
Dr. Jo Ann Pina
Is one of the most acclaimed experts in cross-cultural communication and a leading authority on Hispanic values and culture
Dr. Jo Ann Piña is an ethnically diverse speaker and one of the most acclaimed experts in cross-cultural communication in the country with expertise in executive presence and executive presentations. In addition to being the only Latina PhD in the National Speakers Association and one of the few women of Hispanic heritage to earn advanced…
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Full Bio
Dr. Jo Ann Piña is an ethnically diverse speaker and one of the most acclaimed experts in cross-cultural communication in the country with expertise in executive presence and executive presentations.
In addition to being the only Latina PhD in the National Speakers Association and one of the few women of Hispanic heritage to earn advanced degrees in psychology and counseling, Dr. Jo is the originator of the only values-based model for understanding cross-cultural communication and the creator of the CrossTalk Series.
Born and reared in Texas during the Civil Rights movement, Dr. Jo is the daughter of a migrant worker, and the only one of four children to survive childhood. As a result of her cultural heritage and the challenges she experienced in her early life and later in her career, she has focused her research, book, articles and training seminars on bridging the communications gap among Anglo Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and women to increase understanding, cooperation, success and productivity.
As a teenager in San Antonio, Dr. Jo challenged the administration of a private girls’ school to reverse her assignment to classes well below her achievement level, clearly a racially motivated policy. Dr. Jo relates her experience with the Sisters of Incarnate Word in the first chapter of her book, Getting Across…Your Message, Your Ideas, Your Meaning.
Barely 18 and reeling from her mother’s death, she applied for a summer job to earn tuition money for fall classes. Her first interview with a finance company required a placement test. Imagine her surprise when the office manager stopped her before she completed the math section, informing her that time’s up. He’d never mentioned it was a timed test. When she challenged him, he simply said, “You failed the test, and taking it over won’t improve your score.”
“How can I fail a simple arithmetic test when I’ve passed college calculus and physics?” she asked. He ignored her and walked away. It didn’t take Dr. Jo long to realize she’d just experienced her first episode of job discrimination. Dr. Jo’s extensive experience is literally a “who’s who” in the industry. She is listed in “Who’s Who” in American Universities, serves on the Board of Directors of both the National Speakers Association’s Los Angeles Chapter and Growth Strategies, Inc., and was a fellow with the National Hispanic Leadership Institute.
Dr. Jo is a former professor and counselor at Montgomery College and corporate trainer for Tony Robbins. She’s currently on the graduate faculty at Johns Hopkins University. She earned her PhD at the American University in Washington, DC, and her MA at Hood College.
Dr. Jo is a certified Myers-Briggs trainer, a mediator and an executive communications coach. She is the innovator of the F.A.S.T. approach to success.
Her program, “Getting Across Your Message, Your ideas, Your Meaning” is based on her book of the same title which uncovers the secrets to reaching your Hispanic customers and co-workers. It brilliantly bridges the gap between Latinos and mainstream Anglo Americans by disclosing core Latino cultural values and contrasting them to Anglo American values.
Testimonials
Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!

LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!

MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!

SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!

SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!

CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!

PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!

FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
Real Talk for Leaders in a Multicultural and Multigenerational Workforce
In today’s workplace it is not uncommon to find four or five different generations, multiple languages, many ethnicities and races, and differences in gender, sexual orientation, religion, personalities and values. Given the nature of today’s careers, dealing with differences is a reality and a key requirement.
Executive Presentations: Proven Professional Techniques that Work
For those who’ve ever wondered what distinguishes a good presenter from an exceptional one, Executive Presentation offers a toolkit to help get your message and ideas across to others with extraordinary presentations that maximize your influence. Knowing your audience and topic, effective delivery techniques, and proficiency in cross-cultural communication are key, especially in today’s multicultural society and global economy.
Surveys report Hispanic professionals often feel do not get the recognition and visibility they deserve, and getting noticed is key to career advancement. Catalyst research found that Hispanics typically believe that hard work alone will help them get promotions, when it reality more than hard work is required. Participants will become more effective leaders and speakers with the ability to communicate across different cultures and learn how to be strategic about networks, knowledgeable about key information, and transform themselves into visible and effective communicators. Executive Presentation helps professionals get noticed and gain the recognition to advance their careers.
In this seminar with Dr. Jo, participants will show you how to take a presentation from ordinary to extraordinary; how to conquer stage fright and engage audiences using humor; tips for crafting engaging openings and memorable closings; top delivery techniques, and more.
Executive Presence for Leaders
Today’s successful professionals recognize that executive presence is strategic to advancement in most companies. Do you see yourself as others do? Are other people’s perceptions of you keeping you out of the executive suite?
It is challenging to see yourself as others perceive you and many resist. It takes more than hard work to get that promotion or to influence a client. When you miss the other person’s perspective, you miss the opportunity to influence and project your leadership.
In many organizations and businesses, the keys to leadership are subtle and typically unspoken and unwritten. And two of those keys are the ability to project your leadership on a daily basis in diverse situations and to demonstrate you have the capacity to be a leader and an executive. You do this by increasing your executive presence.
Executive presence is essential in most organizations yet many leaders and emerging leaders are oblivious to their own presence and how others perceive them. How do your clients, colleagues and bosses perceive you? Are you visible to the executives or are you invisible?
Executive presence is elusive and hard to define because what works in one organization may lead to the exit door in another. When you ask your supervisor or director, you might just hear, “I just know it when I see it.” “It” is indeed the “X factor” in the corporate world.
This “X factor” has several dimensions and each is important to projecting your readiness for a promotion, a new project leadership role or for the big client account. Projecting a great presence helps you create a successful career, move upward and reach your full leadership potential.
Learn the secrets to igniting your executive presence and creating a great personal marketing brand today in this new program by Dr. Jo.
Leadership and Personal Success:
How culturally competent are your company’s leaders? Dr. Jo prepares leaders to be more effective in today’s culturally diverse workplace. Dr. Jo can coach your team to understand and profit from your Hispanic employees, colleagues and friends.
SEMINARS in The Leadership and Success Series:
Leadership- Cultural Competency Coaching
Gain cultural competency and improve your leadership communication skills through Dr. Jo’s personalize coaching. Your cultural skills will take a quantum leap in just four 3-hour sessions.
Leadership- Executive Communication Coaching
Perfect your leadership communication skills–intrapersonal, interpersonal, and public communication–with Dr. Jo’s three 3-hour coaching sessions.
Leadership- Developing the Leaders around You
Mentoring minority and female leaders ensures retention and organizational Strength. Dr. Jo’s program assists your employees reach their full potential.
Leadership- Situational Leadership in These Turbulent Times
Turbulent times often call for situational specific leadership. In this popular seminar, you’ll characterize followership and leadership, examine your leadership inclinations and apply leadership principles to your own work situations.
Leadership- Under-The-Table-Rules
In this highly informative session, Dr. Jo shares with you those unspoken, unwritten corporate norms uncovered during research with over 250 corporate executives. Discover those corporate secrets that every leader must know.
Leadership- Developing the Leader in You
Getting the job done in the new workplace means taking your turn as a leader. Be prepared by examining your leadership inclinations and enhancing the leader in you.
Communication – East Meets West: Asian Pacific Communication Style in the Workplace
Values differ from culture to culture. Discover how Asian Pacific values drive behavior and influence communication styles in the workplace. Learn how to motivate and influence your Asian Pacific American employees.
Communication – Executive Communication Coaching
Perfect your executive communication skills–intrapersonal, interpersonal, and public communication–with Dr. Jo’s three 3-hour coaching sessions.
Communication – Stand Up and Be Heard…in the Boardroom
This popular session shows how, by simply switching conversation styles, men and women can more clearly understand each other. In this stimulating, interactive session, find how different conversation styles can affect your credibility, career and advancement. You’ll gain the confidence to be taken seriously and soar.
Communication – Understanding Hispanic American Communication Style in the Workplace
What one culture understands and values may surprise, confuse or even shock another culture! In this interactive, role-playing session, you’ll discover how Hispanic values drive behavior and influence communication styles in the workplace. You’ll also learn how to motivate and influence your Hispanic co-workers and employees.
Cultural Diversity – Cultural Competency Coaching
Gain cultural competency and improve your leadership communication skills through Dr. Jo’s personalize coaching. Your cultural skills will take a quantum leap in just four 3-hour sessions.
Diversity Awareness: Understanding Your Customers and Employees
Cultural and ethnic diversity is challenging the way we do business in the United States. Your company’s success may depend on its ability to compete for and retain today’s multicultural work force. In Dr. Jo’s interactive workshop, you will learn tools and mental models to help you appreciate and understand your customers and employees who are members of contrast cultures.
Developing Culturally Competent Leaders
Cross-cultural misunderstandings are at the core of many complaints and grievances. Avoid the hassles created by employee complaints and grievances by developing your ability to recognize a culture’s core values and understand the corresponding behavior. Furthermore, learn tips that enhance your ability to influence your diverse workforce.
Profiting From Your Hispanic Employees and Customers
Hispanic Americans are the fastest growing minority group in the United States. Learn how to motivate your Hispanic employees and profit from the barely tapped Hispanic market.
Success – Embracing a Winning Attitude
It’s true—our attitude determines our altitude. Discover how Dr. Jo takes a setback as a springboard to a comeback. Learn to tame your gremlins and transform your negative self-talk into positive action.
Success – Investing in Me. Inc.:Creating the Next
Chapter(s) of Your Life
Make your career or business more fulfilling and create a JOY not a JOB. Attend this highly interactive workshop and create the next chapter(s) of your life.
Success – The Process of Living Your Dreams
Becoming super successful is a personal journey requiring a customized and inventive plan. With Dr. Jo, you develop your individualized plan, unleash your human spirit and keep “the main thing, the main thing.”
Videos
Dr. Jo Ann Pina - Become A Successful Business Leader - MAKING IT! TV (Secrets of Success)
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