Every year, from September 15 to October 15, we at Dataminr are proud to recognize and honor National Hispanic Heritage Month, during which we commemorate the invaluable contributions of the vibrant Latinx community in the U.S. In particular, we acknowledge and celebrate our incredible Latinx employees who continue to make our company a successful and diverse workplace.
As part of our celebration of the month, Dataminr Chief AI Officer Alex Jaimes discusses this year’s theme of Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together, his heritage and how he inspires others to succeed.
Can you tell us a little bit about your heritage? What is your favorite aspect of your culture?
I’m from Colombia. At times, I find myself struggling to answer this question because countries and cultures are multi-faceted. It never ceases to amaze me how diverse places and people from all over the world can be—while sharing profound similarities. When I think of Colombia, I think of a very rich mix of many things—all of which define its culture. Somehow, chaos and serendipity come to mind, mostly in good, exciting ways.
Who are some of the key Latinx pioneers you would like people to know about, and why?
There are many extraordinary individuals and pioneers who bring pride to Colombia—and Latin America as a whole.
One key figure that comes to mind—an obvious choice for many—is novelist and Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez. There’s no doubt he’s an icon in his field of literature, but I’d prefer to not label him as just a Latinx pioneer because his works transcend simply advancing Latinx interests. Through his writing, he was able to capture and spotlight many significant Latinx cultural elements, and make them accessible to a global audience.
Throughout your career and now as the chief AI officer at a pioneering tech company, who do you look to for inspiration? How do you inspire others to achieve success?
While I truly admire and respect pioneers from all backgrounds, throughout my career—rather than looking up to role models or heroes—I draw inspiration from everyday life and everyday people. For example, a simple conversation with a street vendor can be inspiring because they may exemplify brilliant entrepreneurship or have a unique perspective that is very different from mine.
As an AI scientist, I’m proud to work at a pioneering AI company and lead teams of highly talented individuals who are passionate about bringing positive change to the world. To help my colleagues to pursue their goals, I try to understand what success looks like for them and encourage them to explore what they really want that can make them happy, and how to reach the place they want to get to. After all, success is a very subjective and personal concept.
What do you think companies should do more of to better support their employees in their career—particularly those from underrepresented communities?
When I think about the next generation of Latinx pioneers, as well as those coming from underrepresented communities, I feel optimistic about their potential to thrive and succeed, even though I know they have to face many real and serious challenges. History shows us that barriers can be overcome. I’ve always maintained a belief—perhaps somewhat naïve—that anything is possible with the right mix of determination, discipline, resourcefulness and hard work.
More importantly, companies have a crucial role in guiding their underrepresented employees to understand available opportunities and access useful resources. The best organizations empower their employees to not only succeed internally, but when they ultimately move on, their experience can serve to nurture their growth and advance their career.
How do you usually celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month?
Although I don’t have a specific tradition to commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Month, I enjoy highlighting interesting and relevant content on social media, as well as supporting our company’s celebratory activities hosted by our DEI team and the Amigos@Dataminr employee resource group (ERG).
Whether you’re of Hispanic descent or simply appreciate Hispanic culture, I hope you continue to celebrate and support our vibrant cultures and individuals that make our world a richer place.
