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We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting for with Francesca Mayca Wegner
Hear about the incredible journey of Francesca Mayca Wegner, the President and Chief Possibilities Officer of Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM), as she leads the charge for increased representation and economic opportunities for Hispanic and Latino communities in Wisconsin.
Shaped by her upbringing, Francesca embodies a determined leadership style driven by curiosity, interpersonal skills, and a deep commitment to listening, understanding, and connection. Her passion for creating positive change shines through as she spearheads HPGM's mission. Francesca's leadership thrives on community. She highlights the significance of nurturing a "circle of people" who uplift and support one another, paving the way for collective success.
Tune in to explore Francesca's inspiring journey – from fostering unity and empowerment to creating systemic change that resonates across Wisconsin and beyond. Learn about HPGM's commitment to enhancing financial sustainability, securing a permanent home, and launching a groundbreaking Latino leadership program. Find out what Francesca and her sister Gabriela are gearing up for that will celebrate the unique perspective of Midwest Latinas when you listen to this episode.
Episode Highlights:
10:45 - For us, it's focusing on a few key areas: systems and infrastructure, financial sustainability and strategic partnerships and programming. So, we are really confident that this intentional approach will help us sustain, grow, and deepen our impact in our community in a way that truly honors our legacy and is going to, in my opinion, come out on the other end with a stronger Wisconsin, not just for Latinos, but really for our state as a whole.
14:35 - None of us get to where we are or achieve what we do all on our own. I'm still waiting for someone to show me an example of someone who had no help, and I've been really blessed and have had beautiful people in my life who have nurtured me and helped me succeed.
20:15 - When we think about representation, outside of the workplace and just things like media or literature or really anything else you can imagine in your life, one of the things that my sister and I have always talked about is feeling like our perspective isn't necessarily represented.
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Connect with Francesca Mayca Wegner
A movement leader who dreams big and envisions the long-term possibilities around her, Francesca Mayca Wegner recognizes that it takes resources, access, and dedication to affect sustainable change and she has dedicated her life to that very mission.
Francesca serves as President and Chief Possibilities Officer of Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM). Appointed in April 2021, she is an advocate, connector, and convener, and has led the organization through a record growth period with its membership, philanthropic gifts, and revenue during one of the most challenging times within the global landscape.
Known as a strong and insightful partner, she welcomes leaders from all sectors, breaks down barriers, and increases access to a network that’s not always been so accessible to Latinos. In only two years, Francesca has nearly doubled HPGM’s membership, secured the largest grant in the organization’s history, redefined what ‘professionals’ means within HPGM, co-founded the Poderosa Collective (the first-ever Latina-focused alliance in Wisconsin to unite, educate, and highlight Latina voices in order to grow their social and economic power), and is the founding director of the Techqueria Chapter of Milwaukee.
Francesca’s experience is in building and sustaining cross-sector partnerships on behalf of nonprofit, higher education, and corporate organizations. Prior to joining HPGM, she most recently served as Senior Director of Development and Communications for Sojourner Family Peace Center. Francesca also held various positions within Marquette University’s advancement team after beginning her career within sales for the Milwaukee Bucks organization.
As a childhood survivor of domestic violence, it has always been vital for Francesca to play an active role in ending the cycle and changing the narrative for others. She was a founding member of VOICES, a survivor-led advisory council that guides the work of Sojourner, advocates and empowers other survivors, and educates the community to prevent family violence. And today Francesca’s story, her voice, and her actions serve as a beacon of hope for others professionally as well as personally.
A trailblazer known for her advocacy of others, Francesca was recognized in 2021 by Madison365 as one of ‘Wisconsin’s 36 Most Influential Latino Leaders,’ as both a ‘40 Under 40 Winner’ and as a ‘Power Broker & Executive to Watch’ by the Milwaukee Business Journal in 2022, and BizTimes named her a 2023 ‘Notable BIPOC Executive,’ which was especially meaningful as she was nominated by her HPGM team.
Passionate about investing in Greater Milwaukee with a focus on increasing economic opportunities and representation for Latinos, equitable access to education, and mentoring, she currently serves on the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce Region of Choice Task Force; the Aurora West Allis Medical Center Steering Council; Milwaukee Area Technical College President’s Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Collaborative, My Way Out, and the HERA (Higher Education Regional Alliance); and, as a mentor in the Nativity Jesuit Academy mentoring program.
Francesca earned both her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees from Marquette University, and in June 2022 she was honored by the Greater Milwaukee Committee to represent Milwaukee at the Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Program.
In her free time, you can find Francesca cozying up with a good book or podcast at a local coffee shop with a cafecito in hand or spending time with her husband Ted and their dogs, Michael Jordan and Scottie.
