Trauma is something that is felt communally and for the Cuban diaspora and those still on the island, the rise of communism is something that has echoed throughout time. For many, there isn’t a movement that isn’t laced with reverberations of Fidel Castro and his regime.
While Castro’s machinations have taken much, it has forced the Cuban people to tap into their resiliency, ingenuity, and determination. In her book “Last Flight From Havana,” Marie Quintana shares just how deeply those murmurs of a time lost are felt while navigating life in a new land vastly different from your own.
“Through this story, I hope to inspire future generations of Latinas to embrace their identity and see their challenges as opportunities for growth,” Quintana tells Latinidad Collective.
Credit: Courtesy of Marie Quintana
She continues, “My journey as a Cuban refugee taught me the importance of perseverance, the power of vulnerability, and the strength in community.”
Below, the former Fortune 50 executive shares what it was like rising the corporate ladder as a Latina. She also discusses what it felt like to have her book re-released in Spanish during Our Herenica Month.
Your journey from fleeing Cuba during the rise of Fidel Castro to becoming a Fortune 50 executive is remarkable. Can you share what that experience was like and how it shaped your approach to leadership?
Fleeing Cuba was a defining moment in my life. Like many refugees who have escaped communism, I was deeply humbled and immensely grateful when opportunities came my way. This experience instilled in me an immigrant mentality — driving me to work harder than those around me and reminding me of the importance of sharing knowledge and helping others when possible.
In your book “Last Flight From Havana,” you talk about three lessons for living an authentic life. How have these lessons — starting over, embracing authenticity, and living your legacy — guided you through your career in major companies like PepsiCo and IBM?
These three lessons have guided me throughout both my professional and personal life. First, I consider myself a risk-taker, having had to start over many times across several different careers.
My journey has taken me from being a clinical social worker and systems engineer to roles such as VP of Technology, SVP of Multicultural Sales and Marketing, Chief Marketing Officer, EVP of Communications, and President of the Quintana Group.
Credit: Courtesy of Marie Quintana
In all of these roles, I’ve learned that true success comes from being authentic. Understanding yourself is key to being able to help others. You can only uplift others if you first understand and embrace your own story.
My legacy is built every day — through my actions, decisions, and even the conversations I have. Every choice adds to that legacy. We must all recognize that we are here to fulfill a purpose, and with each decision we make, we are actively shaping our legacy.
As a Latina who rose to the C-suite in a time when there were few women in leadership, what were some of the unique challenges you faced, and how did your family, faith, and culture help you overcome them?
As a Hispanic woman rising to the C-suite during a time when women — and particularly women of color — were underrepresented in leadership, I faced several unique challenges. One of the biggest was overcoming biases around being a woman.
There were often moments where I felt I had to work twice as hard to prove myself in environments where my perspective wasn’t always seen as valuable or understood.
Additionally, navigating cultural differences within corporate structures was a challenge. In many Latino cultures, there’s a strong emphasis on humility and deference to authority. In the corporate world, however, speaking up and asserting oneself is key to being recognized.
Balancing these two contrasting approaches required me to be agile and intentional about how I showed up in professional spaces. Despite these challenges, my family, faith, and culture were my constant sources of strength.
My upbringing instilled in me the values of perseverance and resilience. Being a Cuban refugee, I knew firsthand what it meant to rebuild from nothing, and I drew from that experience whenever the path forward seemed difficult.
My family’s belief in my potential — rooted in their sacrifices — kept me grounded, while my faith provided the courage to face adversity with grace and optimism.
Culturally, the sense of community and the belief in collective success helped me foster meaningful relationships and collaborate effectively in the workplace.
In the end, I saw my background not as a disadvantage but as a unique strength that allowed me to lead with empathy, innovation, and an understanding of different perspectives.
The Spanish version of “Last Flight From Havana” was released during Hispanic Heritage Month. What significance does this translation hold for you, and how do you hope to inspire future generations of Latinas through your story?
The release of the Spanish version of “Last Flight From Havana” during Hispanic Heritage Month is deeply meaningful to me. Not only does it allow my story to reach a broader audience, but it also honors my heritage and the language that shaped my early experiences.
This translation is a celebration of my roots and a bridge for others who share similar journeys of resilience, hope, and reinvention.
Through this story, I hope to inspire future generations of Latinas to embrace their identity and see their challenges as opportunities for growth. My journey as a Cuban refugee taught me the importance of perseverance, the power of vulnerability, and the strength in community.
I want Latinas to know that their stories too are worth telling and that their voices matter. By sharing my experiences, I hope to empower them to pursue their dreams fearlessly and to see their cultural heritage as a source of strength and pride.
Buy your copy of “Last Flight From Havana” from a local bookstore.
