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Fostering Inclusion in Tech: Meet Jesús García-Valadez
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, GlobalMindED encourages our readers to explore the inspiring stories of Hispanic men and women. Join us in honoring their achievements and contributions by sharing their stories and supporting initiatives that promote inclusivity and diversity.
Jesús García-Valadez leads Google's Cultural Communications team, building and deploying communication strategies for Black, Latino, LGBTQ+, and Asian users and communities across the country. Over a decade at Google, Jesús has served as the first-ever Head of Hispanic Communications for Google & YouTube and as a founding member of Google's Consumer Communications team.
What is your personal/professional story?
I'm just a kid from Tijuana who is a lifelong dreamer and believes that we all have the potential to make a big impact. I came to the U.S. when I was 6 years old; Spanish was my first language, and I was eager to learn and explore. That eagerness led to student body leadership roles in middle school and high school. Working while attending college was an eye-opening experience that really prepared me to see the world as full of opportunities, and I've never looked back since.
I steer Google's cultural strategy in collaboration with product, marketing, and policy to advance key business priorities. Working closely with colleagues in public policy, philanthropy, and DEI, I've spearheaded multi-million dollar commitments to the Latino community through organizations including CHCI, UnidosUS, USHCC, Hispanic Federation, and HACU.
I've leveraged my deep relationships across the most important communications and media properties to champion Google’s most impactful social responsibility and business initiatives, including the Latino Founders Fund, Election Tools in Spanish, and Casa Google—a bespoke experience connecting Latino media influencers with Google culture and technology. Most recently, I've been driving a strategy to center cultural communities in the AI revolution to avoid a "digital divide 2.0."
Prior to Google, I distinguished myself in agency and in-house roles for top brands, including HP, Marriott, and AT&T, where I was instrumental in launching cultural communications teams, best practices, and initiatives.
I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Economics from San Diego State University and serve as the Board Chair of Mission Preparatory School in the heart of San Francisco's Mission District and on the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's Corporate Advisory Council. I'm a lifetime member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and an active member of the community across the Bay Area. I live in San Francisco with my wife and two children, whom we speak to in Spanish.
What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?
It’s always about taking big bets on yourself. Moving away from San Diego to San Francisco for a job was a big bet. Moving across the country to New York was an even bigger bet because my mother was ill at the time. Nowadays, using my voice is my biggest bet every day—to help share the work, our community, and the world.
Where does your passion to serve come from?
The potential for infinite possibilities for the future of our community.
How can GlobalMindED help you reach your goals?
Many people believe that you need to be in a position of power to change the world. But the truth is, anyone can make a difference. Everyday conversations, connections, and ideas can have a ripple effect. GlobalMindEd is committed to empowering individuals to create a better world.
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