After the Cuban revolution, 6-year-old Luis Aguilar and his brother arrived in the United States with little more than the clothes on their backs, part of an exodus of children whose parents feared communist indoctrination. He worked his way through college and law school, becoming a partner in a prestigious law firm and corporate general counsel. Aguilar was sworn in on July 31, 2008, as commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissioner.
His commitment to diversity has been central to his career path. Today, he sponsors the SEC’s Hispanic Employment Committee, the African American Council, and the Caribbean American Heritage Committee. He’s served on the boards of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association. “I think that our country is made stronger by its diversity,” he says. “I believe when you bring a variety of people together to talk about any issue, things are developed in a more effective manner.”
He sat down with Fair360, formerly DiversityInc CEO Luke Visconti for a candid and thoughtful interview. Here are key excerpts.
