Victor Arias: Victor Arias Jr. wants to change the face of American business. As a partner with executive recruitment firm Heidrick and Struggles and a member of the NAA, Arias is committed to placing a greater number of Latino professionals into top executive positions

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, Feb-March, 2006

Although Heidrick and Struggles places candidates in such prestigious places as corporate boards, at the helm of school districts or in business leadership positions regardless of ethnicity, Arias feels compelled to help put more Latinos in the executive spotlight.

"It's a personal objective of mine to make sure that I get as much opportunity for Latinos [to get] into major executive positions or on board seats," the EL Paso native and winner of the Stanford University Governor's Award, UTEP Outstanding Alumni Gold Nugget Award and National Society of Hispanic MBA's Brillante Award said.

Arias is not alone in his endeavor. He noted that corporate giants such as Pepsi and Kimberly Clark have picked up on the billion-dollar value of the Latino consumer. According to HispanTelligence, Latino-American purchasing power adds up to $700 billion a year and is expected to rocket to as much as $1 trillion by 2007.

"They [big companies] are tied into what consumers are buying, whether panales (diapers) or chips. The Latino consumer drives the new opportunity for these companies," Arias said.

The net worth of the Latino market is driving many companies to recruit Latino talent. For example, Heidrick and Struggles is currently helping Kimberly Clark seat a board of directors. The company, Arias said, is targeting Latino professionals for the job.

"A different kind of skill set is needed for corporate America to compete globally," Arias said. "I really think that being in this role (at Heidrick and Struggles) helps change the face of Corporate America."

The goal of bringing Latinos into executive offices was not Arias' original path. In fact, the University of Texas at El Paso and Stanford MBA program graduate veered into his position by chance. Arias' professional career started at Houston's First City National Bank, where the father of three served as an international banking officer who was responsible for a $25 million Latin American loan portfolio. He went on to win a partnership at LaSalle Partners in Chicago, then a post as executive vice president and national marketing director for Faison-Stone in Irving, and finally as executive vice president and regional marketing director for DHR International. Prior to coming to Heidrick and Struggles, Arias was employed as a consultant for Dallas' Spencer Stuart, Inc. In addition to his role at Heidrick and Struggles, he also serves as a member of AFC Enterprises' corporate board and Frito Lay's advisory board.

Victor recalls that periodically throughout his career, contacts suggested to him that he consider the recruiting business. "Lots of people said I'd be good at it, and I just got into it," Arias recalled. "But it's a great business, because it's based on building credibility with your clients and also on managing strong relationships. It's a very relationship-oriented business." One of the things he's noticed is a shortage of minority professionals in high ranking positions in every area of business, even recruiting.

"There are very few Latinos in this business, or even minority professionals, period" he says. "This is one of those industries that control lots of data, information, and lots of confidential assignments at very high levels. This is one of those areas we need a lot more representatives, to ensure that we match up what clients need."

The lack of minorities, particularly Latinos, in big business arenas is why Arias is committed to the NAA's purpose, particularly that of the organization's Corporate Board Initiative, which specifically seeks to place Latinos in corporate board rooms. Arias co-chairs the initiative alongside Marjorie Torres, and he is very excited by the potential the Corporate Board Initiative offers.

"Companies that are looking for Latino board members can come to the NAA and say, 'Hey, I have a need. Can you suggest some people?' Many don't know where to find them; but we can be a resource for corporate America, and we have the type of membership that can add value to corporations in the governance area. It's a worthwhile initiative."

Arias is also enthusiastic about his involvement in the NAA's Pension Fund Initiative, which oversees collaboration with state pension funds and legislators and works to involve Latinos in pension management and investment. He believes participation in the Pension Fund Initiative is important. "How do you change the face of those board rooms and the governance of those pension funds? It's very similar to changing the face of the government and corporations," Arias said. "That's where the money is, and the influence, so we can reinvest in our community."

Victor also devotes his efforts to the NAA Institute, which, according to NAA CEO Regina Montoya, focuses on "education and strategic philanthropy," primarily by raising scholarship money to support outstanding Latino MBA students.

"We have some very exciting ideas on how to leverage our involvement and try to act as a funnel essentially through foundations and other non-profits trying to make a their investments in the Latino community," Arias says. "We can help leverage that capital for needs in the Latino community."