Drift

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re lifting up voices from Drift’s own Latinx community.In this episode, Elias sits down with four members of Drift’s Latinx employee resource group (ERG). Spanning across the marketing, recruiting, sales, and customer success teams, Lorraine Chon-Qui Rodriguez, Luisiana Cruz, Orlando Gomez, and Francisco Oller Garcia share their stories of what brought them to Drift.&nbsp;Tune in to hear why Lorraine’s tennis coach is the reason she made it into the tech world, how Orlando found a community on Twitter, how Francisco learned to honor his roots, and what Luisiana was asking for for Christmas when she was 12 (hint: it wasn’t Barbies).&nbsp;

Lorraine Chon-Qui Rodriguez

Digital Marketing Specialist at Drift

Luisiana Cruz

Senior Sourcing Recruiter

Orlando Gomez

Drift for Startups, Sr. Business Development

Francisco Oller Garcia

Customer Advocate

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re lifting up voices from Drift’s own Latinx community.
In this episode, Elias sits down with four members of Drift’s Latinx employee resource group (ERG). Spanning across the marketing, recruiting, sales, and customer success teams, Lorraine Chon-Qui Rodriguez, Luisiana Cruz, Orlando Gomez, and Francisco Oller Garcia share their stories of what brought them to Drift. 
Tune in to hear why Lorraine’s tennis coach is the reason she made it into the tech world, how Orlando found a community on Twitter, how Francisco learned to honor his roots, and what Luisiana was asking for for Christmas when she was 12 (hint: it wasn’t Barbies). 





#6: Sharing Their Stories: A Conversation with Drift’s Latinx ERG

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re lifting up voices from Drift’s own Latinx community.

In this episode, Elias sits down with four members of Drift’s Latinx employee resource group (ERG). Spanning across the marketing, recruiting, sales, and customer success teams, Lorraine Chon-Qui Rodriguez, Luisiana Cruz, Orlando Gomez, and Francisco Oller Garcia share their stories of what brought them to Drift. 

Tune in to hear why Lorraine’s tennis coach is the reason she made it into the tech world, how Orlando found a community on Twitter, how Francisco learned to honor his roots, and what Luisiana was asking for for Christmas when she was 12 (hint: it wasn’t Barbies).
 
For more learnings from Elias, check out his quarterly newsletter, The American Dream. You can subscribe at https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/american-dream/




Get the American Dream Newsletter

The American Dream is a brand new podcast hosted by Drift's co-founder and CTO, Elias Torres. Once a month, Elias highlights inspiring stories from other underrepresented leaders as we work to build our own American Dream.&nbsp;

The American Dream with Elias Torres

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re lifting up voices from Drift’s own Latinx community. In this episode, Elias sits down with four members of Drift’s Latinx employee resource group (ERG). Spanning across the marketing, recruiting, sales, and customer success teams, Lorraine Chon-Qui Rodriguez, Luisiana Cruz, Orlando Gomez, and Francisco Oller Garcia share their stories of what brought them to Drift.&nbsp; Tune in to hear why Lorraine’s tennis coach is the reason she made it into the tech world, how Orlando found a community on Twitter, how Francisco learned to honor his roots, and what Luisiana was asking for for Christmas when she was 12 (hint: it wasn’t Barbies).&nbsp; Be sure to hit the subscribe button to get new episodes when they drop every month.&nbsp;In the meantime, be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with Elias, Luisiana, Orlando and Francisco on Twitter at&nbsp; @eliast, @LuisianaC, @OrlandoGomezzz, @VitaminCisco, and @DriftPodcasts and Lorraine on LinkedIn.&nbsp;For more learnings from Elias, check out his quarterly newsletter, The American Dream. You can subscribe at https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/american-dream/

Be confident, and do whatever you need to do to let that confidence shine. That’s the CEO of ALPFA, Damian Rivera’s, motto – and why you’ll always see him wearing suits with fun patterns on the inside. In this episode, Elias and Damian talk about what it means to bring your full self to work, especially as a LatinX employee. They cover important topics like how to confront microaggressions, how psychology influences relationships, and the importance of employee resource groups (ERGs). Be sure to hit the subscribe button to get new episodes when they drop every month.&nbsp;In the meantime, be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with Elias and Damian on Twitter at&nbsp; @eliast, @DamianfRivera, and @DriftPodcasts.&nbsp;For more learnings from Elias, check out his quarterly newsletter, The American Dream. You can subscribe at https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/american-dream/

Damian’s focus on social entrepreneurship would come as no surprise to people who know him. In addition to his client roles he served as Accenture’s Managing Director responsible for North American Hispanic American Employee Resource Group from 2011 - 2017. In this role he lead the strategic direction of 16 ERG’s across the US engaging in internal career progression as well as local market activities focused on improving the community in which the ERG is based. Damian also serves on the National Board of Directors of Per Scholas, whose mission is to “Break the cycle of poverty by providing technology education, access, training and job placement services for people in under served communities”.

Damien Rivera

CEO, ALPFA

Be confident, and do whatever you need to do to let that confidence shine. That’s the CEO of ALPFA, Damian Rivera’s, motto – and why you’ll always see him wearing suits with fun patterns on the inside.

In this episode, Elias and Damian talk about what it means to bring your full self to work, especially as a LatinX employee. They cover important topics like how to confront microaggressions, how psychology influences relationships, and the importance of employee resource groups (ERGs).




#5: How to Bring Your Full Self to Work as a Latinx in Tech with ALPFA's Damian Rivera

How to Bring Your Full Self to Work as a LatinX in Tech with Damian Rivera

Be confident, and do whatever you need to do to let that confidence shine. That’s the CEO of ALPFA, Damian Rivera’s, motto – and why you’ll always see him wearing suits with fun patterns on the inside.
In this episode, Elias and Damian talk about what it means to bring your full self to work, especially as a LatinX employee. They cover important topics like how to confront microaggressions, how psychology influences relationships, and the importance of employee resource groups (ERGs).



Easier said than done. That’s how Samara Hernandez describes building her VC firm, Chingona Ventures. Like Elias, Samara ditched her stable engineering career to start her own company, and she hasn’t looked back since.In this episode of The American Dream, Samara and Elias share stories of what it was like growing up as immigrants in the U.S., how that shapes the way they work, and the imposter syndrome they still feel today.&nbsp;Be sure to hit the subscribe button to get new episodes when they drop every month.In the meantime, be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with Elias on Twitter @eliast @DriftPodcasts.For more learnings from Elias, check out his quarterly newsletter, The American Dream. You can subscribe at https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/american-dream/

Samara founded Chingona Ventures to invest in founders from all walks of life, at the earliest stages, and be the first institutional check to get in. 

Samara Hernandez

Founding Partner, Chingona Ventures

Easier said than done. That’s how Samara Hernandez describes building her VC firm, Chingona Ventures. Like Elias, Samara ditched her stable engineering career to start her own company, and she hasn’t looked back since.





#4: Building from the Ground Up with Chingona Ventures' Samara Hernandez

Building from the Ground Up with Samara Hernandez, Founding Partner at Chingona Ventures

Easier said than done. That’s how Samara Hernandez describes building her VC firm, Chingona Ventures. Like Elias, Samara ditched her stable engineering career to start her own company, and she hasn’t looked back since.

In this episode of The American Dream, Samara and Elias share stories of what it was like growing up as immigrants in the U.S., how that shapes the way they work, and the imposter syndrome they still feel today. 





Getting more at-bats. Making connections. Pitching investors. Building capital. Playing the long game. This episode of The American Dream is all about the lessons that Elias and his guest Manny Medina (CEO of Outreach) have learned as Latinx founders. Like this episode? Please leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with Elias on Twitter @eliast @DriftPodcasts.For more learnings from Elias, check out his quarterly newsletter, The American Dream. You can subscribe at https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/american-dream/

CEO of Outreach, the #1 Sales Engagement Platform.

Previously led GroupTalent, Microsoft’s Windows phone Business Development team in Latin America and Canada. Before that, he engineered Amazon's compensation system for Amazon Associates (the web's largest and most successful affiliates business) and Web-Services, which accounts for 15% of A's traffic.

Manny Medina

Ceo, Outreach

#3: Founder Lessons with Outreach's Manny Medina

Getting more at-bats. Making connections. Pitching investors. Building capital. Playing the long game. This episode of The American Dream is all about the lessons that Elias and his guest Manny Medina (CEO of Outreach) have learned as Latinx founders. 


We're only two episodes in, and we already blew up our own schedule. Why? Because recently, Elias led a conversation with our partners at Inner City Weightlifting that was too important not to share. In this special episode of The American Dream, you'll meet four members of the ICW team who are sharing their experiences with systemic racism and mass incarceration – and the work ICW is doing to drive change by turning suffering into solutions (and mud into flowers). Thomas Washington - ICW Coach and Advocate:&nbsp;Thomas, M.P.H.,&nbsp;joined ICW in 2018 as a Coach &amp; Advocate who specializes in helping students achieve their ICW certification. He has been designing and leading workouts for students and clients there. Jermaine Taylor - ICW Trainer and Gym Assistant:&nbsp;Jermaine was introduced to ICW in September 2012. Prior to ICW, Jermaine was a reputed leader of one of the most historically violent street gangs in Boston’s recent memory. Prior to that, he spent time with the Department of Youth Services, with the earliest incarceration being at the age of 7. The direction in which Jermaine has come from is not indicative of where he is heading. Jermaine said, "ICW is the first program I've been a part of that wholeheartedly understands this. The fact that we take the time to deal with individuals on a case by case basis, and need by need basis really separates ICW from a lot of other programs. One mountain at time, one muscle at a time!”&nbsp;&nbsp;Feliciano Tavares - Chief Program Officer:&nbsp;&nbsp;A Boston Native,&nbsp;Feliciano has spent the majority of his almost 20 year career working with the "proven-risk" population across the state of MA. Prior to ICW, he spent the last 7 years of his career at the Boston Public Health Commission working for the Division of Violence Prevention's Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI). Throughout his career, he has shown a dedication for the improvement of the lives of the most vulnerable people within his community. Ian Kilpatrick - Head of Corporate Partnerships: Ian’s role at ICW is to build and create strong community relationships through its Corporate Training program. Learn more about ICW here: https://www.innercityweightlifting.org/ Be sure to hit the subscribe button to get new episodes when they drop every month. In the meantime, be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with Elias on Twitter @eliast @DriftPodcasts. For more learnings from Elias, check out his quarterly newsletter, The American Dream. You can subscribe at https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/american-dream/

We're only two episodes in, and we already blew up our own schedule. Why? Because recently, Elias led a conversation with our partners at Inner City Weightlifting that was too important not to share. In this special episode of The American Dream, you'll meet four members of the ICW team who are sharing their experiences with systemic racism and mass incarceration – and the work ICW is doing to drive change by turning suffering into solutions (and mud into flowers).



#2: No Flowers Without the Mud

On the first episode of The American Dream, your host Elias Torres is joined by David Cancel (Drift co-founder and CEO), and Dena Upton (Drift’s Chief People Officer). Elias and DC talk about their backgrounds and upbringing (Elias in Nicaragua and DC in Queens, NY), what it means to be Latin American in tech, how Drift is addressing systemic racism in the industry, and more. Be sure to hit the subscribe button to get new episodes when they drop every month. In the meantime, be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with Elias on Twitter @eliast @DriftPodcasts. For more learnings from Elias, check out his quarterly newsletter, The American Dream. You can subscribe at https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/american-dream/

On the first episode of The American Dream, your host Elias Torres is joined by David Cancel (Drift co-founder and CEO), and Dena Upton (Drift’s Chief People Officer). Elias and DC talk about their backgrounds and upbringing (Elias in Nicaragua and DC in Queens, NY), what it means to be Latin American in tech, how Drift is addressing systemic racism in the industry, and more.


#1: We Gotta Break the System 

Did you know that Drift is part of the just 2% of VC-backed startups led by Latin American founders? Drift's co-founder and CTO, Elias Torres, is aiming to change that. On his brand new podcast, The American Dream, he's highlighting stories of underrepresented leaders so we can learn how to change the face of corporate America together.Be sure to hit the subscribe button to get new episodes when they drop every month. In the meantime, be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with Elias on Twitter @eliast @DriftPodcasts.For more learnings from Elias, check out his quarterly newsletter, The American Dream. You can subscribe at https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/american-dream/

Did you know that Drift is part of the just 2% of VC-backed startups led by Latin American founders? Drift's co-founder and CTO, Elias Torres, is aiming to change that. Subscribe to his brand new podcast, The American Dream, to find out how.


RECENT EPISODES

SEASON 1

ABOUT THE SHOW

The American Dream with Elias Torres

Elias Torres

Co-founder & CTO, Drift

RECENT EPISODES

SEASON 1

#6: Sharing Their Stories: A Conversation with Drift’s Latinx ERG

#5: How to Bring Your Full Self to Work as a Latinx in Tech with ALPFA's Damian Rivera

#4: Building from the Ground Up with Chingona Ventures' Samara Hernandez

#3: Founder Lessons with Outreach's Manny Medina

#2: No Flowers Without the Mud

#1: We Gotta Break the System

Introducing The American Dream

ABOUT THE SHOW

The American Dream with Elias Torres

Elias Torres

Co-founder & CTO, Drift