actions one takes concerning personal and organizational values and I believe that excellent leaders always display authentic actions, genuinely represent their values, are ready to serve with passion, and most importantly sustain an organization's values and vision during times of change.

I am fully aware that I am creating my future with every single one of my actions today; for that reason, I strive to invest my time in taking advantage of educational opportunities that allow me to grow personally and professionally. For the next five years, my goal is to continue creating a host of effective marketing campaigns and building meaningful relationships with grassroots organizations, community influencers, and a broad multicultural consumer base across different states. I will continue to support various boards and committees and continue my service at the Anthony Robbins Research International.