From Inspiration to Implementation
"Many companies search for ways to increase cultural competency and employee engagement, but very few truly succeed. With [Rico’s] program, we nailed it."
-President, Healthcare privately held enterprise
Rico delivers frameworks that don't just inspire but also illuminate clear pathways to actionable implementation.
Rooted in marketing, culture, and language, Rico brings fresh, relevant insights that challenge assumptions and spark new thinking.
Rico's Speaker Demo
From boardrooms to ballrooms, Rico delivers engaging keynotes that blend cultural fluency, humor, and leadership insight, tailored to your organization's needs.
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/A6Z70hJK5dE
Organizational Value Alignment
Organizational Development informed by Marketing, Cultural Anthropology, and Sociolinguistics
Rico specializes in expertly navigating complex cultural and organizational dynamics, transforming potentially divisive topics into dialogues that foster understanding and strategic clarity. Moving beyond surface-level debates, he uncovers the actionable roots of genuine inclusion. Outcomes include:
• Higher productivity and profitability
• Lower turnover and reduced absenteeism
• Improved teamwork, communication, and collaboration
• Increased innovation and creativity
• Lower workers’ compensation costs
• Enhanced customer satisfaction
• True corporate culture authenticity
• More engaged employees and a stronger employer brand
Rico Paul Vallejos
Presenter & Bilingual MC
• Business functions
• Marketing conferences
• Community events
• University classrooms
An educator and communicator at heart, Rico blends marketing communications, culture, and language to create impactful content, messaging, and events.
Beyond “popular topics,” Rico begins every engagement with a clear understanding of your audience’s unique challenges and aspirations. The result? A meticulously tailored narrative that resonates, entertains, and educates, offering practical steps for immediate action.
A Toastmaster with extensive experience living and working in six countries (and three languages), Rico actively embraces the journey of cultural adaptation. He sees culture clashes not as obstacles, but as essential opportunities for invaluable lessons and compelling stories.
His past keynotes, conference presentations, and training sessions have included topics such as:
CULTURAL MARKETING
• Latino USA: Perception vs. Reality
• Gen Z Latins and Spanglish
• Latin Cultural Values
• Reaching the Affluent Latin Market
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
• World Travel as a Temporary Local
• Conversational Spanish and Blended Languages
• Immigrant or Expat?
• South American wines
DEI+/MEI INSIGHTS
• Breaking Out of the Echo Chamber
• Misguided Diversity
• Intercultural Competence
• The Immigrant Experience: History & Stories
Engaging and energetic Master of Ceremonies, Maestro de Ceremonias, and Focus Group Moderator
Rico's extensive multilingual MC and group facilitation experience spans a variety of engagements, from elegant nonprofit galas and corporate business functions to lively fundraising wine tastings (his specialty: South America’s Southern Cone wines from Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay), qualitative research, Mission/Vision/Values exercises, organizational value group discussions, and large community events such as Cinco de Mayo and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Rico's extensive speaking and MC engagements include private events and a wide range of prestigious organizations and institutions, such as:
• Corporations & Brands: 3M Corporation, Pearson, Radisson Hotel Group, Target Corporation, Wagner Spray Tech, AGS, and Landscape Structures.
• Professional & Industry Associations: Public Relations Society of America, Hispanic and Multicultural Marketing Conferences, Inter-American Congress of Psychology, NSHMBA/Prospanica, and advertising clubs across the United States.
• Universities & Educational Programs: University of Minnesota (Carlson School of Management), University of St. Thomas, Florida State University, University of Wisconsin, Linn Benton Community College, Bethel University, Metropolitan State University, and numerous high schools through the Business Economics Education Foundation (BEEF)/BestPrep.
• Civic, Governmental, and Community Organizations: Hispanic Wealth Project, Main Street Revolution, United Nations iCSO, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Minnesota Women's Economic Roundtable, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Women Venture, Character First, Minneapolis Club, Watonwan County, Rotary Clubs, Minnesota International Center/Global Minnesota, and Operation Mobilisation.
Testimonials
I've had numerous opportunities to hear Rico make public presentations in English and Spanish to a wide variety of audiences. He is a knowledgeable and engaging speaker with a wonderful sense of humor and an acute awareness of the many cultures that make up the world around us. I highly recommend him for occasions requiring an entertaining and well-informed speaker.
Rob Scarlett, Hunter Scarlett
Rico Latino delivered a truly remarkable and impactful speech. He captivated the room with his charismatic presence and deep knowledge. His presentation was not only engaging but profoundly informative. Rico skillfully connected historical context with contemporary relevance. His ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and passion kept the audience fully engaged throughout.
Erika Kennedy
The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. Many attendees expressed how impressed they were with the quality of the presentation, calling it “exceptionally informative” and “inspiring.” Rico Paul’s dynamic energy and authenticity created a strong connection with the audience, sparking meaningful conversations well after the event ended.
Rotary Club
Anyone hoping to understand today's multicultural marketing (and marketing to the exploding Latino community in particular) can do no better than to listen to Rico Vallejos. Rico's speech to our group of mesmerized marketing, PR and event planning professionals was eye-opening, informative, high-energy and enormously entertaining. Drawing from his experience working in Europe, Latin America and barrios across the United States, Rico exploded our misconceptions and suggested strategic ways that savvy marketers could connect with the fastest growing ethnic community in America. Outstanding!
Paul Maccabee, President
Maccabee Group
The students gave your presentation rave reviews! Thanks for giving us a very relevant overview of immigration trends, cultural competency and implications for marketing and PR.
Rose McKinney, Founder & CEO
Pineapple RM
