Employee Stories

Alex Picerno

Embracing cultural heritage and navigating career

As we celebrate Hispanic & LatinX Heritage Month, we hear from Alex Picerno on embracing her cultural background, her career journey, and the importance of mentorship programs such as Upwardly Global which has helped to rebuild her career when she moved to the US.

Can you share a little background about your Latinx heritage- where are you from, how did you grow up, and what cultures make up who you are?

I am originally from Quito, Ecuador. I grew up there in the altitude (9,350 ft) in a modern city surrounded by mountains and nature. Quito has a strong indigenous heritage combined with Spanish colonial history, so our culture is very much a fusion of traditions and languages. My first language is Spanish, but my grandparents spoke Quechua as well and I have kept some words by memory.

Latinx Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Latinx people in the US. Why do you think it is important to celebrate this and how does our society become better by honoring this?

Honoring contributions is important as Latinx people have significantly shaped the cultural, social, and artistic landscape of the US. Contributions range from music to food, social activism, politics, economy, and science, etc and it is important to highlight these so that we can recognize and appreciate the diverse heritage that makes US unique.

How do colleagues who are not Latinx help raise awareness and advocate for their Latinx colleagues beyond Hispanic Heritage Month?

Everyone can play a crucial role in raising awareness and advocating for Latinx communities all year-round by sharing and highlighting their experiences with Latinx folks. At work, colleagues can help by sharing and amplifying the work, initiatives, and opinion of Latinx team members hence helping in raising visibility.

As a Hispanic/LatinX person, how did participating in the Upwardly Global program help you shape your career?

Upwardly Global (UpGlo) helped me immensely in rebuilding my professional career in the US. I moved to the US 10 years ago and navigating the professional landscape was difficult as a newcomer. UpGlo provided the resources, training, and guidance necessary for me to access and seize opportunities. Through them, I was able to get an interview opportunity here at SC and landed my first role almost 9 years ago. 

What are some resources provided by Standard Chartered that have helped you navigate your career? What resources aren’t available for Latinx that you’d like to be?

Mentorship programs and networking opportunities have been helpful resources. As someone who at first struggled with the language barrier, a helpful resource that the Bank could offer is training / workshops on effective business communication skills. 

What advice do you have for other Hispanic/ Latinx colleagues who want to progress in their career?

I would say there are 3 important aspects to consider: 1) Embrace your cultural background. I believe that this brings a unique perspective to the table; 2) Build a strong network within and outside your workplace and community. Surround yourself and connect with people who can provide guidance and open doors for new opportunities and career growth; and 3) Do not be afraid of starting from scratch. Sometimes moving from a different country means starting over and that is fine. Embrace the journey and keep learning and improving your skills.

Working in a diverse organization such as Standard Chartered means there are many different viewpoints and ideas. What are some of the positives from working in a diverse organization? What are some challenges and how do we overcome them?

Some challenges relate to communication barriers and cultural differences. We can overcome these by fostering an inclusive culture where clear and open communication is encouraged and differences are embraced and seen as opportunities to add new perspectives. I think the most valuable benefit is the opportunity to bring together different experiences, problem-solving approaches, and varying viewpoints that ultimately help generate new and more innovative ideas and solutions.