In Conversation with Carlos Garcia, VP, North America CPG Sales

As Latiné Heritage Month comes to a close, we’re sitting down with Carlos Garcia, VP of North America CPG Sales and Latin@ Executive Sponsor. One year into his Pinterest journey, Carlos shares what makes selling at Pinterest different, what the executive sponsor role means to him, and how the Latin@ community is marking the month together.

Congratulations on your first work anniversary at Pinterest. Looking back, what first drew you to Pinterest? 

Prior to Pinterest, I was at another tech company for 13 years, so it was definitely a big career move that required a lot of deliberating to leave after that long. 

As I started interviewing at different places, I told my wife that I was exploring this Pinterest role. She said, “I love Pinterest, you have to go over there. It’s my favorite.” Her enthusiasm gave me a lot of enthusiasm about the role, and about halfway through the interview process, she said, “Hey, do you know Pinterest is the only app I’ll use right before I go to bed?” She said any other platform can make her anxious and worked up. By contrast, she can go on Pinterest because it feels more positive, productive and creative, and it puts her in the right headspace before going to bed.

This was really interesting and different, especially for someone who uses each social media platform. The fact that her experience is so distinct and positive, it made me think, “I want to sell that to brands.” As I interviewed more, I realized this experience is core to the company culture and the way we bring our products to the people we serve. It’s a truly differentiated consumer experience that’s really special; it’s a safe space and an oasis for people.

As the leader of North America CPG Sales, you and your team help bring Pinterest’s value to life for some of our key partners. What makes working with Pinterest different? 

One of the biggest surprises since I joined is just how fundamentally different Pinterest is from everything else in the marketplace. When you think about that, the thing that comes up the most is life’s moments, both big and small. I used to think that yes, moments really matter, but they exist everywhere. 

The difference: Pinterest is the only place you can embed into how a person plans for these moments. On Pinterest, you can be part of the planning and execution journey of a consumer. It’s more powerful embedding your brand into the moment versus being on the fringes of it – it shows true utility and a unique advantage. That’s the center of intent. We help people plan for moments both big and small, and that creates a high degree of intent.

Soon after joining Pinterest, you became Executive Sponsor for the Latin@ Pinclusion Group, or employee resource group. What inspired you to step into that role, and what does supporting this group mean to you?

I was honored when the Inclusion & Belonging team reached out to me a couple of months into my time at Pinterest. My first thought was “Let’s do it!” I was fortunate to join a well-established leadership team, which made it easy to come in and help where I could.  

As someone very new to the company, I felt that this was a way to accelerate networking. While some of the people in the Pinclusion Group are on my team, there are many folks I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work with. It was great to find a community immediately upon joining, and that’s a big reason why I said yes to the role. 

I was very involved in the Latin@ community at my prior company. The throughline at both companies though is that I think it’s super important for people of color to see other people of color in leadership roles, particularly those earlier in their career. 

This is something that played a big role for me early in my own career; I was involved in numerous external organizations for young people of color interested in business. It helped me find a path to follow, and I had the opportunity to meet many executives of color during high school and college. Through that experience, I was able to learn what was possible, what challenges others have faced and how they navigated obstacles. Even if it’s a tiny role I can play helping someone find a path that works for them, that’s what gets me excited and the biggest reason why I said yes. 

As you look ahead, what are your hopes for the group, and how do you want to help create meaningful impact for the community at Pinterest?
I joined a Pinclusion Group leadership team that was already doing amazing work. I’ve been so impressed by all of the programming they put together for our Latin@ community and allies. The one thing I am trying to bring to the table as an expansion of their existing work is more external events. Right after I took on this role, I caught up with a long time friend and industry colleague who is an Executive Sponsor of the Latin@ ERG at another company. My goal is to create opportunities for Pinterest’s Latin@ ERG to connect, network and build community with groups at other companies. It’s important for us to meet professionals that care about our culture, and I think there’s the potential to scale this idea and bring our core value of “Create belonging” to life beyond Pinterest. 

Latiné Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15. How are you recognizing this moment and celebrating your heritage with the Latin@ ERG?
The programming the Latin@ leadership team has put together is excellent. From book clubs and music shows to tons of in-person events around food at our offices, they have an engaging schedule in the works. For me, in addition to the programming and content, it’s a reminder that this is a time to be proud of who we are and for our community to be more visible. While the activations are rooted in the Latiné experience, we welcome everyone across the company to participate in celebrating our culture. It’s a really nice moment to honor who we are, and continue elevating our community across Pinterest.

At Pinterest, community, belonging and connection shape how we work. If that kind of workplace inspires you, explore opportunities to create a career you love with us.