Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Fiona Duran, senior microbiologist at our brewery in Golden, Colo.
Fiona has been with the company for 18 years, the last three of which she's served as president of our Coors Hispanic Employee Network (CHEN) employee resource group.
Q: What does being Latina mean to you?
A: I am originally from El Paso, Texas, near Ysleta Mission, which was established in 1862 and ranks as one of the oldest Spanish missions in Texas. The history of the area and the Spanish Mission Trails has always fascinated me. My father is our family historian, and he can trace our ancestry to Spain in the 1500s on his side. In my youth, we moved around a lot, and the tiny house in Ysleta with its oasis of fruit and nut trees was always a welcome homecoming. Some of my fondest memories are of the family squeezing into the tiny kitchen for a fantastic meal of venison green chili, fresh tortillas that I'd help make, and good conversation. Oh, and fresh pecan pie!
Q: Are you involved with Latino initiatives at Molson Coors or within your community? If so, how?
A: I serve as the president of CHEN, our Coors Hispanic Employee Network, and I am very proud of our annual scholarship program. It is very satisfying to assist the next generation of Molson Coors Colorado dependents to achieve their education goals. CHEN screens and chooses the scholarship recipients in partnership with the Latin American Education Foundation.
Q: How do you celebrate your identity at Molson Coors?
A: I show up as myself.
Q; Do you have any tips for fostering an inclusive environment where everyone is valued and can bring their whole selves to work?
A: I’ve always believed everyone has something to offer, and anyone can be our next teacher. I try to treat everyone equally, from our leadership to our truck drivers. Everyone I meet gets a smile (under my mask) and a “Hello.” I realize we are all uniquely flawed as humans, but that is what makes us interesting, and in getting to know our co-workers, we can look for the similarities in our stories to help forge a bond.
Q: Who is someone who inspires you within the Latino community?
A: Both my grandfather (Abuelo) and grandmother (Abuelita) are of “The Greatest Generation.” Their stories of hard work and perseverance are very inspiring. From working from a very young age at a restaurant and in the cotton fields to help their families survive — and in my grandfather's case, fending for himself as a teenager, to being an island hopper in the Pacific theater in World War II, to running a successful construction business — their work ethic and pride is something I try to remember and put into practice daily. Since my grandfather had to make his own way after his mother died, he mentored at-risk youth to find a better way and learn life skills in his construction business.
Their stories inspire me to live a positive life and leave an inspiring legacy as well.