BDO Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15 to October 15, BDO’s multicultural alliance is leading virtual local and national activities to help celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Hear from four BDO professionals about what this month means to them and what it is like to be a Hispanic or Latinx professional in the accounting industry.

SAM BURDYL

Transaction Advisory Services Tax Experienced Senior Associate

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

It is a time to celebrate the communities that have come together in the melting pot that is America. I especially like the timing while the middle of the month seems weird or random at first glance, Sept. 15 is Independence Day for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. I think it’s the perfect way to kick things off.

PAULO GONZALEZ

National Assurance Senior Manager

What do you appreciate about BDO’s focus on diversity and inclusion?

In today’s highly diverse organizations, the ability to work with people who have diverse values and cultures is extremely important. I appreciate BDO’s D&I culture because it is precisely focused on the value that the diverse individual can bring to this organization. I appreciate how these values are being recognized, understood and respected. Following recent events that have happened in our country, I appreciate how firm leadership promptly addressed any potential concerns by opening the appropriate forums. That really emphasized the importance that our leadership gives to D&I.

DAVID NEIGHBORS

Tax Partner 

What does it mean to be a Hispanic or Latinx professional in the accounting industry?

While we are still underrepresented in the accounting industry, strides are being made. As a Latinx partner at BDO, I recognize and respect the responsibility that comes with my role: to be an example for those entering our industry, to live by the creed of “each one teach one” and to strive to be a transition person for others.

MARISOL CUNNINGHAM

Office Administrator

What do you appreciate about BDO’s focus on diversity and inclusion?

I appreciate BDO’s focus on diversity and inclusion because the firm cannot evolve to a higher level of acceptance if we don’t openly discuss topics of racial inequalities and injustices and talk about ways that each and every one of us can help make our workforce more welcoming and diverse. We spend so much of our time working together to serve our clients, but it is equally important to work as a team to serve ourselves, our mental health and well-being by making our workplace a safe place for those conversations in order to promote awareness; and to find ways we can come together to better serve our communities and our brothers and sisters of color.