Cid Wilson, president and CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR), acknowledges that many companies in the U.S. are striving for corporate inclusion for Hispanic people, but too often this representation ends at the entry level.

The results of HACR's 2015 Corporate Inclusion Index illustrate this problem. For the report, HACR surveyed 128 U.S. companies, including major names like Target, AT&T and McDonald's, and found that only seven percent of board seats were held by Latinos.

HACR aims to continue working to improve Hispanic corporate inclusion at the executive level through a number of different programs, including the Leadership Pipeline Program, which will be held at the J.W. Marriott in Chicago from Oct. 27 through Oct. 29.

“Given the very low number of Hispanics in executive positions, this program is intended to widen the pipeline of Latino leaders moving up the corporate ladder,” Wilson said.

The Leadership Pipeline Program, which is designed for mid and upper-level Hispanic corporate leaders and employee resource groups, is “a great opportunity for high-potential talent to network and develop leadership and managerial skills” while learning directly from established leaders who have risen to the top of the corporate ladder, Wilson said. 

Along with networking opportunities, the convention will include workshops and business sessions. Wilson said the program will focus on key factors for “moving up the pipeline,” such as personal branding, setting goals and understanding challenges.

Scheduled speakers at the conference include:

• Ana Dutra, President and CEO of the Executives' Club of Chicago;

• Jesse A. Mejia, author of ¡Rise Up, Mi Gente!: A Roadmap for Latinos to Achieve Success in Corporate America;

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• Wil Lewis, Diversity & Inclusion Executive at Bank of America;

• And Amy Gallo, contributing editor at Harvard Business Review and author of HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict.

HACR started the Leadership Pipeline Program in 2015, building on the legacy of another of the group’s successful initiatives — Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers, which began in 2007.

A coalition of 14 Hispanic advocacy organizations, HACR has been devoted to promoting and encouraging the presence of Hispanics in U.S. corporations since 1986. The coalition that comprises HACR includes organizations such as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the National Association of Hispanic Publications and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

With more than 20 years of Wall Street equity research and corporate finance experience, Wilson, a “proud Dominican-American,” joined HACR in advocating for Hispanic corporate inclusion as President and CEO in July 2014.

“To me, it’s not a job,” Wilson said. “It’s a passion and a mission.”