Rodrigo Mora Spotlight – National Hispanic Heritage Month

Our National Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight Series continues with Rodrigo Mora.

As a Senior Accounts Payable Analyst at Hightower, Rodrigo supports day-to-day accounts payable operations, drives process improvements, and partners with teams across the organization. The values he brings to his work are also deeply connected to his heritage. Drawing from his family’s roots in Zacatecas and Guanajuato, Mexico, he reflects on how his heritage has influenced his career path, work ethic, and passion for supporting others.

Read below to learn more about Rodrigo’s story.

Q: Tell us about your role at Hightower and the experiences that shaped your path to where you are today.

A: I’m a senior accounts payable analyst at Hightower, where I support our day-to-day AP operations while also helping improve processes and collaborating with teams across the organization. My path here wasn’t traditional. I started working at 17 and spent several years working two or three jobs at a time before beginning college later in life. Within the span of about a year, I got married, began college, and my wife and I were raising our son while I worked towards my bachelor’s degree, and she worked through her master’s degree. Balancing work, school, and family taught me a lot about perseverance and helped shape the work ethic I bring to my career today.

Q: What does National Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you personally?

A: As a Mexican-American, Hispanic Heritage Month gives me an opportunity to reflect on where my family came from and the sacrifices that helped me get to where I am today. My family’s roots are from small towns in Zacatecas and Guanajuato, Mexico. Growing up, our culture was simply part of everyday life from speaking Spanish at home, eating traditional Mexican food, listening to Spanish music, and visiting family in Mexico. Now that I’m a dad, I appreciate those experiences differently. I want my kids to understand and embrace their Mexican heritage and feel proud of that part of who they are.

Q: What achievement or project that you’ve completed in your career are you most proud of and why?

A: I’ve had opportunities to lead process improvements, propose new ideas, and participate in system implementations, but I’m most proud of the opportunities I’ve had to mentor others. Sharing my knowledge, helping team members develop their skills, and watching them flourish in their own careers is incredibly rewarding. Processes and systems will always change, but knowing that I helped someone grow is an accomplishment that stays with me.

Q: What is a lesson from your family, culture, or community that continues to guide you today?

A: My parents taught me the importance of hard work, respect, integrity, and helping others. Growing up in a low-income household, I watched my dad work long hours to make sure our family had everything we needed. After my parents divorced when I was in middle school, I also watched my mom work multiple jobs to provide for our family. As a kid, you don’t always recognize the sacrifices your parents are making, but as an adult and especially as a parent myself, I have a much deeper appreciation for the example they set.
One memory that has always stayed with me is bringing clothes and toys we had outgrown on trips to Mexico to give to families who had less. Even when we didn’t have much ourselves, my parents taught me that generosity isn’t about how much you have, it’s about being willing to share what you do have. Those lessons continue to shape the person, father and professional I try to be today.

Q: What advice would you give to Hispanic students or young professionals who are interested in pursuing a career in financial services?

A: Don’t feel like there’s only one path to building a successful career. I started college later than the traditional age while working and raising a family, and my first finance role was with a small family business that gave me exposure to many different areas. Be willing to start somewhere, ask questions, find mentors, and learn from every opportunity. As you progress, remember to share what you’ve learned and help create opportunities for those coming behind you.

Q: How are you celebrating or recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month this year?

A: For me, it’s increasingly about passing our culture on to my kids. We’re just beginning to teach them Spanish, and I hope it’s something they’ll appreciate as they get older. I also want them to grow up with the foods, music and traditions that were such a normal part of my childhood. Tamales during the holidays are definitely one of those traditions, although if I’m going to pass that one down, I should probably learn how to make them myself!