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Throughout my professional journey in leadership, I’ve come to recognize authenticity as a strategic advantage. As Latinas and other women of color step into executive roles, we encounter conventional models of “executive presence” that often fail to capture our identities, experiences, and values. These traditional norms are often anchored in patriarchal, monocultural standards, defining leadership through a narrow lens of authority and conformity.
For today’s leaders to drive real impact, we must redefine executive presence to reflect the strengths of inclusivity, creativity, and equitable influence that propel organizational growth.
Our role as leaders goes beyond creating cultures of belonging as part of an HR agenda; it requires a foundational commitment to authenticity that starts at the executive level. For Latinas and others from historically underrepresented backgrounds, advancing through leadership channels offers not only a valuable perspective but also a distinct set of challenges. Leadership today must prioritize belonging as a core business imperative and recognize authenticity as a powerful catalyst for innovation.
For too long, executive presence has been confined within rigid standards that emphasize a certain demeanor, tone, and style—qualities that do not always align with the lived experiences or cultural identities of Latinas and other leaders from diverse backgrounds. This limited definition creates pressure to suppress or dilute aspects of our identities, stifling the authenticity that makes us uniquely valuable as leaders and organizational culture architects.
As diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging advocates have long championed, “authenticity is power.” When we, as Latinas, bring our full selves to work and integrate our cultural values, bilingualism, and community-centered perspectives, we offer a richer, more inclusive vision of leadership.
Yet, conventional standards of executive presence make this challenging, perpetuating systemic inequalities that have long held back women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities.
Evolving Our Standards Around Empathy, Collaboration, and Emotional Intelligence
As our workplaces evolve, so too must our understanding of what makes leadership effective. Today, qualities such as empathy, collaboration, and emotional intelligence are reshaping the standards of executive presence. The command-and-control models of the past no longer resonate in a world that values inclusivity and connection. Leaders who prioritize inclusion and embrace authenticity—who create space for cultural expression and personal stories—are best equipped to build workplaces where everyone feels they belong.
Embracing authenticity in executive presence means honoring our cultural values of family, community, and resilience. It means showing up with empathy, integrity, and inclusivity. By leading with these values, we redefine what success and influence look like, and we create workplaces that reflect and respect the full spectrum of human experience. This commitment is not only a way to redefine success for ourselves but also a necessary step to build the inclusive workplaces of the future.
In reimagining executive presence, let us move forward with authenticity as our cornerstone, knowing that our heritage, our language, and our perspective are strengths. Leading with our full selves allows us to shape workplaces that honor and uplift diverse voices and to create a legacy of belonging, innovation, and growth for generations to come.
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Sylvia Banderas Coffinet is a respected media marketplace expert and accomplished C-suite executive with nearly two decades of experience in media strategy and multicultural marketing. Known for her innovative approach, Sylvia has launched some of the most influential Latino-focused media franchises, working with major brands like Ford, Delta, and Procter & Gamble to drive over half a billion dollars in revenue. Named a Trailblazing Latina Executive by Forbes, she is dedicated to elevating Latino voices and expanding diversity within the media landscape. Sylvia holds a BA from Columbia University, a Stanford Publishing Course certificate, and a DEI certification from Cornell University. Follow her @sylviabanderascoffinet.
