The Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) is bringing back its second annual list of the 50 Most Powerful Latina women in corporate America. This list gives a new spotlight to Latina women executives and amplifies their exposure across the country. In fact, three of the women on the list joined a corporate board last year.
This year, the nominees for our Most Powerful Latina list nearly doubled, with 15 business leaders joining the list for the first time, including Jessica Alba, acclaimed actress and entrepreneur, at number 10. These 50 Latina executives are running Fortune 500 companies, large private firms, and a few are entrepreneurs leading global companies. The four-criteria used were: the size and importance of the woman’s business in the global economy, the health and direction of the business, the arc of the woman’s career—résumé and runway ahead—and their social and cultural influence.
This year’s list of powerful Latina women prioritizes women leading large public companies with significant global operating roles, rather than c-level staff roles. It then ranks Latina women operating large private firms and, finally, entrepreneurs who have successfully scaled their businesses into the middle market.
The accomplishments of these powerful Latinas are significant. The list serves as a platform to continue their legacy and amplify their voices to inspire the next generation of women.
These women have received powerful advice along the way. Read their best advice here.
1. Geisha Williams
CEO and President, PG&E
Williams leads one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. Williams is the first Latina to ever lead a Fortune 500 company.
Since joining PG&E, Williams has overseen the company’s move to bring nearly 33% of its energy from renewable sources. The power company has also become a leader in renewables integration, grid modernization, and smart-grid technologies, while also achieving the best electric reliability in company history. In Williams’ own words: “In terms of greenhouse-gas emissions, the news is even better. When you add in large hydro and nuclear, nearly 70% of the electricity on PG&E’s grid is now GHG-free—something we’re very proud of.”
2. Grace Puma
Executive Vice President Global Operations, PepsiCo
As executive vice president of global operations at PepsiCo, Puma directs a broad scope of activities spanning PepsiCo’s $63 billion portfolio that includes Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Quaker Oats, Gatorade, and Tropicana. Under her purview are global procurement, in which she manages more than $25 billion of spending; global manufacturing operations and warehousing, where she drives quality, efficiency and ensures capacity for growth around the world; and global safety and security, where her focus is protecting the welfare of more than 250,000 PepsiCo employees. Before joining PepsiCo in 2010, Puma held leadership positions at United Airlines, Kraft Foods, Motorola, and Gillette. She currently serves on the board of Williams-Sonoma.
3. Maria Castañón Moats
Vice Chair – U.S. and Mexico Assurance Leader, PwC
This powerful Latina serves as a member of the U.S. leadership team and the global assurance executive leadership team. Her leadership of the national assurance practice encompasses business strategy, quality and regulatory relations, innovation, risk management, portfolio strategy and business development, and human capital.
Castañón-Moats is a leader who has built her career by delivering great client service, primarily to retail, consumer, and industrial product clients. Her career spans accounting, financial reporting, investigations, and M&A. She has led audits of both public and private entities, and initial and secondary public offerings.
She is fluent in Spanish and has traveled on business extensively throughout the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.
4. Sonia Dulá
Vice Chairman, Latin America, Bank of America
Dulá has run all three divisions of Bank of America’s Latin America business: corporate, investment bank, and wealth management. This year, Sonia has dedicated 100% of her time to covering telecommunications and media companies in Latin America, helping to drive rapid transformation.
Dulá held senior posts at Pemex and Goldman Sachs. As CEO of Grupo Latino de Radio, she operated over 500 radio stations in Latin America and the U.S. Born in Mexico and raised in Brazil, Dulá speaks five languages fluently.
5. Gisel Ruiz
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart
Ruiz began her career at Walmart 25 years ago, and now leads operations for nearly 600 Sam’s Club stores in the U.S. with $60 billion in revenue. She also oversees the real estate division, in-club digital services and the operations transformation team.
Ruiz has held numerous executive positions at Walmart including EVP of people for Walmart International and EVP and chief operating officer for Walmart U.S. She has been honored by Latina Style as Latina Executive of the Year in 2010, and by Fortune as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
6. Maria Martinez
President, Salesforce Customer Success Group and Success Cloud, General Manager, Salesforce Latin America, Salesforce
Martinez brings over 30 years of experience in business and technology leadership roles, and her primary focus is helping customers transform their businesses and realize their ambitions faster.
Prior to joining Salesforce, Martinez managed Microsoft’s global services business, where she led businesses to outperform revenue targets and significantly increase Microsoft’s customer satisfaction rating. She also served as president and CEO of Embrace Networks and has held senior leadership roles at Motorola and AT&T.
7. Michele Docharty
Co-head of Global Synthetics Products Distribution / Global Head of Corporate Access, Securities Division, Goldman Sachs
She joined Goldman Sachs in 1989 in the investment banking division and has held positions in sales across the U.S. and Latin America before assuming responsibility for the Latin American cash business in 1999. She also is a member of the Americas Diversity Committee.
Docharty has been actively engaged in the firm’s diversity efforts, participating in the Multicultural Women’s Alliance and the Goldman Sachs women’s network. She was named managing director in 1999 and partner in 2010. She earned a BSBA from Georgetown University, where she has also helped lead the firm’s recruiting efforts.
8. Yasmine Winkler
CEO, Central Region, UnitedHealthcare Community & State
In her role as CEO of the central region, Winkler is responsible for approximately 30% of UnitedHealthcare’s total Medicaid business. She leads a team of 2,700 employees to deliver health and wellness services to over 1.9 million people. She also serves on UnitedHealthcare’s CEO diversity and inclusion council and UnitedHealth Group’s innovation forum.
Winkler has also held positions with BlueCross/BlueShield of Illinois, Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
9. Adriana Cisneros
CEO, Cisneros
Cisneros leads a third-generation family-owned business focused on media, digital and interactive, and real estate. She is also the President of the Fundación Cisneros, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving education in the region. Cisneros is also the co-chair of Endeavor Miami, a director and executive committee member of the Board of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, a trustee of the Paley Center for Media, and a board member of MoMA’s Latin American acquisitions committee. She recently joined the boards of Parrot Analytics, The Knight Foundation, and University of Miami.
10. Jessica Alba
Founder, The Honest Company
Alba is the founder of The Honest Company and Honest Beauty, companies providing more than 101 safe and effective products for baby, personal care, cleaning, and more. She’s a globally recognized business leader, entrepreneur, advocate, actress and New York Times bestselling author of The Honest Life, a practical guide for parents to create a safe and healthy life for their families. The Honest Company has donated over twelve million products and over 15,000 employee participation hours through its Honest to Goodness program.
Alba was among the top twenty of Fast Company’s 100 most creative people in business, and one of Fortune’s 10 most powerful women entrepreneurs.
11. Ana Pinczuk
SVP and General Manager, HPE Pointnext, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Pinczuk is a General Manager for HPE’s $7 billion services business. She leads a team of 25,000 I.T. experts responsible for driving customers’ digital transformation journeys and delivering HPE Pointnext consulting, professional, and operational support services.
Previously, Pinczuk was EVP and chief product officer at Veritas and led the company’s $2.5 billion information management business. She also spent 15 years at Cisco where she held various leadership roles in the services and engineering organizations.
12. Bernadette Aulestia
Executive Vice President, Global Distribution, HBO
Aulestia oversees $6 billion in annual revenue and distribution of HBO’s networks and platforms worldwide. Internationally, she is responsible for the operations of HBO-branded networks in 67 countries. Domestically, she leads distributions for the premium networks HBO and Cinemax, whether it be through cable, satellite, and telco companies or in the critical lodging business. Aulestia oversees HBO’s affiliate marketing group, which is responsible for the acquisition and retention of subscribers across all distributor partners. She also heads digital distribution efforts, including streaming products HBO GO, MAX GO, the newly launched HBO NOW, and HBO Home Entertainment.
13. Ofelia Melendrez-Kumpf
US VP and General Manager, McDonald’s Southern California Region, McDonald’s USA
Melendrez-Kumpf leads a $2.5 billion business unit, responsible for 775 McDonald’s restaurants. Joining McDonald’s more than 25 years ago as a manager trainee, she advanced quickly through all phases of restaurant management and supervision, in both the U.S. and Latin America. She joined the executive team in 2006 and has been the recipient of many prestigious awards for her visionary leadership. Melendrez-Kumpf has been recognized by the McDonald’s women’s business leadership network and Latina Style magazine.
14. Cynthia Hudson
SVP and General Manager of CNN en Español, and Hispanic Strategy for CNN/US, CNN en Español
Hudson recently expanded CNN en Español’s operations in Argentina and Mexico and expanded the role of cross-platform vontent across all platforms to continue the brand’s digital and social growth.
Hudson’s community efforts include being a director on the board of The National Epilepsy Foundation and vice president of the University of Miami alumni association.
15. Silvia Lagnado
EVP and Global Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald’s
Lagnado was also the creator of Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign. She has been recognized by Ad Age as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Advertising and by the Wall Street Journal as one of the Top 50 Women to Watch.
She has served as a non-executive director on several boards in the U.S., the U.K., and Brazil.
16. Cindy Robbins
President and Chief People Officer, Salesforce
Robbins works at one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work. In this role, Robbins leads the company’s efforts to attract, develop, and retain the best talent. She became one of the pioneers of Salesforce’s equal pay efforts, resulting in the company spending $6 million to address any unexplained differences in pay.
She has also scaled Salesforce’s unique culture that has earned the company top rankings in Forbes’ Most Admired Companies, Indeed’s Best Places to Work in Technology, LinkedIn’s Top Companies, and Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards.
Prior to joining Salesforce in 2006, she held positions at major technology companies including BEA, OpenWave, Plumtree Software, and Excite@Home.
17. Susan M. Santiago
SVP Global Select Service and Full Service Franchise Operations, Hyatt
Santiago is a hospitality veteran and has held an ascending series of food and beverage positions throughout the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean. She also served as general manager of Hyatt Centric Key West Resort and Spa and Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino.
18. Maria G. Hackley
Co-Head of Global Industrials Group, Corporate and Investment Bank, Citi
Hackley is a graduate of Georgetown University and serves on their board of regents. She is also a board member of Breakthrough New York. She’s a member of the Citi North American Corporate and Investment Bank Management Committee, Global Banking Diversity Steering Committee, Nextgen Recruiting Steering Committee, and Team Captain for Georgetown University recruiting efforts. Hackley received the 2012 Hispanic Business Woman of the Year award and is fluent in Spanish.
19. Francis A. Hondal
President Loyalty and Managed Services, Mastercard
Hondal brings 25 years of global leadership experience in consumer marketing, finance, and business management. In her new role, she is responsible for leading more than $1 billion in global loyalty services business, after serving as the Latin American Caribbean region EVP of products, marketing, and advisors services. Prior to joining Mastercard, she launched a business development and marketing services firm after an 18-year career at American Express. Hondal is a first-generation Cuban-American with a Bachelor’s degree in finance and international business and an MBA from Florida International University (FIU). She is a member of the dean’s council, a recipient of the FIU hall of fame for global leadership, and has established a first-generation scholarship endowment for women in business.
20. Ana Corrales
Corrales is responsible for supporting Google’s consumer hardware business. She is also a champion for diversity within the organization and serves as a member of the Women@Google board and is an executive sponsor for HOLA, Google’s Latino Employee Resource Group.
Prior to joining Google, Corrales was the cofounder of a solar startup which she sold as CEO in 2010. She has also served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Nest, and senior vice president of product operations at Cisco. Corrales is on the board of directors of Roli and Watermark.
21. Cecilia Gaye-Schnell
Divisional Vice President Supply Chain Texoma South, Walmart
Prior to joining Walmart, Gaye-Schnell spent 19 years with Mattel where she worked in logistics operations in Caracas, Venezuela. She went on to support the Mattel Latin America export division in Miami and became director of supply chain for Latin America (excluding Mexico and Brazil). Gaye-Schnell also serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, Florida.
22. Miriam Hernandez-Kakol
Hernandez-Kakol is a senior partner at KPMG. She plays a significant strategic role in shaping and building the management consulting practice, which has grown at a double-digit rate over the last five years.
She actively serves on the National Academy Foundation’s STEM committee, the NJ Junior Achievement Board, and the Hispanic Information Technology Executive Council Board.
23. Bea Perez
SVP and Chief Communications, PR, Sustainability, and Partnerships Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
Perez leads an integrated team to support Coca-Cola’s new growth model to become a total beverage company. She continues to oversee the company’s sports and entertainment assets including partnerships with the Olympics, Special Olympics, and FIFA. She also leads strategic and operational efforts for the company’s retail, licensing, and attractions portfolio of assets.
24. Alice L. Rodriguez
Managing Director of Business and Community Development, JPMorgan Chase
With 30 years of extensive banking experience with JPMorgan Chase and its predecessors, Rodriguez is responsible for driving the growth and profitability of a portfolio of approximately $6 billion in revenue, comprised of a national customer base of over eight million households.
Rodriguez has served on numerous boards and has held executive positions in business banking, consumer banking, and wealth management. She is a United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board member and has been recognized with several awards, including corporate elite by Hispanic Business Magazine and Hispanic lifestyle Latina of influence.
25. Myrna Soto
Soto oversees the security of all information and technology assets for Comcast. She also specializes in technology risk management and strategy, business and technology integration, and vendor management and strategic sourcing. Her responsibilities cover over 54 different businesses under the Comcast portfolio of companies. In addition to her role at Comcast, she is on the board of directors for CMS Energy and Consumers Energy and Spirit Airlines. She’s also on the board of the Hispanic IT Executive Council, where she serves as vice chair.
26. Nina Vaca
Under Vaca’s leadership, Pinnacle Group has become one of the largest Latina-owned workforce solutions providers in America. In 2015, it was the fastest-growing woman-owned business in the country and second-fastest in 2016 and 2017. Vaca is also a director of three Fortune 1000 companies. Vaca has been among the 101 most influential Latinos in America for the past decade by Latino Leaders. She is currently a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. Last year, she was inducted into the National Minority Business Hall of Fame and was named a trailblazing woman in labor and business by the National Women’s History Project. In 2014, she was appointed a presidential ambassador for global entrepreneurship and has traveled to five continents inspiring entrepreneurs globally.
27. Dr. Betty Uribe
Uribe is responsible for a $3.5 billion line of business covering retail and business banking. Under her leadership, CB&T has been named the best bank in Orange County for the past four years, according to the Orange County Register.
Uribe has lectured around the world and recently published the bestselling book #Values: The Secret to Top-Level Performance in Business and Life. She has an MBA in finance and strategy and a Doctorate in organizational leadership with honors both from Pepperdine University. She also serves on the school’s board of directors in addition to the University of Southern California and Next Step Asia, Hong Kong.
28. Dr. Veronica Muzquiz Edwards
CEO, InGenesis
29. Elise Vasquez-Warner
Vice President, Regional General Manager, Central Florida, Walmart
Vasquez-Warner joined Walmart in 1995 as an hourly associate after college. Today, she oversees 104 stores and approximately 35,000 associates across Central Florida.
Since joining the company, she was one of the first 16 associates to graduate from the prestigious Walmart Leadership Academy. She received the Pilar Andrade Excellence in Business Award from Yolo County, Calif. in 2008 and Regional Manager of the Year Award from Walmart in 2012.
30. Ro Rodriguez
Regional Vice President, Home Depot
With Rodriguez’s dedication to giving back, she is actively involved in community events. Her bi-cultural background has contributed to her success, as she is skilled at working with people at all levels within the organization and with Home Depot’s diverse customer base.
31. Gina Orozco-Mejia
Orozco-Mejia joined SoCalGas as an engineering intern in 1990 and today she oversees all aspects of gas distribution operations. She previously served as director of labor relations and was responsible for working with the unions that represent approximately 5,000 SoCalGas employees. She also serves on the board of directors for Adventist Health White Memorial Medical Center Charitable Foundation and the California State Parks Foundation.
32. Maria Fernanda Mejia
Senior Vice President, Kellogg Company and President, Kellogg Latin America, Kellogg Company
In 2017, Mejia received the BRAVO Business Award for dynamic CEO of the year. She was recognized for her role in leading one of the most successful food manufacturing companies in Latin America, as well as her leadership of Kellogg´s largest acquisition in the region (Ritmo Investimentos-Parati) and for championing Kellogg’s efforts in sustainability.
33. Yvonne Garcia
SVP, Global Head of Client Solutions and Program Management Operations, Investment Manager Services, State Street
Garcia leads a global team that develops cutting-edge technology solutions for Fortune 100 companies. Prior to joining State Street, she served as VP for Bank of America’s China Construction Bank Program. In that role, Garcia and her team created and implemented over five wealth management centers throughout China, which resulted in over 100 centers throughout the country. She is a fully certified Six Sigma Black Belt, and applies that discipline to every initiative she deploys.
With an MBA from Boston University, a BA from SUNY Albany, and certification in economics from La Sorbonne, Garcia also serves as the chairwoman for the largest Latino professional organization in the country, ALPFA, and has tripled its membership to over 82,000 members.
34. Ileana Musa
Morgan Stanley is increasing its focus in the international wealth management business and recruited Musa to lead its efforts. She has significant experience in international markets in the wealth management and investment management businesses and has spent a substantial amount of time working directly with financial advisors.
35. Jeannette A. Torres
MD Global Head of Investor Services, Alternative Investment Services, BNY Mellon
36. Monica McManus
Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Rotary and Mission Systems, Lockheed Martin
McManus is responsible for the development and execution of information technology strategy for Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS). One of Lockheed’s four business areas, RMS is a $16 billion business that includes helicopters, naval systems, platform integration, logistics, simulation, and training.
She has 30 years of experience in business, program, and engineering leadership and is active in the community, with a passion for STEM. A National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity board member and co-chair of Lockheed’s Hispanic employee resource group, McManus was recognized as one of the Hispanic IT Executive Council 100 the past three years. She is also a member of the HITEC board.
37. Rosa M. Ramos-Kwok
Beginning her career as a Morgan Stanley trainee, Ramos-Kwok quickly rose through the ranks to managing director. Following her more than 25-year tenure at Morgan Stanley, she joined Bank of America as the global wholesale bank chief technology officer. Today, she is the managing director of consumer and shared services operations technology and co-leads the company’s global technology and operations Hispanic-Latino advisory council, as well as the diversity and inclusion forum.
She is a Senior Leadership Council member of the New York Chapter of ALPFA.
38. Carolina Jannicelli
Head of the Law Firm Group, Private Bank, J.P. Morgan
Along the way, she pursued her passion for art history. Her thesis, The Chase Manhattan Bank: A Legacy of Art in the Workplace, chronicles the history of the JPMorgan Chase’s corporate art collection.
39. Michelle Freyre
Freyre is directly responsible for the company’s high-profile portfolio of Beauty brands including Aveeno, Clean and Clear, Lubriderm, Le Petit MArsellais, RoC, Rogaine, and Neutrogena, the largest brand within Johnson & Johnson Consumer. She is respected and has been recognized for her exemplary leadership qualities and her achievements in fostering a workplace culture that accepts and embraces uniqueness. Her industry accolades include: 2016 CEW Achiever Award, Top 10 2016 Latina Corporate Executives of the Year by LATINA Style Magazine, 2017 25 Most Powerful Women by People en Español, and 2018 Working Mother of the Year by She Runs It.
40. Carolina Juan
Juan heads Citi’s Global Subsidiaries Group (GSG) in the Latin America and Mexico region, based in New York. She has held several positions in product and banking within Citi during her 23-year career. She is a member of the executive committee for both the global subsidiaries group and the region’s corporate and investment bank. In 2014, she was awarded Citi’s global citizen distinction for her contribution to the diversity initiative in the region.
Prior to joining Citi, she was a senior consultant at Price Waterhouse, based in Buenos Aires.
41. Dorene C. Dominguez
CEO and Chairman, Vanir Group of Companies
Dominguez is the first Latina to own interest in an NBA team, the Sacramento Kings. Dominguez’s passion is to give back and she founded The Dominguez Dream, which empowers children in underserved communities to achieve literacy in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
42. Belinda Pestana
Partner and Regional Business Tax Services Leader, EY
As a partner and regional business tax services leader at EY, Pestana works with leadership on strategy for tax advisory and planning and is the global tax account leader on one of the firm’s largest clients, managing more than $60 million of tax revenue. A daughter to Cuban immigrants, Pestana is involved in various firm initiatives focused on diversity and is the diversity and inclusion champion for the N.Y. banking and capital market group. She is also a founder of Sound of Gol, a non-profit dedicated to the development of youth through soccer.
43. Karolyn Ferris
Ferris is a managing director and segment head for the endowment and foundation and healthcare business segments across the U.S. for BNY Mellon asset servicing. She has direct responsibility for front-office service delivery and directs various aspects of product management and strategic priorities, and new business development efforts. She’s a visionary and an energizing leader who sets the strategic direction and develops the resources and infrastructure that drive growth across the globe.
44. Yanela Frias
Senior Vice President and Head of Investment and Pension Solutions, Prudential Retirement
Frias joined the company in 1997 and has held a number of executive positions, including CFO of Prudential Annuities, VP of finance (individual life insurance), and managing director and asset treasurer, capital markets, and corporate finance. In 2011, Frias was listed in Treasury & Risk magazine’s annual 40 Under 40 rankings.
45. Christine Montenegro McGrath
Chief Well-being, Sustainability, Public & Government Affairs Officer, Mondelēz International
McGrath is responsible for leading Mondelēz International’s global impact for growth platform spanning well-being, sustainability, and community involvement; and leads the company’s engagement with governments and external stakeholders.
46. Carly Sanchez
EVP and Head of Talent Acquisition Strategy and Delivery, Wells Fargo
Sanchez oversees strategy and execution of enterprise recruiting and diversity and inclusion at Wells Fargo. Her team hires more than 90,000 people a year, managing 2.5 million applications along the way. Previously, she held senior talent acquisition and diversity positions at SunTrust and AIG. Sanchez is a member of the Asia Society’s Global Talent and Diversity Council and a founding member of the Institute for Corporate Productivity’s Talent Acquisition Leaders Board. In 2013, she participated in a national business initiative with the White House and the Rockefeller Foundation to drive inclusive hiring practices. She is recognized as a top executive in diversity by Black Enterprise and one of the 100 most influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business.
47. Anilú Vazquez-Ubarri
Chief Diversity Officer and Global Head of Talent, Goldman Sachs
48. Magda Yrizarry
SVP Chief Talent and Diversity Officer, Verizon
She is a founding member of 100 Hispanic Women and is an alumna of the National Hispana Leadership Institute. She is also a chairperson of ASPIRA of New York, an executive board member of the ASPIRA Association, and a member of the Catalyst Research Center for corporate practice’s expert community.
49. Roxanne E. Martinez
Recognized as a Most Powerful Latina in 2017 by Fortune, Martinez was appointed to the Board of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) in January 2018 and serves as the Chair of the Corporate Advisory Board for its Boston chapter. She currently serves on the boards of advisors to Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business and Bentley University’s College of Arts and Sciences. Martinez also coaches for and serves on the board of directors for Brookline Soccer Club.
50. Nellie Borrero
Global Inclusion and Diversity MD, Accenture
Since joining Accenture in 1986, Borrero has worked to raise awareness on the importance of embracing diversity. She has developed career progression initiatives for women in Japan, India, and Africa, an onboarding program for Latin Americans in Spain, and annual worldwide programs to celebrate International Women’s Day. Borrero has also worked to expand Accenture’s recruitment in the Latino community by partnering with several organizations such as ALPFA.
