From September 15 to October 15, the United States observes National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the history, traditions, and cultural heritage of Hispanic Americans with roots in Spain and 19 countries and territories: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

Across Envoy’s network, employees honor the month in ways that reflect their communities, backgrounds and personal journeys. Today, we’re featuring a 60-Second interview with Leah Aviles, who started her Envoy journey as a summer intern before joining the company full time as a coordinator in Air Operations Recruiting.  

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How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?

I celebrate by embracing and sharing my culture, learning more about my heritage, and supporting the Hispanic community. I also enjoy celebrating through food, music, family, and cultural events. For me, this month is about appreciating my roots and a reminder to be grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve had in life thanks to my community. 

What are some ways you celebrate and stay connected with your community in your everyday life?

While attending West Texas A&M University, I was part of the Hispanic Student Association, an organization dedicated to celebrating culture while promoting awareness, inclusion, and community on campus. Since graduating, I’ve stayed involved as an active alum and continue to support the organization and its efforts in any way I can.  

Staying connected to my community is important to me because I believe in giving back and want to create the same sense of belonging that I experienced as a student. 

You started as an intern here at Envoy, what was that experience like?

It was an amazing experience filled with learning and growth. As someone new to the aviation industry and just coming out of school, I gained valuable hands-on experience in Compensation and Benefits while developing a broader understanding of HR.  

What made the experience especially meaningful was building relationships across the company and seeing how the work we do in HR directly impacts employees. It was a once in a lifetime experience that helped me find a passion for HR work and confirmed that I wanted to continue building my career here at Envoy. 

If you were not in the aviation industry, what job would you do?

I would still want to be in the Human Resources field regardless of industry. I enjoy working with people, helping others and creating positive experiences in the workplace. I think HR gives me the opportunity to combine my passion for people with my interest in business and leadership. 

What makes you proud?

What makes me most proud is how far I’ve come and the opportunities I’ve created for myself. As a first-generation college student, I earned my bachelor’s degree with a 4.0 GPA, transitioned directly into a master’s program and moved to the DFW area to pursue my career. While those accomplishments may seem ordinary to some, they are life-changing for me and represent milestones no one in my family has achieved before.  

I’m especially grateful  and proud of my family for the sacrifices they made and the support they provided along the way.  

Tell us something on your bucket list.

Traveling to as many countries as possible is definitely on my bucket list, especially visiting Brazil during Carnaval. I love experiencing different cultures, trying new foods, meeting new people and gaining new perspectives. One of the things I love about working at Envoy is that it helps make those travel goals possible. 

Anything else you want to share with us?

I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of a company like Envoy and appreciate how welcoming everyone has been throughout my journey here. Starting as an intern and now continuing my career with the company has been such a rewarding experience. Transitioning from intern to full-time employee has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to continue learning and growing here. I also hope to inspire other students and young professionals, especially those from Hispanic backgrounds, to pursue opportunities that may feel outside their comfort zone. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Tyler Joseph: “Anyone from anywhere can do anything.”