This April, Ofelia Yánez becomes first queer woman of color to be President at AMP Creative.
She takes the helm at AMP after eight years with the company and fifteen in the DFW video production scene. If you’ve had the chance to work with her–or see her work–you know who she is. If you haven’t, however? Let us introduce you.
A history of advocacy
Ofelia is a passionate advocate for the rights of immigrants, LGBTQ people, and women. She has used her work to champion these causes through the years.
Now at the helm of AMP Creative, she will use her experience to guide the company as it works to create inclusive, accessible, and engaging corporate learning and communications.
In her years in the video production and corporate learning fields, Ofelia has advocated for causes she believes in.
- She created the campaign “Do I Look Illegal?” to challenge Arizona’s SB 1070 law (which allowed police to racially profile Latino people). Her initiative was granted multiple grants by the Ford Foundation and resulted in nationwide support from Latinx icons, artists, politicians.
- Her short film, “The Good Kind,” was the winner of the Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative Short at the Pride Film Festival of Brazos Valley, the Festival Favorite at Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival, and the opening film at Cine Las Americas International Film Festival in Austin TX.
- As a Booker T. Washington HSPVA alum, Ofelia was one of the founding committee members that created The Booker Tea. This original online episodic program offered information, resources, and support to LGBTQ youth in DFW and beyond.
Nurturing the next generation of leaders
Lifting others up is important to Ofelia. Along with her wife, who also mentors young women in her field as Juvenile Probation Officer and advocate, Ofelia has been a mentor to ten young LGBTQ people in the past five years.
About her work as a mentor and advocate, Ofelia says “Creating safe spaces for queer youth provides a lifeline in a pivotal point in their lives. I had mentors that served this purpose when I came out as a young woman and I vowed to pay it forward to others who need that same love and support.”
Creating safe spaces for queer youth provides a lifeline in a pivotal point in their lives… I vowed to pay it forward to others who need that same love and support.
A multicultural upbringing
Ofelia was born in Mexico City and came to the US in 1989 when she was six years old. She was the first in her family to attend college and is fluent in English and Spanish.
About how growing up multiculturally has impacted her, she says:
“The biggest advantage of being multilingual/multicultural is the ability to provide valuable insight into both communities and cultures when advising and making decisions. Having been immersed in two cultures has helped me make informed, positive changes that will benefit those who come after me.
One also builds an incredible amount of resilience when growing up a “triple minority” (woman, queer, minority). There are many obstacles and hardships you face, both while advocating for yourself and for your parents and family. While that’s difficult, I’ve learned and grown from those experiences.
The biggest workplace obstacle for me was the struggle of being represented but not being included.
There were times when I was literally told I would be involved in a project or team to have Latinx or female or queer representation, but then not given the space to collaborate or contribute. This happened more often in my younger years when I just felt grateful to have a job.
As I’ve aged and learned my value, I’ve also learned to take space and grow into a leader that can now advocate for others.”
Ofelia Yánez’s hopes for the future
In ten years, Ofelia hopes to be leading AMP Creative through a third decade of success in innovative learning. Furthering her commitment to nurturing her own skills, she aims to earn a Masters of Business Administration.
Lisa Warner, former president of AMP, says about this transition, “I could not be more excited than to pass the baton to my colleague Ofelia who sat on the leadership team with me while I was President. Ofelia and I are aligned in our passion for diversity and the continuation of strong women leaders at AMP Creative.”
She will continue using her years of experience to mentor young women and LBGTQ people aiming to be business leaders in the DFW area—and advocating for greater opportunities for them to take charge.
Above all, she’ll never stop causing a stir in support of Latinx people and LGBTQ youth everywhere.
