Q: When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up and please explain if there was a story around that.
A: My family immigrated to the US from Mexico to achieve the American dream when I was only three years old. Being an immigrant and the daughter of immigrant parents meant that with hard work and an education, I could grow up to be whatever I wanted to be. My dream was to have a career within the music industry. I have a huge love and admiration for music because I come from a family of musicians and dancers. A fun fact – my name comes from the title of a waltz composed by my great grandfather in Mexico.
Q: What is one or two interesting facts about your heritage that you would like to share with us?
I am a foodie and grew up eating different Mexican cuisines. This includes tamales, empanadas and pozole. Something that others might not know is that tamales are not only from Mexico, but exist in different parts of Latin America. There are several variations as well!
Q: Who got you into the business or game of golf and what was your first experience at a golf course/range?
A: I worked for a nonprofit organization prior to coming to Troon and one of my former colleagues let me know if an opportunity with Troon. I applied, interviewed and I am still here! I golfed for the very first time when I was about 20 years old with an old friend of mine. He is a great golfer, and I am not. But I enjoyed trying to learn the game.
Q: Was there a mentor that helped guide you along your current career path and was there a piece of advice that helped you along your way?
A: I started working in HR right after high school while going to college and my former boss took me under her wing and guided me through the world of HR. Eventually, I became a Recruiter thanks to her help and open-mindedness, and her willingness to support me as a young professional.
Q: How long have you worked for Troon and what has been your career progression; what do you love most about your job?
A: I started working for Troon in October of 2016 – hard to believe it will be 6 years already. I was the first person to be in the role of Recruiter, as it was a new position at the time I was hired and was the only one in the role for several years. Today, I am the Senior Recruiter for one of the largest golf property management companies, working alongside a group of other talented Recruiters. I enjoy working with hiring managers to help them find diverse and qualified candidates to join the team and I enjoy watching these candidates grow their career with the company. In addition, Spanish is my first language, so I am bilingual, and I enjoy being able to assist with translating for our associates who do not speak English. I think it is important to make them feel like they are being heard.
Q: What do you do in your daily job or life to inspire other minorities to get them interested in the game of golf or into the golf business as a career?
A: Being in Talent Acquisition requires me to work hard to attract new talent to come join Troon. As a minority, I strive to make a path for other minorities to feel as though they can achieve a role in the golf business no matter what their background is. I work at this by sharing my career path with the company and reminding them that it can be done. It hasn’t always been the easiest task, but it is certainly worth it when I see another minority reach their career goals in the industry.
Q: What is your dream foursome for golf or to dine for lunch?
A: I haven’t quite mastered the game of golf so I will share the 3 dream people that I would love to have lunch with: Prince, Selena Quintanilla and Jay-Z.
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