Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month With Fatima

About Fatima

My name is Fatima Franco, and I am a People Operations Manager at Noom. My team and I support employees throughout the entire employee lifecycle, from when someone signs on to join Noom to when they move on to their next adventure and every event in between. We focus on optimizing systems and processes to provide an exceptional employee experience. 

A Day in the Life 

I spend quite a bit of time working cross-functionally with our broader People team and managing priorities for People Ops. I work on projects to provide greater efficiencies in how we interact with and provide resources for our employees. I also focus on ensuring we remain compliant with regulations. Although compliance IS fun, my favorite part of the day is when I interact with my LOOPees to problem-solve together and nurture their growth. Shout out to the best team for exhibiting such care in every single interaction they have with our employees! 

My Background and Heritage

I am a first-generation Mexican American. I was born and raised in the Central Valley of California. My father is a farmer and laid literal roots in a small town with less than 5,000 people, many of whom were immigrants also. I lived in the Bay Area for 10+ years, where I started my career. Family called us back to Fresno, CA, where I now live with my spouse (Robert), son (Joaquin), and two furbabies (Kobe and Kuma).

What Hispanic Heritage Month Means to Me

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the many rich cultures that make up the Latino community. Although one typically thinks about our colorful, vibrant food and music (both of which are definitely amazing), this month allows us to illustrate the contributions we have made to all of society. It is also a time to acknowledge the struggles and hardships we have faced to pave a better path for the future. 

How Noom Celebrates

Noom highlights notable Hispanic leaders during our company-wide meetings to learn about important advancements they have made for our community. Our Courageous Conversations series brings in guest speakers to share their experiences. During Gathering Weeks at HQ, there are themed events to spotlight our cultures. One of my favorite memories at Noom thus far was making churros with a chef in Mexico City last year. They were delicious!

Family Traditions

Growing up, my family always got together to celebrate Las Posadas before Christmas. The nights were spent caroling, eating delicious food, breaking piñatas, and being reminded of why we are so grateful for family. Posadas reenacts the story of Mary and Joseph, who were in a foreign land, and in need of somewhere to stay. They are turned down until they finally find refuge. The power of hospitality, generosity, and caring for others in their time of need resonates throughout this celebration. 

Sharing the Heritage

Another tradition we celebrate is adorning our house to celebrate Día de Los Muertos instead of traditional Halloween decorations. I love seeing children’s faces when they see how different our decorations are from the other houses. I also enjoy baking traditional Mexican wedding cookies and empanadas to share with friends and neighbors during the holidays.

Cultural Influences

Seeing my parents and their struggles to attain the American Dream has completely influenced my daily life, work, and interactions with others. Neither one of my parents graduated from high school nor spoke English when they came to the United States, but they persevered to give us as many opportunities as possible. My parents gave up what they needed to always give us what we wanted. I feel immensely proud to be their daughter. I owe my strong work ethic and desire to help others to them. Latinos are resilient and strong but also have the biggest hearts.

We do love our music, and I am no exception. I can’t start my day without listening to my Latin Hit Mix playlist on Spotify. It’s guaranteed to get your energy up! I also speak Spanish as much as I can throughout the day, especially with my son.

Celebrating Diversity

Although we may be diverse within our own community, some of the common threads that are woven into the fabric of our heritage are our work ethic, love of family, generosity, and hospitality. The month allows us to embrace our differences but recognize that our values are much the same. I believe in the shared human experience. We may all come from different places, but the power of storytelling allows us to embrace that we may share similar experiences and feelings nonetheless. There is such potential for vulnerability and connection.  

Embracing Unity

Having different life stories, backgrounds, and cultures only enriches the workplace and society at large. The more we share about ourselves and open up, the more we can bring each other in to foster a sense of belonging while having diversity of thought. Not being able to show up as your authentic self can be exhausting, and let’s face it, work is already tiring enough. Underrepresented individuals often think about how they have to show up instead of just being. We often carry a heavy burden into our interactions without even knowing we do. If we could alleviate this weight, imagine how much more we could do to further our company’s mission. 

Message to Others

Get curious without making assumptions that all cultures within the Hispanic community are the same. Seek to support colleagues by being champions of their work. In our culture, we’re often taught to work hard, put our heads down, and don’t speak up. Help us elevate our voice to break these cultural norms so that our work is valued and highlighted. Lastly, make a friend or two because I can promise you that after you do, you’ll always have a seat at their table.