|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Maria Jose Rios, born and raised in Stockton, California, to parents from Cañitas de Felipe Pescador, Zacatecas, is a financial services solution engineer at Salesforce. She partners with banks, wealth managers, and insurance companies to design solutions that streamline operations, strengthen compliance, and enhance client engagement through the Salesforce platform. Grounded in the resilience of her family’s immigrant journey, Rios connects business strategy with technical execution to help financial institutions operate smarter and more efficiently.
What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
My greatest career accomplishment to date was being recognized as the top-performing Account Manager in Bloomberg’s San Francisco office and named one of the top Sales Rookies of the Year in 2024. I managed over a $30 million book of business, supporting some of the largest asset managers and pension funds on the West Coast. What I’m most proud of is the impact I had on client adoption and long-term relationships. I partnered closely with executive stakeholders to understand their needs, delivered tailored product solutions, and became a trusted advisor in their workflows. That recognition wasn’t just about sales—it reflected my ability to drive meaningful value for clients in a high-touch, relationship-driven role.
What is your greatest personal accomplishment to date?
My greatest personal accomplishment to date has been launching five ALPFA student chapters across Northern California and growing student engagement to over 450 members. As a first-generation college graduate and daughter of immigrant parents, I know how important access, representation, and community are. Building these chapters from the ground up, mentoring students, and creating opportunities for others like me has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. It’s a reminder that impact isn’t always about titles—it’s about opening doors for the next generation.
What do you do today to impact your community?
I currently serve as Vice President of the ALPFA San Francisco chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals For America. I lead corporate and community partnerships, membership growth, and student engagement. Through this role, I help create opportunities and supportive networks for Latino professionals and students, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.
One impactful initiative I led was creating the ALPFA student network, where my team and I regularly share scholarship and job opportunities for ALPFA students—connecting them to corporate partners and community members who want to invest in their journey. This platform has helped connect students to valuable resources and opened doors for their professional growth.
Because of my blend of leading corporate and community partnerships, membership growth, and student engagement initiatives, this network was a way to marry these efforts into meaningful impact for our next generation.
I’m deeply motivated by my own experience as a first-generation college graduate and the challenges my family faced. Giving back through mentorship, chapter development, and partnership-building allows me to help others overcome barriers and achieve their potential. Thanks in part to these efforts, ALPFA San Francisco was recognized as the Emerging Chapter of the Year at the 2025 ALPFA National Convention.
It’s important to me to create pathways for future leaders and ensure that underrepresented communities have access to resources and support.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I see myself growing into a leadership role that blends technology and business strategy within the financial services industry. I want to continue driving innovation by designing solutions that solve complex challenges and improve client experiences at scale.
I also plan to deepen my impact in the Latino professional community by expanding mentorship programs and creating pathways that support diverse talent development. Pursuing an MBA is part of my plan to build the technical, strategic, and leadership skills needed to accelerate my growth and broaden my ability to lead transformative initiatives.
What is the biggest issue that you want to help solve, and why?
The biggest issue I want to help solve is the lack of equitable access to education and career opportunities for underrepresented communities, especially first-generation college students like myself. Growing up as the daughter of immigrant parents, I saw firsthand how systemic barriers can limit potential and create cycles of disadvantage.
I believe that education and mentorship are powerful tools to break these barriers. By improving access to resources, scholarships, and professional networks, we can empower individuals to achieve their goals and contribute meaningfully to their communities. This issue is personal to me because I’ve experienced the challenges of navigating unfamiliar systems without guidance, and I’m committed to helping others find the support and opportunities they deserve.
What is a moment when you realized the impact of your work?
One of the most meaningful moments came when I led an initiative through ALPFA San Francisco to raise funds from corporate sponsors to send eight students to the 2024 ALPFA National Convention—with all expenses paid for the first time in our recent history. I personally mentored these students throughout their journey, and several of them secured internships and full-time opportunities because of the confidence and guidance I provided.
I’m beyond proud that these students landed roles at prestigious Big 4 accounting firms and top beauty brands, reflecting the real impact I’ve had on their professional journeys. Hearing that my mentorship gave them the encouragement they needed to apply and succeed was incredibly rewarding.
This experience reinforced my passion for mentorship and community-building: it’s about creating real opportunities and empowering others to succeed. I’m also proud to share that, with the support of my team, this year we expanded our impact significantly, sending twenty-two students from the San Francisco Bay Area to attend the convention.
What advice would 10-year-old you be shocked to hear you followed?
Growing up as the eldest daughter of an immigrant household, failure was not an option—I often felt like the COO of the family, responsible for helping manage so many things. Ten-year-old me would be shocked to hear that I learned to embrace failure instead of fearing it.
Back then, failure felt like falling short of expectations and not being good enough. But over time, I realized that failure is actually a vital part of learning and growth. Embracing mistakes, learning from them, and using setbacks as opportunities to improve has helped me grow stronger and more resilient, both personally and professionally.
What’s a cultural tradition that always brings you joy?
Día de los Muertos is a cultural tradition that holds a special place in my heart, largely because of my sister. She was the one who made this celebration a vital part of our family life by leading the creation of our ofrenda (altar) each year. Through her dedication, we honor our loved ones who have passed and celebrate their memories with vibrant colors, marigolds, favorite foods, and stories.
On this day, we also make gorditas—a favorite food of our ancestors—which adds a delicious and meaningful touch to our celebration. This tradition brings our family closer together and reminds me of the importance of remembering where we come from and the legacy we carry forward. It’s a joyful and meaningful way to connect with our heritage and keep the spirit of family alive.
What song do you listen to that motivates you?
“La Gran Señora” by Jenni Rivera is a song that truly inspires me. It captures her fierce spirit and determination to stand up for herself and what she deserves. Whenever I listen to it, I’m reminded to approach life with confidence, resilience, and pride in who I am.
—-
Connect with Maria Jose Rios on LinkedIn.
