Corporate
Rich Rosalez: From Navigating Challenges to Championing Equality
9/21/2023
Samsung is continuing to make progress on our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) journey towards driving meaningful change. And we want to spotlight the DEI champions within our organization that have been and continue to be instrumental in enabling us to make an impact and helping to create a rich sense of belonging where everyone can thrive.
Timed to Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual celebration of the history and contributions of the U.S. Hispanic and Latino communities, we sat down with Rich Rosalez, Vice President of Legal, a member of our DEI Council, an Executive Sponsor and member of the Unidos Employee Resource Group (ERG) and recent recipient of D CEO’s 2023 Corporate Counsel Awards for Champion of Diversity. Here’s what he had to say about DEI…
1. What obstacles have you overcome as a Mexican-American man in the technology industry?
I would attribute obstacles such as prejudices or low expectations more to the legal professional and my experience as a lawyer, rather than the tech industry. Many times, people have assumed I am not a lawyer and subsequently diminished my job status in doing so. It is obvious to me that this judgment is rooted in my appearance, and that my position as a lawyer or executive did not align with their preconceived expectations. No one considered the possibility that I might be a CEO; instead, they assumed that I might work in the mailroom, serve as a paralegal or support staff, or even mistaken me for a criminal defendant in a courthouse, rather than identifying me as a corporate client or the arguing attorney. It is unfortunate, and given that it has happened to me and many of my peers, I am certain it happens to others as well.
2. How have you seen diversity efforts progress in the workplace during your career?
I do not recall much of any diversity efforts in the workplace when I began my first job in NYC. This started to change in the early 2000s as underrepresented groups increasingly realized the importance of networking and support for their career development, and their growing numbers played a pivotal role in facilitating this change. Affinity and employee resource groups began to form, and they thrived once they received corporate support. Diversity efforts have exploded in recent years and corporate commitments have taken them to a new level, so the progress has been substantial.