How Latinos in Finance Helped Open the Door—And Maria Walked Through It

Before joining the Ohio Hispanic Coalition’s Latinos in Finance program, Maria was working as a recruiter at a temporary agency. While she already had professional experience, she knew she wanted to grow, learn new skills, and transition into a more stable and fulfilling career.

At the time, Maria was seeking greater financial stability, professional growth, and a more peaceful work environment. Through the Ohio Hispanic Coalition’s partnership with Morgan Stanley, she gained access to career development opportunities designed to support Latino professionals entering the financial sector. Maria chose to take that opportunity—committing her time, effort, and determination to the program.

Throughout Latinos in Finance, Maria found mentorship and mock interview practice to be especially impactful. One key moment came during a mock interview, when she realized how much her confidence and communication skills had grown. That experience helped her better understand industry expectations and strengthened her ability to present herself professionally.

Cohort members, including Maria, gather for a memorable mock interview session at Morgan Stanley.

Maria’s dedication paid off. About a year after completing her mock interview, she earned a job offer from Morgan Stanley—the same partner organization that supported interview preparation through the program. While the partnership made the opportunity possible, it was Maria’s persistence, preparation, and willingness to step outside her comfort zone that made the outcome a reality.

Today, Maria feels more confident, stable, and secure in her career path. She is especially proud of pursuing a new role despite initial insecurity about her English and pronunciation—proving to herself that those challenges did not define her potential.

Looking ahead, Maria is excited to continue growing at Morgan Stanley, which she describes as “an infinite fountain of possibilities.” She credits the Latinos in Finance program at the Ohio Hispanic Coalition for opening doors—and her own effort for walking through them.

Her message to future participants is clear:“Take advantage of every opportunity. Keep working hard, don’t lose faith, and don’t see your accent as a weakness. There are many accents, and none of them should limit your potential.”