When a girl in a yellow dress walks alone into the headquarters of a multinational and says: “I’m coming to do my mom’s interview,” no one imagines what she’s about to do

happen. What seems like an innocent gesture will reveal a hidden truth and force a powerful man to face everything he pretended not to see for years.

Part of the elevator of the most imposing corporate building in Mexico City slowly climbed towards the 35th floor. Each number that lit up on the digital panel

It seemed to mark the rhythm of the rapid heartbeat of a very special little visitor.

Isabela Morales was only 8 years old, but she carried on her tiny shoulders a responsibility that would make any adult tremble. Her yellow dress,

Carefully ironed by her own hands the night before, it contrasted dramatically with the cold, corporate vibe around her. In her arms, a worn leather folder, which looked like

larger than herself, it contained documents that would forever change the lives of many people.

When the elevator doors opened, the bustle of the front desk stopped as if someone had pressed the pause button on the elevator remote.

life. The employees, accustomed to seeing only executives in impeccable suits and important visitors, did not know how to react to this tiny figure that walked with a determination that

it defied his age.

“Excuse me, miss,” Isabela said to the receptionist, climbing into a chair to reach the counter. “I’m here to do my job interview

mom.”

Carmen, the receptionist, who had been working in the building for 15 years, blinked several times before she could articulate a word.

“What do you say, little one?”

“My mother, Sofía Morales, had an interview today at 10 a.m. for the position of human resources supervisor, but she is in the hospital and cannot

come, so I came in his place.

The naturalness with which Isabela uttered these words made several employees approach discreetly. It was impossible not to be captivated by that

a girl who spoke with the seriousness of an adult, but retained the innocent sweetness of her age.

At that precise moment, the executive elevator opened and Diego Hernández, 42, CEO of Grupo Empresarial Azteca, one of the world’s largest corporations, emerged from it.

powerful women of Mexico. With his height, perfectly combed hair, blue eyes that intimidated in board meetings and a suit that cost more than the monthly salary of many Mexicans. Diego

It was the living definition of business success, but at that moment, as he watched the scene unfold at the reception, something inside him stirred in a way he hadn’t experienced in a way he hadn’t experienced before.

years.

“What’s going on here?” He asked in his authoritative voice, though without the usual harshness.

Isabela turned to him with those large, expressive eyes that seemed to hold secrets too deep for someone her age.

“Are you the boss? I need to talk to you about my mom.”

Diego felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach. In his 15 years running companies, he had faced financial crises, competition

ruthless and million-dollar negotiations, but he had never felt so disarmed as at that moment, in front of an 8-year-old girl who looked at him with a mixture of hope and determination.

“Carmen, take her to my office,” he ordered, surprising everyone present, including himself.

As they walked through the marble corridors to the main office, Isabela observed everything with curiosity, but without being intimidated. Her small shoes

echoed against the polished floor, creating an echo that seemed to announce that something important was about to happen.

“What’s your name?” Diego asked him as they entered his impressive office with a panoramic view of the city.

—Isabela Morales Vega. My mother says that you always have to give your full name when it is something important and this is very important, Mr. Hernández.

Diego Hernandez sat behind his mahogany desk, but something in the girl’s presence made him get up again and sit down in one of the armchairs in the

Informal meeting area.

“Come, sit here with me.”

Isabela settled into the armchair, leaving the folder on the glass table with the care of someone who handles something very valuable.

“My mother is very sick. Doctors say it’s because of stress and working too much. She has been looking for a job for a long time, but no one has her

Hire.

“And why do you think your mother is the right person to work here?” Diego’s question was genuine. In his world, he was used to people

They would come to ask him for favors, to offer him dubious business deals, or to try to impress him with exaggerated achievements, but Isabella’s straightforward honesty was something entirely new.

“Because she’s the smartest person I know,” Isabela replied, without hesitation. And because it helps everyone in our building. All the ladies ask him

When they have problems at work, she teaches them how to write letters, prepare for interviews, and always find solutions.

Diego leaned forward intrigued, “and how do you know all that, because I help her, I read the letters she writes, I tell her when they sound beautiful and when they sound

very serious I also help him to practice the interviews I ask the difficult questions an involuntary smile crossed Diego’s face difficult questions like which ones Isabela became serious

again, why should a company hire a single mom when they can hire someone without children who can stay up late every day?

Completely speechless, the girl had
put her finger on a sore spot he didn’t even know he had: in his company’s unwritten policies, there was indeed a preference for uncomplicated employees, so what

Your mom answers that question She says that single moms are the best employees in the world because they know how to organize their time, solve problems quickly and work under pressure, and that if a company

He doesn’t understand that, so it’s not a very intelligent company, Diego stared at Isabela for several seconds in those days.

In a few words, the girl had questioned an entire hiring system that he had built and defended for years, Isabela, could you show me what you have in that folder with the solemnity of

who presents crucial evidence in a trial Isabela opened the folder and began to take out carefully organized documents, these are my mother’s study certificates, she graduated with honors from

these are the courses she has taken to continue learning and these are the letters of recommendation from her previous works, each document that Isabela placed on the table was a

revelation for Diego Sofia Morales was not only qualified for the position, but seemed to be overqualified, her studies in organizational psychology, her specializations in management of

Human Resources and the glowing recommendations of her previous employers painted the portrait of an exceptional professional Isabela Why do you think your mom hasn’t gotten a job if she has

All these qualifications the girl looked at him with those eyes that seemed to see too much for her age because when companies know that she has a daughter they no longer want her at the same time.

At first they do not understand that he has a girl but when they find out something always happens, the interview is canceled or they tell him that they are looking for someone with more experience or that the position has already been filled, Diego felt

In a knot in the stomach, it was possible that her company was participating in that systematic discrimination, how many talented women had been rejected for reasons that had nothing to do with

her professional abilities, and what do you think of all that, Isabela, I think it’s very stupid, my mom works harder than anyone else because she has to take care of me and that doesn’t make her worse at her job, the

does better because
when you have to take care of someone you love, you learn to make everything perfect, at that moment Diego experienced something he hadn’t felt in years, a genuine crisis of conscience, this 8-year-old girl had

achieved in 15 minutes what years of consultants and advisors had failed to do: questioning the ethical foundations of his business decisions, he got up and walked to the window

gazing at the view of the city that had built his empire, from that height the people looked like insignificant ants in the urban vastness, but Isabela had reminded him

that each of those ants had a story, a family, dreams and real needs, Isabela, where is your mom exactly in the General Hospital, they brought her yesterday in the ambulance because she

He fainted at home the doctors say that it is because of stress and because we do not eat well we have been eating very little because the money is not enough Diego turned around abruptly not eating well you do not worry

Mr. Hernandez, my mom always makes sure that I eat, she is the one who sometimes skips meals, she says that adults can last more without eating than adults.

The impact of those words was like a punch in the chest for Diego while he complained if the catering of his meetings did not include imported salmon, this woman skipped meals to

make sure her daughter had something to eat Isabela, I’m going to do something I don’t normally do, I’m going to go with you to the hospital to meet your mom, Isabela’s eyes lit up with a joy that

Diego’s heart was seriously going to give my mom a job I’m going to talk to her I can’t promise you anything more than that Isabela got up from the

couch and to Diego’s total surprise he ran to him and hugged him by the waist thank you Mr. Hernandez my mom is going to be very happy Diego stood motionless for a moment not knowing how to react to

That spontaneous hug had been so long since that no one hugged him without a hidden agenda, without expecting something in return, with pure gratitude and affection, “Come on,” his voice finally told him, a little softer than he had ever seen.

“My driver will take us to the hospital.” As they went down in the executive elevator, Diego couldn’t stop thinking about how a

An 8-year-old girl had accomplished in one morning what years of executive therapy had failed to remind her that she was human. Have you ever met someone who changed your life in a single encounter?

Tell us your experience in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe to follow this story that is just beginning, what do you think will happen when Diego meets Isabela’s mom part two on

Black Mercedes-Benz glided through the streets of Mexico City while Isabela looked fascinated through the window was the first

This was the time he was traveling in such a luxurious car, but his concern for his mother overshadowed any emotion about the experience: “Has your mom been looking for a job for a long time?” asked Diego, observing the

Concentrated profile of the girl since we moved to the city about two years ago we lived in Puebla with my grandmother but she died and we had to come here, my mom says that in the city

There are more opportunities, but I think there are also more people who don’t understand, who don’t understand why Isabela turned to him with that seriousness that characterized her, that being a mother is not a disease

My
mom gets very angry when people talk as if having a daughter is something bad for work, Diego felt a pang of recognition in his business world, they were indeed talking about the

Family complications as obstacles to productivity That perspective had never been questioned, until now the General Hospital stood before them as a testimony to inequality

The social security that Diego rarely directly confronted the contrast between the elegance of his car and the stark reality of the public health system was impossible to ignore.

Before we go in, tell me something else about your mom, how is she? Isabela’s eyes lit up, she’s the bravest person in the world when we were alone, she cried only one night a day.

Next she told me that we were going to build a new life together and that it was going to be better than the previous one and she always keeps her promises they were left alone, what happened to your dad Isabela’s expression

He got a little sad, my dad decided he didn’t want to be a dad when I was 5 years old, one day he just left and

My mom never came back, she says that some people are not made to love and that it’s not our fault, Diego clenched his fists involuntarily, as a man he felt ashamed of the irresponsibility

of someone of his gender as a human being felt outraged by the abandonment of an innocent girl, they entered the hospital and Diego immediately felt out of place, the corridors were full of

people waiting, the smell of disinfectant was overwhelming and the general atmosphere was one of anxiety and worry, I was used to private hospitals where

the service was immediate and the amenities plentiful, “room 237,” Isabela said, guiding him through the halls with the familiarity of someone who had spent too much time in places like that when he had

they arrived at the door, Isabela stopped: “Mr. Hernandez, my mother is very proud, she does not like to be seen weak, but she needs help even if she does not admit it.

Diego nodded, impressed once again by the emotional maturity of the girl, he knocked softly on the door before entering, Sofia Morales was sitting on the hospital bed arranging some papers

on the side table when he saw Isabela enter followed by an unknown man his expression immediately changed to one of protective alert, Diego was paralyzed for a moment, Sofia Morales was

a beautiful woman in a natural and authentic way that contrasted dramatically with the artificially perfect women in her social circle at 34

years despite being in a hospital bed and obviously exhausted, she radiated an inner strength that was immediately perceptible, her deep, intelligent brown eyes assessed him in seconds with

a precision that made him feel as if he were being subjected to X-rays, his brown hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, and his makeup-free face showed both vulnerability and

determination mommy, I came with Mr. Hernandez from the company, he wanted to meet you,” Isabela said, running to

Sofia looked at Diego with a mixture of surprise, distrust and something that seemed mortification: “Isabela, what did you do?” “I went to your interview, Mommy, I couldn’t let you miss this opportunity.” The

color drained from Sofia’s face as the reality of the situation became clear Mr. Hernandez, I don’t know what to say, my daughter shouldn’t have done this, I understand if this affects negatively

any consideration for Mrs. Morales interrupted her Diego softly her daughter has given me the best interview I’ve had in years, can I sit down, Sofia nodded still

Processing the situation, Diego moved a chair closer to the bed, consciously reducing the height difference to make the conversation less intimidating, first of all, how does Isabela feel

She’s here because of stress Sofia’s eyes filled with tears that she refused to spill I’m fine I just needed to rest a little The doctor says I can leave tomorrow mommy tell her the truth

Isabela interjected with that disconcerting frankness, the doctors said that you are very bad for not eating and for working too much in jobs that

they don’t pay you well, Sofia closed her eyes momentarily, clearly ashamed that her circumstances were exposed in front of this powerful man, Mr. Hernandez, I appreciate that he came, but no

I need charity, I came to the interview because I know I can do a good job for your company, the unwavering dignity in your voice impacted Diego more deeply than any plea could

having done so Mrs. Morales I am not here for charity I am here because your daughter presented me with impressive credentials and asked me questions that no consultant

And what kind of questions asked me why a company would prefer to hire someone without family responsibilities when single mothers are according to

her words the best employees in the world because they know how to organize time, solve problems quickly and work under pressure, a small but genuine smile crossed Sofia’s face, I taught her well

I’m afraid it taught me better than I expected, Isabela also made me reflect on some practices of

hiring that may need to be reviewed Sofia straightened up in bed her professional instinct activating What does she mean is it true that she has been rejected from jobs after the

employers find out that she is a single mother the direct question took Sofia by surprise it was the first time that someone in a position of authority asked her this so openly I can’t prove

That is the reason, but there has been a pattern, tell me about that pattern, Sofia looked at Isabela, who nodded with that determination that seemed to be genetic in her family, usually everything goes well in her family.

The
early stages of the process, my qualifications are solid, my interviews are going well, but when the topic of my family situation comes up, either because they ask directly or because I need to mention

my schedule flexibility the tone changes how does it change the questions become about my commitment to work about what would i do if Isabela gets sick about whether I have support networks for

Emergencies about my availability for travel or working late are questions you would never ask a single parent Diego nodded

slowly recognized those questions because he himself had approved them in multiple hiring processes, and how do he answer those questions honestly, I tell them that my daughter is my priority, but

that makes me more efficient no less than that I have organizational systems that many employees without children don’t have to work with more determination because I have more at stake and I guess those

Answers are not well received Sofia sighed It seems that honesty is penalized when it comes to single mothers if I lie about my situation it is eventually discovered

Yes, I’m honest, from the beginning I rarely move on to the next round, Diego was silent for several moments processing the information, Isabela, who had been listening to the conversation with

attention approached him: “Mr. Hernandez, are you going to give the job to my mother?” Isabella’s direct question put Diego in an awkward position, he wasn’t used to making decisions under pressure

Emotionally and he was definitely not used to an 8-year-old girl being his HR consultant Isabela.

I can’t make that decision here and now, but I can promise that your mom will have a fair chance, what does fair opportunity mean? Sofia asked her professional tone, but with a hint of

skepticism means that you will have the formal interview with our human resources committee and that you will be evaluated exclusively on your professional merits Mr. Hernandez I appreciate the

consideration but I do not want special treatment because of the dramatic circumstances of this visit Diego admired its firmness it will not be special treatment it will be equitable treatment that apparently is

something different in our industry, he got up from his chair and went to the door, but Isabela stopped him, Mr. Hernandez, can I ask you something, of course, do you have children?

struck like lightning, no, Isabela, I don’t have children, why not Isabela, Sofia intervened, clearly embarrassed, you can’t ask such personal questions, it’s okay, Diego said, surprised that he really

I would like to answer I guess I never found the right time or the right person or The truth is that I always thought that children would complicate my career Isabela looked at it with that

Premature wisdom that baffled him, maybe they don’t complicate them, maybe they just make them different my mom says that having a family gives you reasons to be a better person Diego felt that something

This girl had managed in one day to make her question not only her business policies but also her personal life decisions. Mrs. Morales the formal interview

it will be on Friday at 2 in the afternoon, will she be ready, by then I will be ready,” Sofia replied with determination, “perfect Isabela, it has been a pleasure to meet you, you are a

formidable negotiator.” Isabela smiled broadly, “thank you, Mr. Hernandez, can I ask one last question ahead, do you think my mom is going to get the job?” Diego looked at Sofia, who was holding

a neutral but hopeful expression and then to Isabela, whose eyes shone with expectation: “Isabela, I think your mom is going to surprise many people, including me, when Diego left the

hospital felt as if I had entered a different world, the air seemed cleaner, the colors more vibrant, and

For the first time in years, I had a feeling that I was going to do something really important, part three, on Friday arrived faster than Sofia expected, she had gotten up at dawn to get ready

Carefully choosing her only formal blouse and the jacket she had bought secondhand but which looked professional, Isabela had helped her iron everything the night before, turning the

homework in a game where they both imagined what the day of the interview would be like: “Mommy, are you nervous?” asked Isabela while they had oatmeal with banana for breakfast

breakfast they had eaten every morning for the last three months for budgetary reasons a little Sofia admitted, but I’m also excited this could be our chance Isabela

it’s going to go well, mommy, Mr. Hernandez seems like a good person and you are the smartest, Sofia smiled, amazed as always by the unwavering faith that her daughter had in her, what are you going to do

while I am in the interview, Mrs. Garcia is going to take care of me, I already told her that she can ask me about mathematics if she wants because I am studying fractions at the same time.

12 noon Sofia arrived at the Grupo Empresarial Azteca building an hour early, she wanted to get acquainted with the atmosphere and calm her nerves while waiting at the reception, she couldn’t

avoid remembering the last time I had been there, when Isabela had taken the initiative that changed everything, Mrs. Morales, an elegant woman of approximately 50 years old approached her, I am Patricia

Vega, HR director ready for her interview, Sofia nodded and followed Patricia through the halls into an imposing boardroom, when they entered, she found herself

With four people sitting around a glass table, two men and two women, all impeccably dressed and with expressions that ranged from neutral to slightly skeptical: “Allow me

to present it to the committee,” said Patricia, taking a seat to my left, Roberto Jiménez, chief financial officer, Laura Mendoza, director of operations, Carlos Ruiz, legal director, and Maria Gonzalez, manager,

Senior Human Resources Sophie took a seat in front of the panel aware that every move was being evaluated had been in sufficient

interviews to recognize the dynamic, but this one felt different, there was more at stake: “Mrs. Morales, Roberto Jiménez began, consulting a folder, we see that he has impressive grades, but

We also noticed some gaps in your recent work history, can you explain that to us?” It was the first question and Sofia already felt that she was being tested in a way that she suspected she was not

applied to all candidates for the past two years I have been working as an independent consultant in human resource management for small businesses I have taken

short-term projects to maintain flexibility with my family responsibilities ah yes, Laura Mendoza intervened with a tone that Sofía immediately recognized, we understand that she is a single mother

how she plans to handle the demands of an executive position with those responsibilities Sofia took a deep breath, it was the moment of truth, Mrs. Mendoza, being a single mother has not been an obstacle to

My professional performance has been an advantage, I have developed time management skills, crisis resolution and

multitasking that most employees take years to acquire, my daughter is not a distraction from my work, it is my motivation to excel at it, Carlos Ruiz leaned forward, that sounds

very nice in theory Mrs. Morales but in practice what happens when your daughter gets sick when she has a school emergency when do we need her to work late or travel Sofia felt the

familiar knot in the stomach that accompanied these questions, but this time I was prepared: “Mr. Ruiz, let me ask you a question

Would I ask the same questions of a single parent?” The silence that followed was tense, Carlos looked at his colleagues before replying, we are assessing his ability to meet the demands of the

position and I am questioning whether these questions are relevant to evaluate my professional capacity, Sofia replied firmly but without aggressiveness, have you considered that someone with experience

managing a family could be exactly what they need to manage an apartment, Maria Gonzalez, who had remained silent until that moment, leaned forward, Mrs. Morales

Can you give us
specific examples of how your responsibilities as a mother have improved your professional skills? Sofia smiled, feeling like she finally had a question that allowed her to prove her worth?

Real Claro Managing a family with limited resources has taught me how to maximize efficiency with restrictive budgets Any single mother is essentially a small business toilet with

Minimal margins of error straightened up in her chair gaining confidence when my daughter was sick last year and I had an important deadline for a client

I developed a system to work in blocks of concentrated time that allowed me to complete the project in less time than estimated with better quality and without neglecting their medical needs that

system now I use it for all my projects patricia Vega took notes clearly interested can you elaborate on that system of course it is based on the premise that limited time generates

intensive approach: I break down projects into specific modules with clear goals, eliminate all distractions during those blocks, and use prioritization techniques that

I learned by handling family emergencies, the result is 40% more productivity in 60% of the traditional time, Roberto Jiménez consulted his notes, that’s interesting, but let’s talk about availability this year.

Position requires occasionally working outside of standard hours Mr. Jimenez Working outside of standard hours has been my reality for years The difference is that I optimize that extra time in

rather than simply extending inefficiencies when I work late, it’s because I have specific goals, not because the

business culture demands physical presence Laura Mendoza frowned, are you suggesting that our current employees are inefficient, am I suggesting that someone who has had to maximize

every minute of his day out of necessity could provide valuable perspectives on real productivity versus apparent activity Carlos Ruiz exchanged glances with his colleagues Mrs. Morales his

Answers are straightforward How would you handle situations where you need to implement policies that might be unpopular Sofia perceived that this was a crucial question sir

Ruis raising a daughter means constantly making difficult decisions, decisions that she sometimes doesn’t understand in the moment, but that are necessary for her long-term well-being, the difference in the

corporate environment is that I can explain the reasoning behind policies, create consensus and show how they benefit everyone, can you give us an example, asked María González in my last

consulting a small company had absenteeism issues instead of implementing punitive policies I analyzed the root causes I found that the

employees were absent mainly due to lack of flexibility for family emergencies I proposed a flexible work system that reduced absenteeism by 60% and increased productivity by 35%

Patricia Vega leaned forward, how did she achieve those results by recognizing that employees are complete human beings, not just labor resources when people feel that their employer

understands their family realities, they are committed more not less, it is counterintuitive to the traditional corporate mentality, but the numbers do not lie, Roberto Jiménez consulted his

Mrs. Morales, we have one final question, what would you do if you found yourself in a situation where the demands of your job and the needs of your daughter were in direct conflict was the question.

A trap that Sofia had been waiting for, the question designed to make any answer seem inadequate, but she had an answer that she had been refining for years, Mr. Jimenez, that

The question assumes that family and professional responsibilities are inherently opposed in my experience are

My daughter makes me a better professional because it gives me perspective, urgency and motivation, if an apparent conflict arises, I would apply the same problem-solving skills that I use

Daily: Options analysis Strategic prioritization and clear communication Paused looking at each committee member But let me be clear I’ve never found a situation where to be a mother

responsible has prevented me from being an exceptional professional, in fact it is exactly the opposite, the committee exchanged glances before Patricia Vega spoke, Mrs. Morales

thank you for your time, we will be in touch soon as Sofia left the building, she felt a mixture of pride and anxiety, she had given the best interview of her life, she had defended her position with

intelligence and dignity, but I also knew that I had directly challenged some core beliefs on the panel that afternoon, while helping Isabela with her math homework, she received a

unexpected call Mrs. Morales speaks Diego Hernandez could you come to my office tomorrow morning is there anything I need to discuss with you

Diego’s tone was neutral, impossible to decipher, Sofia felt her stomach shrink, of course, Mr. Hernandez, what time at 10 o’clock and Mrs. Morales come ready for a conversation

honest after hanging up Isabela looked at her with concern it was about work mommy yes heart Mr. Hernandez wants to talk to me tomorrow do you think it’s good news or bad news Sofia hugged

her daughter breathing the scent of childhood shampoo that always calmed her I don’t know Isabela but whatever it is we will face it

together that night Sofia could not sleep, she reviewed every moment of the interview, every question, every answer had been authentic, she had been firm, she had defended not only her right to work, but also her right to work.

right of all mothers to be evaluated on their merits, but she also knew that she had crossed lines that many employers considered unscrublable, she had questioned her biases directly

She had defied their assumptions, had asked to be treated as an equal rather than a supplicant at 3 a.m. as she stared at her little one’s ceiling

Sofia made a decision no matter what Diego Hernandez had to tell her, she had found her voice, she had remembered who she was before years of rejections made her doubt her.

Her courage Isabela moved in her bed muttering something in her sleep about the good man who is going to help Mommy, Sofia smiled in the darkness, her daughter had more faith in humanity than she had ever had

In a long time maybe it was time for her to have a little bit of that faith the next day as she prepared for what could be the

The most important conversation of her professional life Sofia looked in the mirror and saw something that she had not seen in a long time: a strong, capable woman deserving of respect whatever the result

She had won something priceless, she had regained her dignity, have you ever had to defend your worth in a situation where you felt the cards were stacked against you, the moments you were

They define are not always those of victory but those of dignity, tell us what it has taught you about your own strength and don’t forget to like it if

This story is touching your heart part four Diego Hernandez hadn’t slept well in three days since Sofia’s interview had been reviewing political files and statistics that

he had never questioned what he found before disturbed him deeply, that morning before the meeting with Sofia he had summoned Patricia Vega to his office, the director of human resources came in with the

trust of the person who had handled the situation according to the established protocols: “Patricia I need you to

explain something,” Diego said without preamble pointing to a folder on his desk, I’ve been reviewing our hiring statistics for the last 5 years, Patricia settled into her chair

slightly tense of course Mr. Hernandez our numbers are solid are solid Patricia of the last 100 candidates who made it to final interviews for management positions less than

5% were single mothers, considering they make up about 15% of the skilled workforce, doesn’t it seem statistically impossible to you?

Patricia
Mr. Hernandez we hired based on merit and merit Diego interrupted opening the folder Patricia I found something interesting in the files Can you explain to me what profile type means?

Three in our assessment codes, Patricia swallowed hard visibly is a categorization for candidates with potential schedule complications

Diego repeated slowly and coincidentally, 90% of the candidates marked as type 3 are women with children, it is correct, Mr. Hernández, those policies were

designed to protect the productivity of the company protect productivity Diego got up from his desk his voice rising in tone Patricia is telling me that we have been systematically

eliminating highly qualified candidates based on prejudices about her family life Patricia straightened herself out by adopting a defensive posture they are not prejudices Mr. Hernandez are realities

statistics single mothers have more absenteeism more emergencies less flexibility for Basta diego slammed his hand on the desk patricia does the

Question took her by surprise, yes, I have two children and she was once asked in her job interviews how she would handle her children if she got the job, Patricia remained silent, I’m going to

Ask a very simple question, Patricia, have we ever rejected a single father for the same reasons that we rejected single mothers?

Patricia replied quietly, “Single fathers don’t apply for jobs here often.
That’s not an answer, Patricia, the answer is, no, we’ve never turned down a single father because of family complications because we assume that mothers are solely responsible for the care of

The children, Diego walked to the window contemplating the city that stretched below, Patricia, this conversation is confidential, but I need you to understand something, those policies are going to change and they are going to

change now Mr. Hernandez I understand your concern but changing established policies could create complicated legal precedents Diego turned around

towards her with an expression Patricia had never seen before legal precedents patricia our current policies are potentially illegal we are practicing systematic discrimination

touched the intercom Carmen Mrs. Morales has already arrived yes Mr. Hernandez is waiting at the reception to come in please Patricia stay I want you to listen to this conversation minutes later

Sofia entered the office with the same dignity she had shown in the interview but Diego could perceive

the tension in her shoulders, she was wearing the same professional outfit, but there was something different in her posture, more upright, more determined: “Mrs. Morales, please take a seat, I think you know Patricia

Vega.” Sofia nodded politely to Patricia before sitting down: “Mr. Hernandez, I appreciate you meeting me, I hope we can have that honest conversation you mentioned.

“We’re going to have her,” Diego said returning to his desk, “but first I need to apologize.” The confession caught Sofia off guard as she apologized: “Mrs. Morales.” After her interview I decided

Investigate our hiring practices, what I found deeply embarrasses me, Diego opened the folder on his desk for years, this company has been systematically rejecting

Single mothers qualified under internal codes that basically label them as problematic before they even have a real chance Sofia felt something shrink in her chest is

confirming that I was rejected because I was a single mother, I was not rejected, Mrs.
Morales, in fact the committee was impressed with your answers, but I am confirming that for years candidates like you have been eliminated before even getting to interviews, Patricia was

moved awkwardly in his chair Mr. Hernandez maybe we should discuss this privately no Patricia Mrs. Morales deserves to hear this Diego addressed Sofia directly our company

has been operating under the erroneous premise that family responsibilities are incompatible with excellence

Professional, that premise is not only incorrect but has deprived us of exceptional talent, Sofia processed the information slowly, this means that it means that we want to offer you the position of

human resources supervisor, but more than that, we want to offer you the opportunity to help us change these discriminatory policies, the impact of words took several seconds to

Fully registered, Sofia had expected rejection, perhaps polite explanations about other, more suitable candidates, there was no

I have waited for this, Mr. Hernandez, I need to understand something, you are offering me this job out of pity, guilt or because you really believe that I can do it well, the direct question made Diego smile

Mrs. Morales, after meeting you and Isabela, I have come to a conclusion: anyone capable of raising such an extraordinary child while maintaining their own professional excellence

Under difficult circumstances, he is exactly the kind of leader this company needs, Patricia coughed softly, Mr. Hernandez, shouldn’t we discuss the terms of the position, of course Diego se

The basic salary is 800,000 pesos per year, with performance bonuses, full medical insurance for you and Isabela, two weeks of vacation the first year, three weeks from the second and

Something I’m implementing, specifically real flexibility of schedules for family emergencies, Sofia felt that tears threatened to appear, but she controlled them, and what would be my

specific responsibilities lead the full review of our hiring policies, implement real diversity and inclusion programs, and help me

Transforming this company into a place where talent is valued regardless of family circumstances means that I will have real authority to make changes Diego Asiento will have

my full support Mrs. Morales but I warn you there will be resistance, there are people in this organization who are not going to receive these changes well, Sofia looked at Patricia who had remained

remarkably quiet during the conversation, may I ask what my working relationship with Mrs. Vega Patricia straightened up, Mrs. Morales, if she accepts the position, she will work directly under me?

supervision actually interrupted Diego Ms. Morales will report directly to me for the first 6 months while we implement these changes patricia I need you to understand that these

modifications are non-negotiable: the air in the office tightened palpably, Patricia had been with the company for 15 years and had never been questioned so directly: “Mr. Hernandez,” she said

Patricia carefully “I hope you understand that such dramatic changes in established policies could create complications.” “What kind of complications?” asked Sofia Su

Professional instinct kicking in, Patricia looked at her with an expression that Sofia immediately recognized, the same barely concealed disdain she had seen in dozens of interviews: “Mrs. Morales

Implementing policies that are too family-friendly could create unrealistic expectations among employees.

“Unrealistic expectations like what?” asked Diego, how can they put their family responsibilities before their professional obligations? Sofia felt something ignite inside her

“Mrs. Vega, can you give me a specific example of how family responsibilities have interfered with professional performance in this company?” Patricia seemed surprised by the question

direct: “Well, there are documented cases of employees who have been absent due to family emergencies and employees without children are never absent, never arrive

late they never have personal emergencies that’s different how is Sofia pressed, the silence that followed was revealing, Patricia didn’t have a logical answer because there wasn’t one

real difference only deep-rooted prejudices Diego watched the exchange with growing admiration for Sofia and growing concern for Patricia’s attitudes Mrs. Morales accepts the position Sofia

took a deep breath, Mr. Hernandez, I accept the position, but I need you to understand something, I am going to do exactly what you are asking of me, I am going to question policies, I am going to challenge prejudices and

I’m going to
implement real changes, if that’s going to be a problem for someone in this organization, it’s better that we know now, it won’t be a problem for me, Diego Patricia Patricia forced a smile that

it didn’t come to your eyes, of course not, Mr. Hernandez, we all want the best for the company, but Sofia had learned to read between the lines during years of frustrating interviews, the resistance of

Patricia hadn’t disappeared, she’d simply been masked when Sofia left the building an hour later with a signed contract and a start date for the following Monday, she felt a

A mixture of euphoria and apprehension she had gotten the job, but she had also acquired enemies that afternoon, while Isabela screamed with joy when she heard the news, Sofia could not help but think that

The real battle was just beginning, Santos Part 5, Sofia’s first day at Grupo Empresarial Azteca began at 7 in the morning, she had left Isabela with Mrs. Garcia and arrived

early to familiarize herself with her new office and review the files Diego had prepared for her, her office was on the 26th floor with a partial view of the

The city and enough space for a desk, two chairs for visitors, and a small meeting table was modest but functional, and Sofia was overwhelmed by having a professional space of her own

after years working from his kitchen table, Diego showed up at 8 o’clock with two coffees and a genuine smile, how does the first day feel like a dream from which I hope I don’t wake up?”

Sofia admitted, accepting the coffee gratefully, well, get ready because today we are going to make history, I have scheduled a meeting with

all the directors at 10 to officially present it and announce the changes that we are going to implement Sofia’s stomach contracted slightly all the directors including those who

They were in my interview, especially them, Sofia, I need you to understand something, some of these changes are going to be popular, others are not, but I have total confidence in their ability to handle the

At 10 o’clock Sofia found herself in the main boardroom sitting to Diego’s right as he laid out the new HR strategy

the faces around the table showed reactions ranging from genuine interest to thinly veiled skepticism. “As everyone knows,” Diego said, “we have hired Sofia Morales as a

Our new HR supervisor will have her first responsibility to review and update our hiring policies to ensure we are attracting the best talent available.

Roberto Jimenez, the CFO who had been particularly harsh in Sofia’s interview, leaned forward Diego, could we have more details on what kind of updates

We are considering Sofia acknowledged the tone was the same as the one she had used during her interview slightly condescending, implicitly defiant, Mr. Jimenez, I am pleased to explain to you, we are going to

implement blind recruitment processes in the early stages where candidates will be evaluated exclusively on their qualifications with no information on gender status

civil or family situation, blind processes, Laura Mendoza intervened, that sounds complicated administratively, in reality, Sofia replied calmly, it is quite simple, the CBS are presented with

Personal Information Written The first assessments are based solely on relevant education, experience and skills, only after a candidate passes the initial assessments is

reveals personal information Carlos Ruiz the legal director frowned And how do we know that this is not going to result in problematic hiring, the question hung in the air with implications that

Everyone understood but
no one wanted to verbalize Sofia had anticipated this moment Mr. Ruis Could you define problems so that we all understand your specific concerns Carlos looked around the table clearly

uncomfortable having to articulate your biases, well, employees who might have external commitments that interfere with their performance, I understand it refers to commitments as responsibilities

Family, among other things, yes, Sofia nodded and opened the folder she had prepared, interesting, mention that because I’ve been analyzing our performance data

of the last 3 years, did you know that our employees with children have 23% higher retention rates than employees without children? The comment caused murmurs around the table.

Who had remained silent straightened up, how did she get that data is in our own HR files, I also found that employees with family responsibilities have

18% fewer unscheduled sick days than their childless counterparts Roberto Jimenez seemed skeptical Those numbers seem

why asked Sofia genuinely curious why would it be counterintuitive for people with more responsibilities to be more careful with their attendance and more committed to

Keeping her job: Diego watched the exchange with growing admiration: Sofia not only had data to back up her arguments, but she was forcing the management team to examine their own

prejudiced Maria Gonzalez who had been relatively neutral during Sofia’s interview leaned forward Mrs. Morales

That data is fascinating, what other patterns did you find several that might surprise you, for example, our employees who work non-traditional hours due to family responsibilities?

current and complete projects 12% faster than those who work standard schedules, how is that possible, Laura Mendoza asked, because when you have limited time to complete tasks?

You tend to eliminate inefficiencies Working parents have developed time management skills that many childless professionals have not yet acquired Patricia finally spoke

her voice strained Mrs. Morales, these facts are interesting, but she doesn’t think she’s generalizing based on a limited data set, Sofia turned to Patricia with a professional smile that

did not reach your eyes Mrs. Vega is absolutely correct, that is why I propose to expand our dataset by hiring more diverse employees and tracking their performance throughout the

Time, a controlled experiment, if you want an experiment, Carlos Ruiz seemed alarmed, Sofia, employees are not test subjects, no Mr. Ruiz, they are not, but our hiring policies are

can be tested and
improved based on real results rather than assumptions Diego decided to step in I like Sofia’s data-driven approach I propose that we implement these policies as a program

6-month pilot, if the results support Sofia’s projections, we expand the program, if we don’t adjust it, Roberto Jiménez consulted his watch very well, but I need to understand the implications

This pilot program is going to cost additional money actually Sofia replied that it should save us money the processes

Blind people reduce time to hire by eliminating redundant assessment sessions, focus on retention reduces training and replacement costs, and happier employees are more satisfied.

productive that sounds too good to be true, murmured Laura Mendoza, why did Sofia ask, why would it be too good for her to treat employees with respect and evaluate their work, Ferly

results in better results for all The question was left hanging in the air, exposing the circular logic that had been used to justify discriminatory policies for years.

She closed the meeting with
specific assignments for each director after everyone left, Patricia stayed behind, Diego I need to talk to you privately, Sofia began to get up, but Diego stopped her, Patricia stopped him.

that you have to say, you can say it in front of Sofia, we are going to be working together on this, Patricia looked at Sofia with an expression that bordered on hostility, very well, Diego, I think you are committing

A mistake implementing such dramatic changes so quickly these policies could create unrealistic expectations among current employees.

expectations asked Sofia expectations that her personal needs will be accommodated indefinitely by the company What needs specifically Patricia sighed with exasperation Sofia

You can’t pretend that family responsibilities don’t impact job performance, I’m not pretending that, I’m arguing that the impact isn’t necessarily negative and that the benefits

of engaged employees vastly outweigh any minor inconvenience minor inconvenience Patricia straightened up, what happens when an employee needs

Leave early constantly to pick up children when you miss because your child is sick when he can’t travel for work Sofia had waited for this conversation Patricia Can I ask you a question

Personal I guess when your kids were young Did you ever have to leave work early Patricia stiffened That’s different How is it different because I had already established my worth

in the company I had proven my commitment ah Sofia said softly, so the problem is not that parents cannot be excellent employees, the problem is that they do not

We give you the opportunity to prove that they can be, Diego watched the fascinated exchange Sofia had managed in minutes to expose the fundamental hypocrisy of the policies Patricia had advocated

For years patricia said Diego finally we are going to proceed with the pilot program I need you to support these changes patricia nodded Stefley of course Diego I just hope you know what you are doing

doing after Patricia left Diego turned to Sofia that was brilliant that was necessary corrected Sofia Diego you need to understand something Patricia is not going to

Supporting these changes is actually going to do everything it can to sabotage them, are you sure of that? I’ve seen that expression before, Diego is the same one I’ve seen in dozens of interviews.

Patricia sees these changes as a personal threat to her authority and to the policies she implemented, Diego rubbed his chin considering Sofia’s words, what do you suggest we do?

documenting every conversation, every decision, every outcome, and being prepared for resistance that could become more aggressive, as if it had been conjured up.

by his words, Diego’s assistant knocked on the door, Mr. Hernandez, you have an urgent call from Roberto Jimenez, Diego took the call and Sofia could hear Roberto’s agitated tone even from

The other side of the desk, Diego, I need to talk to you immediately about this pilot program, I’ve been thinking about the legal and financial implications, and I think we’re moving

Too fast Roberto we just had this conversation in the meeting yes but I have been talking to Patricia and she has explained some additional concerns that we could not discuss

In front of Bueno, in front of the new employee, Sofia felt that her stomach was shrinking, not even an hour had passed since the meeting and they were already organizing resistance, behind her back Diego looked at her and

covered the phone, can you give me a few minutes? Sofia nodded and left the office, but couldn’t help but hear snippets of the conversation through the door.

dangerous precedents need to proceed with more caution 20 minutes later Diego left his office with a tense expression

Sofia, we need to talk back in the office, Diego sat heavily in his chair, Roberto is worried about the speed of implementation, he wants us to reduce the scope of the pilot program

What that means specifically means that you want to limit the program to a single department with very specific success criteria and with the option to cancel at any time if it arises

Any problem Sofia leaned forward Diego Can I be completely honest with you please Roberto no

He’s concerned about the speed of implementation, he’s worried that this program is going to work, and when it works, it’s going to expose years of discriminatory practices that he helped create and maintain

Diego was silent for a moment, are you saying that Roberto is deliberately sabotaging the show? I’m saying that Roberto, Patricia and probably others see this show as a

threatens a system that has benefited them for years and they are going to do everything they can to ensure that it fails. And what do you suggest we do Sofia took a deep breath

implement the program exactly as we plan it, but with thorough documentation, we want that if they try to sabotage it, we have clear evidence of their resistance and the actual results of the program.

Diego, nodded slowly, it’s risky, Diego, all real change is risky, the question is whether you’re willing to take the risk of doing the right thing, or if you prefer the security of maintaining

the status cuo that afternoon when Sofia returned home Isabela was waiting for her with a huge smile and a drawing “how was your first

Work day mommy?” Sofia looked at the drawing, it was herself sitting at a desk with a label that read “The smartest boss in the world.” It was interesting heart very interesting did you like it

Sofia hugged her daughter breathing her familiar scent that always calmed her down, I liked Isabela, but she’s going to do a very difficult job, why, because when you try to change things to be

The people who benefited from injustice are not happy Isabela considered this with the seriousness that she applied to all important concepts but you are going to keep trying

Right, of course
it is, love, do you know why, why, because you taught me that sometimes little people can do great things when they’re right and they don’t give up, Elizabeth smiled beamingly at her, that means

I helped you get the job means you helped me remember who I am and why this is important that night while Isabela slept Sofia stayed up getting ready for the

challenges he knew were coming, he had won a battle, getting the job, but the war to change the system was barely going on.

Starting and he had a suspicion that his opponents were going to play dirtier than he had anticipated, two days later his suspicions were confirmed when he found an email in his mailbox that would change

the entire email was from Patricia copying Roberto and Carlos worrying about some irregularities in the first files that Sofia had reviewed for the pilot program the irregularities

they were, of course, completely fabricated, the war had officially begun in a part 6, Patricia’s email arrived on

Tuesday morning and Sofia knew immediately that it was the first move in an orchestral campaign to discredit her, the irregularities mentioned in the message were vague, but what was

specific enough to sow doubts about his competence and integrity Diego,” Sofia said, entering his office with the email printed, “We need to talk urgently.

Diego read the message furrowing, “irregularities in the files, Sofia, you just started reviewing them yesterday.” Exactly and every file I have reviewed is perfectly documented with

Detailed notes on my evaluation criteria Patricia knows that these allegations are false, why would she do something like that, Sofia sat in front of Diego with a serious expression because she is

Establishing a narrative if the pilot program fails he wants to be able to point to these early irregularities as evidence that I was not competent to handle it, Diego put the email over his

desk, what do you need
from me, do I need you to call a meeting immediately with Patricia, Roberto and Carlos, I want to face these allegations directly with evidence in front of witnesses, are you sure, that could escalate?

the situation Diego, the situation is already escalated, the question is whether we are going to allow them to control the narrative or if we are going to prove that they are lying, an hour later the five were

again in the boardroom the tension was palpable from the moment they sat down Patricia began Diego your email this morning alleged irregularities in the

Sofia’s work, can you be more specific, Patricia opened a folder with an air of authority, of course, I have reviewed the first 10 files that Mrs. Morales evaluated for the pilot program and

I found several inconsistencies in your evaluation criteria, what kind of inconsistencies did Sofia ask calmly, well, for example, did you rate a candidate with an 85% when clearly

should have received 70% based on our standard criteria Sofia opened her own folder Do you mean María Elena Vázquez yes interesting because María Elena Vázquez

has a master’s degree in project management from ITESM, 8 years of relevant experience, and three international certifications according to our own official criteria, that merits 85%

Explain to me why you think I should receive 70% Patricia consulted her grades quickly well there are intangible factors that should be considered intangible factors such as what the pause of

Patricia was revealing Roberto stepped in to support her Sofia What Patricia is trying to say is that evaluating candidates requires experience and instinct that goes beyond

of objective criteria I understand, Sofia said with a smile that did not reach her eyes roberto, could you explain to me what intangible factors would justify reducing the qualification of a highly qualified candidate?

rated 15% Roberto looked to Patricia for support but she was frantically reviewing her papers well there are considerations about cultural fit interesting cultural fit based

in what information did you determine that María Elena does not fit culturally with our company, well I have not interviewed the candidate

personally exactly, you have not interviewed María Elena, you have not spoken to her, you have not evaluated her interpersonal skills or her ability to work in a team, but somehow you determined

that does not fit culturally based on the fact that the silence that followed was deafening Diego observed the exchange with growing understanding of what Sofia was exposing Carlos Ruiz tried to

Deflecting the conversation Sofia: I think you’re being too defensive about this, Patricia is just trying to ensure that the program maintains high standards

Sofia turned to Carlos Carlos, have you reviewed Maria Elena’s file, not specifically but I trust Patricia’s judgment, then let me read you her grades, Sofia opened the

Magna cumlaude graduate from the National University MBA with a specialization in human resources speaks four languages has led teams of up to 50 people has exceptional references

of three previous employers exactly what standards it does not meet Carlos consulted Patricia with his eyes but she was noticeably quiet Diego decided to intervene Patricia Can you show us

specifically what did you base your assessment on that Sofia overvalued this candidate Patricia finally spoke her slightly tense voice DIEGO, are there protocols in place for the evaluation of

candidates who have worked for years protocols such as the type 3 profile system that we discussed last week asked Sofia softly the question fell like a bomb in the room Roberto and

Carlos exchanged quick glances, clearly not knowing that it was the type three profile, but recognizing that it was

important: “What is type 3 profile?” asked Carlos Diego leaned forward is an internal code that we have been using to mark candidates with potential schedule complications that

Coincidentally includes virtually all single mothers who apply for jobs here Roberto straightened up abruptly We are using codes to discriminate against single mothers We are not

discriminating began Patricia defensively no Sofia opened another folder patricia, can you explain to me why Ana Martinez with identical credentials to Maria Elena received a rating of 70%

when María Elena
received 85% each candidate is different you are right ana Martínez is married and has no children María Elena is a single mother of two children that is the only difference in their files the air in the

The living room became suffocating, Diego looked at the folders Sofia had prepared and realized that she had meticulously documented a pattern of systematic discrimination, Sofia said.

Slowly what exactly are you suggesting am I suggesting that the irregularities Patricia found in my work are not irregularities at all they are corrections to evaluations

systematically biased against candidates with family responsibilities Roberto turned pale Are you saying that we have been discriminating illegally I am saying that we have been using

Unofficial criteria that systematically penalize certain demographic groups and whether that could constitute illegal discrimination, Carlos Ruiz, in his role as legal director, straightened out alarmed

Diego: If this is true, we could be facing significant legal exposure, Patricia finally explored this is ridiculous, I’ve been handling HR at this company for 15 years and

We have never
discriminated against anyone, we have female employees, we have employees with families, how many single mothers in leadership positions asked Sofia calmly, Patricia stopped in the middle of a sentence

How many pregnant women have been hired into management positions in the last 5 years? How many single parents have been questioned about how they would handle family emergencies?

During their interviews, silence spread, Diego looked around the table and saw faces that varied from awkward realization to

Desperate defensiveness, “Patricia,” Diego finally said, “neito, bring me all the candidate evaluation files from the last 3 years, we’re going to do a full audit, Diego, I don’t think

that this is necessary is not a suggestion Patricia is an order patricia rose abruptly very well but I want it to be recorded that I consider this investigation completely unnecessary and

potentially damaging to the morale of the company after Patricia left followed by Roberto and Carlos Diego was left alone with Sofia

“Did you know this was going to happen?” he asked, I knew they were going to try to sabotage me, I didn’t know they were going to do it so awkwardly, Diego leaned back in his chair, Sofia, how deep do you think this problem is?

Diego: This problem is not only Patricia’s, it is systemic, it is cultural and it will require more than policy changes to fix it, what do you need from me, Sofia leaned forward, I need you to

understand that this is going to get worse before it gets better, Patricia Roberto and probably others are going to escalate their efforts to discredit me and sabotage the program, are you prepared for that, Diego I have

I’ve been fighting this
system for years, the difference now is that I have a platform to fight from within, and I have someone powerful backing me up, the question is if you’re ready for what’s coming, Diego

looked out the window at the city that stretched down somewhere in that urban vastness, Isabela was at school, probably telling her friends about her mother’s new job, the

A little girl who had started all this with her courage and honesty Sofia a week ago My biggest concern was if my

Quarterly numbers were going to impress the board of directors today I’m questioning the ethical foundations of how my company operates, and you know what’s the most surprising thing that for the first time in years

I feel like I’m doing something that really matters Sofia smiled genuinely for the first time in days So I guess we’re ready for the next phase What’s the next phase Demonstrate

that when you give people real opportunities based on real merit everyone wins that afternoon Diego made a decision that would change not only his company but his own life in a way that would change his own life.

The Fundamental Corporation, called a
press conference to announce that Grupo Empresarial Azteca would become the first Mexican corporation to implement a program of total equity in contracting with public auditing

The year of his internship was a risky move that would put the company under national scrutiny, it was also the right move, and for the first time in his executive career, Diego Hernandez was more than one of the most important players in his career.

interested in doing the right thing than in protecting his position, the change that Isabella had initiated with her childlike courage was about to transform

Not just a company but an entire industry, sometimes the biggest transformations start with the smallest gestures, have you witnessed how one brave person can change an entire system?

Tell us your story in the comments, like this narrative and subscribe for more stories that celebrate the power of doing the right thing, how do you think this one will end?

Transformation epilogue 6 months later the conference room on the 35th floor was full of journalists, cameramen and executives from other companies Diego Hernández was in front of the podium but this

Not alone at his side
were Sofia Morales and Isabela, who had insisted on wearing her yellow dress, the same one she had worn six months earlier when the course of their lives changed, “ladies and gentlemen,” Diego began.

6 months ago an 8-year-old girl came into this company and asked me a simple question: why would a company prefer to hire someone with no family responsibilities when single mothers are

The best employees in the world A soft laugh ran through the audience, Isabela blushed but maintained her dignified posture, that question began a transformation that has exceeded our expectations more

Optimistic Today we are here to present the results of our Total Equity in Hiring Program Sofia came to the microphone 6 months of work had added confidence to her presence

But her humble, determined essence remained intact: “The numbers speak for themselves,” she said, activating a presentation on the screen behind her: in 6 months, our employee turnover has become more and more effective.

reduced productivity by 35%, increased by 28% and most importantly, 89% of our employees report increased

job satisfaction, a journalist raised his hand, Mrs. Morales, can you attribute these improvements directly to changes in hiring policies, partially replied Sofia, but I think

The most important factor was to change the business culture to value whole people, not only their isolated work productivity Diego took up the microphone one of the most important discoveries

surprising was that when you remove conscious and unconscious biases from the hiring process naturally

You end up with more diverse, more creative and more effective teams, Isabela had to use the bench to reach the microphone, causing smiles throughout the audience, can I say something?

Curious about what the girl who had started it all would say: “My mom taught me that people are like books, if you judge the book only by the cover, you can miss very beautiful stories inside, I think

That’s what happened here.” When they stopped judging people by their covers, they found many beautiful stories, the analogy

Isabela’s simple but profound was immediately caught by the journalists present that night, her cuuta would make headlines across the country after the press conference, the little girl

The family retreated to Diego’s office for a private celebration, Isabela had insisted on bringing cake, the same kind of vanilla cake with strawberries they had eaten to celebrate when Sofia

got the job, “Do you know what’s the most incredible thing about all this?” Diego said to Sofia as Isabela explored the books in her

Personal Library What do we not just change the company we change our own lives in ways we never expected was true Sofia had been promoted to Director of Human Resources and

inclusion with a salary that finally allowed her to live without the constant anxiety about major money she had found her professional and personal voice in a way she had never imagined

Possible, Isabela was thriving in her new private school, but more importantly, she had developed a self-confidence that came from watching her mother transform

his life through determination and dignity and Diego had discovered something he didn’t know that he had been losing a sense of purpose that went beyond financial success diego, Sofia said

Softly, can I ask you something personal, of course, do you regret having risked so much for this program, Diego considered the question seriously, the program had generated controversy

It had cost some professional friendships and had required fundamental changes in how the Sofia company operated 6 months ago I was a successful CO of a profitable company I had everything I thought

I wanted: power money
respect and now I am a successful yes of a profitable company that is really making a difference in people’s lives and I have something I didn’t know a chosen family needed

Isabela looked up from the books, that means we are like family, now Diego E smiled, what do you think, Isabela, I think families take care of each other, support each other and love each other?

And we do that, Sofia felt tears in her eyes, in her quest for job security and financial stability, she had found something much more valuable:

community of people who believed in her and in the values she had tried to live “is there anything else?” said Diego, approaching his desk and taking out an elegant envelope: “Isabela, this is for you.”

Isabela opened the envelope carefully and found a formal letter on company letterhead, “what does it say?” she asked, handing the letter to her mother, Sofia read aloud, dear Isabella.

Morales Vega, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the transformation of Grupo Empresarial Azteca, we have the honor of

to appoint her our first honorary consultant of human policies Isabel the blinked confused What does that mean, Diego explained that when we have to make important decisions about

How we treat people in this company Let’s ask you, what do you really think because we found that an 8-year-old girl has a better instinct about justice and fairness than many

Adults with college degrees Isabela considered this seriously that means I can help more families like ours exactly Isabela got straightened out

with a determination that was pure family genetics then I accept the job while the sun was setting over Mexico City three people who had been Strangers 6 months ago met

United by something stronger than circumstance, they were united by shared values, mutual respect, and the understanding that true success is measured in lives changed, not just financial numbers

The transformation that had begun with a brave girl asking for her mother had grown into a model

that other companies across Mexico were beginning to adopt, but more important than the social impact had been the personal impact, Sofia had shown that a talented and talented single mother.

determination could not only survive in the corporate world, but transform it, Diego had learned that real leadership requires moral courage, not just business acumen, and Isabela had

I’ve found that even the smallest people can create big changes when they’re right and don’t give up 6 months after a

Girl in a yellow dress had walked into a corporate building with a folder too big for her, the world was a slightly fairer place, and that’s what the three of them decided, it was exactly like

it should be as they left the building that night, Isabela held Sofia and Diego’s hands, “you know what’s the best thing about all of this, what heart?” asked Sofia, “that we show that when people

good help each other magical things can happen.
Diego smiled, squeezing the small hand that was holding his, “Isabela, I think that might be the best definition of success I’ve ever heard.” And as they walked into the future they had

Built together, the three of them knew that the real magic had not been the transformation of the company, the real magic had been the transformation of their hearts.

This story of courage, transformation, and hope, if you were inspired by Isabela and Sofia’s determination, or if you know someone who needs to hear that change is possible, share this story.