Oral History Program Interviewed by Catherine Diamond 7 February 2018 Reyna Aburto Oral History Program Copyright © 2023 by Weber State University, Stewart Library 7 February 2018 Catherine Diamond Interviewed by Reyna Aburto Weber State University Stewart Library Ogden, Utah iii Aburto, Reyna, an oral history by Catherine Diamond, 7 February 2018, WSU Stewart Library Oral History Program, Special Collections and University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University, Ogden, UT. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: This work is the property of the Weber State University, Stewart Library Oral History Program. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text. 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By conducting carefully researched, recorded, and transcribed interviews, the Oral History Program creates archival oral histories intended for the widest possible use. Mission Statement RA: CD: 1 Engineering. But things were so bad over there that I decided to just leave. years so I was really almost to the end of it. My major was Industrial when I decided to come to the United States. Over there, you have to go for five had the opportunity to go to the university over there. I was in my fourth year when they saw it they thought, "Ok, I will never complain about my high school." I because it is a very, very simple place. It was a private, modest school, but still when I took them to the high school where I graduated they were in shock have a lot. I remember taking my children to Nicaragua a few years ago and simple life, the life that I lived when I was little. Very simple. We didn't really Well, yes, I was born in Nicaragua. I was one in four children. It was a very hobbies, family values, education, etc.) telling us about your background (childhood, teen years, where you grew up, Some of these questions will reflect on that. The first question is, please start by about you in your biography on LDS.org and it was interesting to hear about you. I have some set questions that I will go ahead and ask you. I have read a little bit leaders in Northern Utah. I appreciate your cooperation with my interview today. We are doing a study on leadership styles, as well as women and minority her company. discusses her life and her experiences in leadership roles in the LDS church and Society Building, in Salt Lake City, Utah, by Catherine Diamond. Reyna February 7, 2018 in Reyna’s office in the LDS (Latter-day Saints) Church Relief Abstract: The following is an oral history interview with Reyna I. Aburto, conducted on CD: I was 21. I moved to California, and I started going to English school at night, RA: 2 And you and your husband own that company together? now. that I had from that job. We've been working with our company for over 15 years started our translation company with my husband because of all the connections everyone just went to different states and different companies. That's how we that we worked together, and at some point, that department got disbanded. So knowledge about the translation industry. I also had so many coworkers there department in a big software company. That's where I actually got the Fortunately, by that time, I already had a job working in a translation easy for me to go to school. But that's what I did. to finish an associate degree after many years of schooling, because it was not helped me here, so that's when I started going to UVU again at night. I was able Then, I decided to move to Utah and transferred my credits—some of my credits started taking some computer related classes in San Francisco, California. for college, and I passed them. They told me, you can start college now. I level in English. When I finished that year, they allowed me to take some tests and then, right after I finished my first course because I qualified for a higher And you left at what age then? CD: without finishing my schooling. Which was probably not a good idea, but it was what I decided, at that point, No, not really. Sometimes we hire outside help, but that's basically it. Does that RA: Yes, I think it does a lot. I joined the church when I was 29. I had been living in RA: organizations. 3 because they're not lucrative. What is the word you use in English? Non-profit and even for free work—for some agencies that don't have money to pay when they cannot pay us on time, or they ask for a lower rate for some projects Sometimes our clients have gone through hard times, and there are times of clients. anything. That has been a great influence in my job because we deal with a lot people and knowing that your relationships with people are more important than gospel, the principles of the gospel, the example of the Savior being so kind to California for about 5 years at the time. You know, just learning about the How would you say your values with the church influence your business? CD: this calling changed my whole life, but I'm enjoying it a lot. I'm enjoying it a lot. hobby— just to be with my family. That's me. I have a very simple life because watch a movie, or go eat outside, or go for a walk. I would say that is my spend time together, doing anything that we need to do—a project at home, or go cover it? Well, we have a family of three children. I think our hobbies are just to No employees? we can do. I still work a little bit in that. Yes, and we are basically it. Sometimes we outsource, but it's usually just what CD: RA: RA: CD: 4 was nine. That kind of left me being the oldest and then there is a big gap I think the fact that I was the second in our family. My oldest brother died when I and adult years that led you to believe that you were or could be a leader? Great. Thank you. What experiences did you have in childhood, teen years, needs. relationship that they will accommodate their needs or their timelines to our for a week with the girls because they went to camp. We have such a good family to visit our families back in our countries, or to serve in the church, or to go Anytime we need to take some time off, like when we go on vacation with our know if that makes sense. We have really strong relationships with our clients. the people are more important than the money or power or whatever. I don't That's the way we have been doing it—knowing that the relationships with and they give you big projects. years later. They remembered that you did that for them, and then they come blessings because you were so flexible with them. Then the blessings come something back, but in the end, you do. Does that make sense? You receive the that sounded bad. You don't really do it thinking that you're going to receive project comes, you will be the first person that they will think of. Ok, probably a big difference because you establish a relationship because then when a big And we say, "Yes, of course, we can do that.” Those kinds of things make rate? Can you do this for free?” Sometimes they come to you, and say, "I'm sorry, but can you lower your RA: CD: Yes. To know that what I did mattered and that I needed to do something. To RA: 5 there are some lines that I should not cross—in so many ways, with honesty with somebody. You know, it helps you to have limitations in the way that I know that difference because I think that knowing that you have to be accountable to Well, I believe in God. I have always believed in God, and I think that makes a leadership experiences/abilities? Thank you. What are your core values? How have they influenced your homework and so we did it together. work and then night school, I would come home and I would help them with their school. Of course, we had help there, but also at night. Even after a long day at year after that. My siblings didn't speak any English, and they had to go to Because I came first, but then my mother and my two siblings came after, like a help them with their homework and even when we moved to the United States. To take charge? CD: way. So I think that that shaped me. felt the responsibility to protect my siblings many times, and even my mother, in a was hard in our home because there was a lot of conflict between my parents. I sister, and I felt that responsibility. Also, the fact that when I was a teenager, it the home so I will get there from school and I will take care of my brother and growing up, I helped a lot with their raising because my mother worked outside of older than the next one. I kind of was like their second mother. You know, them between me and my next sister. We are nine years apart, and then I'm 12 years RA: CD: 6 to be like a Stake Relief Society President, or a Stake Young Women's President downstairs in the resource room, that they used to have downstairs. But you had time in which I started that calling, I heard that they were looking for volunteers Years ago, I was called as a Stake Relief Society President. During that on me. responsibility to step up and be leaders in the church—really had a huge impact present things and the way she will help us women understand that we have a and for some reason, they always had a big impact on me. The way she will probably say she is the reason that I am here. I remember listening to her talks For some reason the first person that came to my mind is Julie Beck. I can your life generally, and your leadership abilities specifically. someone who has been a mentor to you. Why and how did this person impact Name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader. Maybe help for me. “You don't really know people enough to hate them.” That has really been a big that to everything. I remember hearing someone say a long time ago, they said, really let them be the best they can, then it makes a big difference. I try to apply probably they are hurting, or that there is something inside of them that don't you, or not fair, unfair to you. If you look at them as people, and you realize that and how you treat them. Even when you think that others are being unkind to in the world. So I think that that really makes a difference in how you see people with people that make a difference. Those are more important than anything else people, in kindness, and I honestly think that, like I said before, that relationships RA: CD: 7 that hinders me, but maybe that helps me. the Lord has a purpose for me and I have tried to not let it become something that I ask myself, "Why am I here if I don't even speak good English?” But I know English is not my first language. I struggle with that and that's one of the things Well I think that being a foreigner; it is a disadvantage because it is obvious that What do you do to overcome these challenges? biggest challenges of being a woman and/or minority leader in Northern Utah? That's sweet. Thank you for sharing that with me. What do you see as the that ability. made me feel. That is my prayer. That is what I ask the Lord to bless me with give a talk on something like that, I want to make women feel the way that she - and now that I am in this position - I wish I could be like her.” When I have to just thought, “okay, there is something about her- in the way that she inspires us had on me. For some reason, I felt the connection every time she would speak. I the Primary General Board and now here. But it was just that, that influence she That was the beginning of many things. A year after that, I was called to focus group where they had just Spanish speaking sisters. my application for that—not an application but a request—she invited me to a because she had such a big influence on me. And then, as they were analyzing from a distance that will be my pay.” And that was the reason I volunteered just that calling, I said. “Okay, I want to volunteer there. If I can just see Julie Beck or Primary President, to be able to work there. When I heard that, because I had 8 to expect that. And that's what I have tried to do to gain the respect. kindness and fairness to everybody, to treat everyone the same way, and never yourself. You act the best you can. We tried to instill in them—principles of them that because we didn't want that to be what defined them. You are discriminated or what they would do if they were discriminated. We never told table those topics come. But we never told them that they should expect to be for the first time when they were about 15, just because you know at the dinner You know I think with our children we probably talked about discrimination don't know if that makes sense. people—for them to get to know your strengths, then they see you differently. I wanting to do it. But I think that if you work hard on gaining the respect of discriminating. And we do it without thinking and sometimes without really way they look and we just put them into a category, we really in a way are that in a way we all discriminate, you know, when we judge somebody by the growing because we didn't want them to expect that. Because I honestly think We tried not to talk about discrimination with them when they were to instill in my children. being true and being honest and being kind. That is something I have also tried somehow gain the respect of people. You do that only by being yourself and practice since I moved to the United States. I think that each of us, we need to really that clear because my language is not that clear. But I have put this into same way as they do in my language. People may think that my thoughts are not I think the language is a problem because the thoughts don't come out the Well hopefully we have done a good job. Hopefully. You know how it is, when RA: Yes and we have to keep looking for that revelation in everything. Your children are adults? Are they grown? Yes. My oldest is 31 and he's from my first marriage. He lives in Phoenix. He RA: CD: RA: Alright, thank you. What advice would you give emerging young women/minority CD: 9 Yes. Hopefully. RA: leaders in order to be successful? That's great. It sounds like they're up to good things. CD: He's 20. So yeah, they're old. He's living with us right now. France just a few months ago, also serving a mission there. He's going to UVU. mission in Modesto, California last year. The youngest, he came back from a daughter. She is at BYU-Idaho right now. She's 23 and she finished her has two little boys. He just finished his master’s about a year ago. My next one is Right. And you're never really sure. CD: balance that we're trying to find. flexible sometimes. But sometimes you also have to be strict. That is the you're going to one extreme or the other and you want to have a balance and be good job? Am I being too flexible? Or too strict?” Sometimes you feel that you're a parent. It's hard. You are always asking yourself, or God, “Am I doing a They're lucky to have you. CD: RA: way. 10 dictionary or some books to defend your position, but you do it in a professional would start using that word or sometimes you have to go and look at the that? So is this a matter of preference? Do you prefer to use that? Then we you focus on that issue and you let them know that. What is a good solution for that they didn't like, but they're saying the whole thing is wrong. And then when way and then you gain their respect. Because sometimes it's just that one word word.” Then you know you can actually work on the problem in a professional And then they will come back and say, "Oh, because this word and that exactly what is wrong so we can improve on that?” a better job. “Will you please ask your client to give a specific, so we know We appreciate feedback from our clients because that's what makes us do appreciate your feedback.” messages? And then think about it, and say something like, "Okay, we these ideas and the revelation, "What is the right way to answer to these sometimes even wait until the next day, so I would be relaxed. And then I will get I would just stop. Sometimes not even answer the message right away and client is really mad. So, we will get something like that and then you would just ... sometimes we will get messages that say, "Your translation was really bad.” Our think. For example, in our business, translation is very subjective. And know where to go next. But sometimes it's good to pause and just stop and know, there are many times in life in which we feel that we hit a wall and we don't I think that we just have to take one day at a time and do our best that day. You RA: CD: 11 contribute. But to fight for unity and to just look at everybody as a person that Because really, each of us is different and we have something different to family, to communities—instead of trying to compete and try to fight for equality. just think about the best way we can contribute to society, to a company, to we are different. We have different skills. I think that if we just look at it. If we fight for unity. Men and women are different, and even if you compare to women, I think that as women, instead of trying to fight for equality with men, we should share about being a woman/minority leader in Northern Utah? That's powerful. Thank you. I love that answer. What other insights can you perspective and approach to everything I think makes a difference. your help. If you collaborate, then you do more. Having a collaborative peers because sometimes you need their help. And sometimes they will need establishing a relationship with every one of your clients. But also, with your competition. “Okay, you do a job for me, you pay me.” It's not just like that. It's people that do the same kind of job or work as your “partners”. Not your So look at your clients and even at your peers, and colleagues. You know, to do your best job for them, because if they are successful, you are successful. problems and do it in a professional way. In a way that they know you are trying of going into that direction, you go in the other direction. And you try to solve the have to pay me because I sent you a translation. You have to pay me.” Instead professional. That you're not defending yourself, and saying, “Yeah, but you still a time and gain the respect of people. That they know that you are a I don't know if I'm answering your question, but it's just to take one thing at CD: RA: CD: 12 were great words for me. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Those were great words for the study and personally they good about this.” will feel like, “Okay, I have accomplished something good in my life and I feel you're doing. If your intentions are righteous, you will get to a point in which you opportunities and God will bless you, whatever, wherever you are and what change our plans and go in a different direction. So just be open to the open to the opportunities that are presented to us. Sometimes we have to plans, we miss opportunities. But just to know where we want to go and to be necessarily a strict plan, because sometimes when we are too strict with our dreams. And to try to have a place where you want to go—a destiny. Not I think that we just have to be persistent in our dreams—you know, to follow our Anything else that you would add? Yes, it does. I can see why you are where you are. You have a lot of wisdom. each other. I don't know if that makes sense. needs your help and that can help you at the same time, and so we can help