HispanicBusiness

Maria Azua
Title: VP, IBM Technology & Innovation, CIO office & IBM distinguished engineer
Company: IBM
Currently: A University of Miami graduate, Ms. Azua has been with IBM since 1989 and has earned the Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor title with 45 approved patents and 43 more pending approval. No glass ceiling has gotten in the way of her climb up the corporate ladder and she says it shouldn't stop other professionals from making it to the top. "Don't play somebody else's game and focus on creating new business opportunities for the corporation you work for," she advises workers. "Corporate America values productivity and if you can increase revenue that will take you through any glass ceiling."

Ophelia B. Basgal
Title: VP Civic Partnership & Community Initiatives
Company: PG&E
Currently: Since taking the position in September 2005, Ms. Basgal has been directly responsible for managing the California power company's $18 million charitable contributions program, which includes the Solar Schools Education Program and several other signature programs, such as Solar for Habitat Housing. With energy issues in the news, she says it's an exciting time to be a part of PG&E. "We focus on customer service, and have a clear line of sight for environmental issues and policies," Ms. Basgal says. "We're the first to have environmental initiatives to promote the reduction of greenhouse gases – both for our corporate clients and residential customers."

Jorge A. Bermudez
Title: Executive Vice-President, Citibank/Citigroup; CEO, Commercial Business Group in North America and CEO, Citibank Texas
Currently: The Texas A&M graduate has a prolific career as an international banking leader who has worked in various positions in North America and Latin America. Mr. Bermudez started Citibank's e-Business, winner of Global Finance's Best Internet Bank in 2002, 2003, and 2004. He suggests that aspiring execs should broaden their corporate experience. "Too many people wouldn't consider a lateral move to a new geography, or a move from a line job to a staff job because they don't realize that by broadening themselves, they become more capable of taking on new assignments," he says.

Michael J. Cave
Title: VP of Business Strategy & Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Company: The Boeing Company
Currently: Newly appointed as Boeing's vice-president of business strategy and marketing, Mr. Cave comes into the position with various leadership positions in the aviation industry. Before the promotion, he was vice president/general manager of Airplane Programs for Commercial Airplanes and oversaw the 737, 747, 767, and 777 airplane models with a focus on strategy, product development, and business results, with overall profit and loss responsibility for those models. Mr. Cave is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and in 2004, the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Corporation gave him the award for Executive Excellence.