Empowered Journeys: Marie Quintana on Heritage, Resilience, + Leadership

Marie Quintana is the author of “Last Flight From Havana” and a distinguished speaker and business leader with over 30 years of experience in Corporate America. She has held significant roles at major companies including Tenet Healthcare, PepsiCo, Perot Systems, and IBM. Recognized as one of the Top 50 Hispanic Women in Business by Hispanic Business Magazine and one of the Top 50 Women in Grocery by Progressive Grocer, Marie's accomplishments also include being named a Top 5 Latina Executive by Latina Style Magazine. In 2022, she received the Latino Leaders Maestro Award for Professional Achievement. Passionate about empowering future women leaders, she co-founded the PepsiCo Women of Color Alliance and was a founding board member of the Network of Executive Women. Marie holds a B.A. from Louisiana State University and a Master’s from Tulane University. Now based in Dallas, she enjoys family life with her loved ones and dogs while actively giving back to her community through mentorship and leadership initiatives.

How has your family's Cuban heritage influenced your journey, and how do you see that connection changing today?

My Cuban heritage has profoundly shaped my journey, especially in terms of resilience, adaptability, and the importance of family. Growing up as a Cuban refugee, I learned early on how to navigate a world where I didn't always fit in, which sparked my drive to succeed while staying true to my roots. My family's strong cultural values—emphasizing hard work, community, and perseverance—became the foundation of how I approached every personal or professional challenge.

Today, I see that connection evolving in a broader sense. While I continue to hold onto the values and traditions of my Cuban background, I've also embraced all the different cultures I've encountered throughout my life, particularly in my work across various industries and countries. This has enriched my perspective, making me more empathetic and aware of the complexities of identity. I also find myself more conscious of passing on this heritage to my children, ensuring that they understand their roots while navigating both personally and professionally. My extended family continues to be a big part of my life -- my 96-year-old mother will be moving in to live with us.

Your life is filled with unexpected twists. What three moments would you consider the most transformative?

There have been many unexpected twists in my life, but the three most transformative moments would have to be:

1.  Leaving Cuba as a small child. From that moment, I knew my life would be entirely different, filled with uncertainty and new opportunities. It shaped my sense of resilience and adaptability. This allowed me to watch my parents role model courage and a deep faith that always sustains our family.

2.  Changing my career path from psychology and clinical social work to becoming IBM's systems engineer. Learning to program in assembler language and mastering technical skills gave me the confidence to do anything I set my mind to. This moment reinforced my belief in personal reinvention and the power of stepping into the unknown.

3.     Becoming a mother transformed me on every level. Knowing that my life now had the purpose of supporting, nurturing, and guiding my children throughout their lives changed my perspective on what matters and made me more focused on leaving a lasting legacy for them to build upon.

In your early career, you sometimes felt the need to conceal your cultural identity. What led to that decision, and how has your perspective shifted since then?

We settled in a small town in southern Louisiana when we arrived from Cuba in the early 1960s. At that time, we were one of the first Hispanic families in the area, and it was incredibly challenging to fit in. The town didn't understand our culture or language, and the easiest way to navigate the world around us was to conceal our identity. This was a time when Hispanics made up only about 3% of the U.S. population, and being visibly different often led to feelings of isolation or even discrimination.

Over the years, my perspective has shifted significantly. Today, Hispanics represent over 19% of the U.S. population—a very different world from the one I grew up in. I've learned to embrace my heritage with pride, understanding that it is a source of strength rather than something to hide. At times, I felt that I was living in two worlds. As I began my corporate career, I was blessed to have worked with corporations that celebrated diverse backgrounds. They increasingly recognized the importance of diversity and inclusion. Now, I see my identity as an integral part of who I am and celebrate it in my personal and professional life.

Balancing work and family can be challenging. What strategies have helped you manage both effectively?

Balancing work and family effectively is challenging, but here are a few key strategies have helped me manage both over the years:

1.  Setting Clear Boundaries: Establishing firm boundaries between work and family time is essential. I prioritize time with my family, ensuring that when I'm home, I'm fully present. This separation allows me to focus on my work during the day and dedicate uninterrupted time to my family in the evenings.

2.  Prioritizing and Flexible Scheduling: I've learned to prioritize my tasks and remain flexible when necessary. Unexpected family events or work demands can arise, and having a flexible schedule helps me balance both roles more effectively. Knowing what's most important at any given time allows me to handle both responsibilities without overwhelming myself.

3.  Communicating Openly: Communication is essential in professional and personal spaces. Being transparent with my work team about my family commitments and with my family about work expectations ensures that everyone understands my responsibilities. This helps avoid conflicts or misunderstandings and keeps everyone on the same page.

4.  Self-Care: I've found that getting enough rest, exercising, and making time for myself directly impacts how well I can manage work and family life. If I'm burned out, I'm ineffective in either role, so self-care is non-negotiable.

Having faced significant challenges, what message would you offer to someone currently experiencing adversity?

First and foremost, remember that adversity is just a season. Life is full of challenges, but you must recognize that you can develop a toolkit to care for yourself during difficult times. Learn to step away when needed and take time to gain the proper perspective—clearing your mind can make all the difference.

Seek out someone you trust to talk to, someone who can offer sound advice and help you process what you're going through. It's crucial to avoid isolating yourself during tough times.

Establishing a routine can also provide stability. Make sure to prioritize essential self-care: eating well, getting enough sleep, and maintaining a healthy diet. For me, taking time to pray has also been an important part of staying grounded.

Focusing on these small but essential actions can help you better navigate adversity and emerge stronger.