Sep 25, 2022 | Inside Thomson Reuters

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we interviewed two co-chairs of our Latino Employee Network, Camila Laval and Rogelio Escalona, to hear about their experiences being a part of our business resource groups at Thomson Reuters.

Overview of the Latino Employee Network

The Latino Employee Network (LEN) is an employee-led business resource group (BRG) committed to creating awareness and understanding of the diverse backgrounds and experiences represented at Thomson Reuters.

Our mission is to grow, promote, and retain employees of the Latino community, in addition to fostering cultural and professional growth of the Latino talent within the organization. With our allies, we are dedicated to increasing representation, eliminating stereotypes through education and celebrating our diverse cultures.

With an organization as vast and matrixed as Thomson Reuters, being in touch with employees across different functions allows for a better understanding of how the company works. For example, Camila Laval — Senior Legal Writer & Co-Chair of the LEN – Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter — shared “I knew many colleagues in Editorial, but my network was not as strong across the Human Resources, Finance, Sales, or Marketing departments, or in other geographic locations. LEN has given me a chance to expand my network.”

Rogelio Escalona, Director of Business Development and Strategy & Co-Chair of the LEN – New York City chapter, shared his thoughts on what joining LEN can do for you from both a professional and personal standpoint. “It is a platform to jumpstart your connections both internally and externally. Otherwise, there are people you would not have the chance to meet. It’s like a whole world that opens up,” he said.

In an organization with over 24,000+ employees across nearly 70 countries, we want to make it easy for our colleagues to find community and connect with individuals that share similar experiences, languages, or identities. Joining a BRG like LEN opens the door to an expansive network of individuals and provides opportunities for mentorship, professional development, cultural events, community outreach, and more.

When asked to describe LEN in one phrase, Camila said it is “a BRG that brings together Latinos and allies across the United States to share our culture and network.”

“It’s a gold mine,” said Rogelio. While the Latino Employee Network is well established within Thomson Reuters, like everything, there is room for growth. “Work needs to be done, but what you can get out of it is very valuable.” The opportunities extended by our BRGs make it an exciting time to be working at Thomson Reuters.

Activities and events across the United States

LEN offers many opportunities to grow, promote, and retain Latino talent at Thomson Reuters with four chapters across the United States — including Ann Arbor, Dallas, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and New York City.

The hybrid environment of work today gives chapters an opportunity to collaborate across locations and extend the reach of their events, given that they are being hosted virtually and in person. Past events include panel discussions, leadership seminars, career-focused workshops, volunteer activities, cultural explorations, happy hours, and so much more.

Rogelio and the LEN – New York City chapter are part of a multi-organization NYC Latino Hispanic leaders community. By being a part of this external group, they both host and get invited to events focused on embracing Latino and Hispanic culture and amplifying issues impacting the Latino community.