Ximena A., Senior Director
Behind-the-scenes at HelloFresh with Ximena!
It’s National Hispanic Heritage Month! From September 15 – October 15, we pay tribute to the histories, cultures, and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
This month we’re thrilled to introduce Ximena A., Senior Director, Procurement Operations, Center of Excellence. Born in Colombia and raised in NYC, Ximena is an engineer, people leader, and developer by training—and a problem-solver and strategist extraordinaire. She’s spent her career in operations leading large teams and we’re so proud to have her as a part of ours.
We sat down with Ximena to talk about her heritage and some of her favorite ways to celebrate and embrace her culture during Hispanic Heritage Month. She also shared insight into how colleagues, who aren’t part of the Hispanic community, can better support their Hispanic coworkers this month and beyond.
1. You’ve been with HelloFresh for over six years, and during that time, you’ve served in various roles. Can you tell us more about your journey with the company and how it has shaped your career?
My 6.5-year journey with HelloFresh has been an incredible blend of professional growth and personal milestones. I joined as a Special Ops Manager, an individual contributor role, and have grown to become the Sr. Director of Procurement Operations, leading a large team across the US and the Philippines. During this time, I’ve also met and married my husband and became a mom to two wonderful boys, now 2.5 and 1 years old. What keeps me excited to come to work is the people and the culture of growth and collaboration driven by our DNA. I am surrounded by incredibly smart and talented people who come together to solve problems, creatively meet and exceed our goals and drive our products and innovation forward. Most importantly, HelloFresh is a place where I can bring my full self to work as a Latina and a mom. 
2. Being of Latinx descent, and growing up in New York City, how did your heritage and upbringing influence your professional path?
Born in Colombia and raised in NYC, my heritage and upbringing have profoundly shaped my professional journey. I come from a very large, close-knit, supportive, and loving family (with many more cousins and tias/tios than I could count) which has shaped my curiosity for getting to know people, desire to connect and celebrate them, and my approach to people leadership and culture building.
Ximena with her HelloFresh team.
Being raised by a single, incredibly hard working mom taught me the importance of perseverance. She instilled in me a “sí se puede” (yes, you can) attitude that I carry into the workplace. My mom always taught me that I could do anything I set my mind to with hard work.
This drive pushed me to excel academically. I earned over 10 scholarships that fully funded my NYU education, allowing me to study abroad. In college, I discovered the power of community through the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. This organization connected me with incredible mentors who continue to inspire me and hold me accountable to “lift as I climb,” supporting others as I grow and learn.
3. What does HelloFresh’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? What events are you most excited about?
HelloFresh’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month fills me with pride as I see our Latinx community grow. The company is hosting panels and allyship conversations that create valuable opportunities for us to learn from each other in a safe space sharing our heritages, stories, and how being Hispanic shapes our work experience.
I’m also thrilled to see our culture celebrated through our menus in items like the Puerto Rican Arroz con Pollo, which I recently had with friends and family and it was delicious. Additionally, the intentional efforts to contribute to the larger community demonstrates HelloFresh’s commitment to positively impacting beyond our workplace.
6. How do you believe celebrations of cultural months like Hispanic Heritage Month help foster a more inclusive and supportive workplace culture?
These celebrations go beyond acknowledgment; they foster genuine awareness and understanding of each other’s heritage, revealing the unique experiences and perspectives each person brings. By honoring the contributions of Hispanic team members, we don’t just celebrate diversity but also highlight its impact on our collective success. These moments empower everyone to feel seen and valued, creating a safe space.
Ximena with her family.
7. What does allyship mean to you, and how can colleagues who aren’t part of the Hispanic community better support their Hispanic co-workers?
To me, allyship means genuinely being curious to understand and appreciate others as whole individuals, recognizing the personal and professional aspects. For colleagues outside the Hispanic community (or any community), allyship involves learning about others’ experiences and perspectives. It also means approaching decisions with an inclusive mindset, and ensuring using your platform to amplify others’ voices.This includes advocating for their ideas and achievements, especially in spaces where they may be underrepresented. True allyship creates opportunities for visibility, equity, and collaboration.
8. During Hispanic Heritage Month, what are some of your favorite ways to celebrate and embrace Hispanic culture—either at work or in your personal life?
For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for reflection, study, vulnerable understanding and deeper understanding of the state of Hispanics in the US. I enjoy diving into data and reports, such as the Mckinsey women at work 2024 report, to better understand my own experience in a larger context. This knowledge helps me target my efforts as I mentor, lead workshops, or volunteer in external organizations.
Becoming a mom of two Colombian/American boys has given Hispanic Heritage Month a new special meaning for our family. It’s a time to share and explore the rich heritage, instill pride, and foster connection to our roots. This foundational understanding and curiosity will help my boys grow up feeling like they’re a bit “de aqui, de alla” (from here and there).
Ximena’s little ones ready to cook up a meal!
10. Any other ways for colleagues or friends to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
Celebrating doesn’t require grand gestures. Simply making the time to better understand a Hispanic coworker’s or friend’s heritage can be incredibly powerful. This curiosity fosters new perspectives and deeper understanding.
Thank you so much to Ximena for sharing her insights and inspiring our team to better understand Hispanic culture. We are grateful for the value—and the “sí se puede” attitude — that she brings to our HelloFresh workplace every day.
Learn more about how HelloFresh is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month on Linkedin.
