Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Leading Inclusion at Sodexo
Discover Maria’s journey as an immigrant who grew her career at Sodexo and how she celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with SOL.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the many contributions of the Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States. It’s also a moment to raise awareness about the challenges that still exist and explore ways to support these communities. For Maria Gonzalez-Burgos, this month is a time of reflection that extends beyond just a yearly event, as she incorporates it into her community, family, and everyday life.
Originally from Mexico City, Maria worked as an architect and facilities sourcing expert before immigrating to New York City 15 years ago. Starting from scratch, Maria didn’t speak English and had to adapt to her new environment. Determined to rebuild her career in the U.S., she attended community college to learn English as a second language and later studied building operations management while she worked in an Architectural Firm.
After shifting her focus to facilities management, Maria joined Sodexo in November 2017. She now serves as the Executive Regional Director of Facilities Operations for Corporate Services, overseeing operations for pharmaceutical clients across several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil. In her role, she travels monthly to these sites, ensuring smooth operations and reporting to her U.S.-based client.
During her time at Sodexo, Maria discovered a true sense of belonging when she joined our Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG), Sodexo Organization for Latinos (SOL). Seeking a community of people who shared similar backgrounds and experiences, she found more than just a cultural connection.
“I originally joined SOL looking to find a community of people who shared a similar background and experiences. Over time, I realized that many people joined the group not just because of their heritage, but also because of allyship,” she shares.
Now in her second year as SOL’s National Chair, Maria is dedicated to building connections and creating an inclusive environment where all members feel valued.
This year, SOL is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a program that includes hosting a Stop Hunger event in Orlando to support Florida Families in Transition at Rollins College, the kick-off of “SOLebration” with a webinar featuring speakers, networking, and professional development. The event will also celebrate the contributions of allies, as inclusivity is central to SOL’s mission. Throughout the month, SOL will offer mentoring programs, professional development opportunities, and Chef inspired stories and recipes for its members. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Unifying Cultures,” highlighting the importance of bringing together not only Hispanic and Latino members but anyone who wants to contribute to the celebration.
For Maria, food plays a big part in celebrating her culture. Her favorite dish is tacos, a versatile Mexican stable that she loves because it can be adapted to different cultures. Every time Maria eats tacos, she is reminded of her hometown and streets in Mexico City, but she also loves that tacos can be found almost anywhere, with each adding its unique twist.
Drawing from her own experiences, Maria’s advice to others, especially immigrants, is to “never feel too old to change careers or pursue new opportunities. This country provides you with a lot of opportunities if you are open to thinking outside the box.”
For those within Sodexo, she encourages and invites everyone, Hispanic, Latino, and allies, to join SOL and become part of a group that fosters inclusivity and growth.
“The benefits of being a part of the EBRG for me are endless and that is why I keep working within Sodexo. The times I am connecting with people in SOL and other EBRGs are the times when I really feel I belong to the company. At the end of the day, we all have the same goal of making sure we all have an inclusive place to thrive.”
Maria’s story is a testament to resilience, leadership, and the power of community, and her work with SOL continues to make a lasting impact both within SOL and beyond.