National Hispanic Heritage Month - meet Kim and Humberto
Two amazing people working at Square Enix share their thoughts on their careers, favorite games and what their Hispanic heritage means to them.Everything that happens at Square Enix is because of people.
Consider this when you’re digging into the latest game - every single element of that experience is thanks to a group of individuals pulling together - developers, artists, marketers, community teams, QA… the list goes on.
As it’s National Hispanic Heritage Month, we wanted to shine the spotlight on just some of the talented Hispanic team members, and talk to them about their cultural identities, their favorite games and more.
Kimberly Velasquez | Assistant Manager Mobile, Social Media & Community
Some of you may already know Kimberly Velasquez - or ‘Glacie’ as she’s also known. Not only does Kim work tirelessly behind the scenes as Assistant Manager Mobile, Social Media & Community, she also fronts our mobile livestreams, where her passion for the games and the Square Enix community positively bursts out from the screen.
While off work, Kim’s also a big PC gamer, and you can often find her healing adventurers in the dungeons of FINAL FANTASY XIV Online!
How did you get started in the games industry?
I started at a Korean software company as a QA tester, then started streaming and creating social media posts for a new MMO title they were publishing - and that has stuck ever since!
Within that company I worked a span of jobs: QA Tester, customer support, game master, and social media manager, and this has served me well into my current career path!
What does your Hispanic heritage mean to you?
I’m the child of immigrants, and for the longest time it was just about boasting that Salvadoran/Honduran food was the best, dancing punta with family on weekends, and then going back to my American side on weekdays.
Now that I’m older, it’s more about trying to learn and incorporate more of my culture into my daily life, including my work. There are so many Hispanic/Latino creators and gamers out there that are bringing more awareness to how varied and exciting our cultures are - I’m grateful that I get to be a small part of it!
Is there anything from your culture you’d urge people to check out?
If you haven’t, try some pupusas (make sure they have lorocco) or Honduran tamales! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Are there any charities or organizations that you’d like to recognize that benefit Hispanic Americans?
Yes! There’s Green Latinos, which addresses national, regional and local issues around the environment and conservation. I’d also recommend supporting the Latina Institute - it’s a great resource for Latinas - and also Latina Girls Code, who provide invaluable education and support for young girls interested in STEM (science, technology, education and mathematics) fields.
Finally, what’s your favorite game of all time?
It’s a fierce tie between The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Dragon Age: Origins.
Humberto Rosales - Office Administrator
Humberto “Teddy” Rosales is an invaluable member of the team - it’s largely thanks to him that the Square Enix office in LA runs smoothly. Even in the midst of the pandemic, with many employees still working remotely, Humberto’s on hand to help any employees who do need to come into the office.
As well as managing any issues that crop up around the facilities, taking and connecting calls, Humberto is always ready and willing to help any team he can, be it managing incoming and outgoing mail, or helping teams get the right items into the hands to press and influencers. And he does this while taking care of his most important responsibility of all - being a father to a 6-month old!
How did you get your start in the games industry?
I heard there was an entry-level job opening as the Office Facilitator in which I would do a lot of the things I already did at my previous job.
I’ve been here for the past 2 years now and couldn’t be any happier. Hopefully I get to progress in this position or another for many more years to come!
What does your Hispanic heritage mean to you?
To me it’s about being proud of your culture and being able to educate others on why we love it.
Latinos make up a big part of the population in Los Angeles and we are very welcoming to other cultures. We may not be the richest in currency, but we are rich with happiness.
Is there anything from your culture you’d urge people to check out?
I live and work in Los Angeles and there are many things you can learn from different areas of the city.
Some of my favorites are Olvera Street in Downtown LA, Plaza Mexico in Lynwood, and Mariachi Plaza in East Los Angeles.
Are there any charities or organizations that you would like to recognize that benefit Hispanic Americans?
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), which is an organization that fights for the humane and civil rights of immigrants and refugees in the courts as well as the streets.
Finally, what’s your favorite game of all time?
I’ve been playing games since I got my first NES but I would say my favorite game has to be Assassin’s Creed. I think I’ve owned pretty much every game since the first one came out and they have been great. The first 3 are definitely my most favorite from the whole franchise.
Many thanks to Kim and Humberto for their time. They are only two of the many Hispanic Americans who make it possible for you to play the games you love.
The videogames industry - including Square Enix - only benefits from greater diversity and inclusion. So if you’re interested in working with us, check our careers site for opportunities - we’d love to hear from you.