Leading by example and serving as a driving force for change to increase gender diversity in the workplace, SONIC Drive-In President Claudia San Pedro has been recognized in this year’s HERoes 100 Women Executives List of leaders supported by Yahoo Finance.

Each honoree represents a wide range of impactful and innovative work being done for inclusion across different countries, organizations, and sectors.

As the first woman and first Latina to be named president for SONIC, and previously, director for the Oklahoma Office of State Finance, San Pedro has a deep understanding of what the fight for diversity entails through various lenses. She leads by example in her role as president and is an active member of both SONIC’s Women’s Leadership Network and Inspire Brands’ Champions of Women Leaders.

“Making sure we have clear sight of who we are as a brand, while holding onto our brand essence and continuing to innovate and reinvent ourselves is one of the most important aspects of my role as president,” said San Pedro.

To her, this means fostering an inclusive culture with more opportunities for diverse talent that reflects the world around us.

Under San Pedro’s leadership, SONIC continues to recruit, support and promote women into key leadership positions across the organization, both at the corporate level in the C-suite and at the Drive-In including operators, supervisors and franchisees.  

“SONIC has a long history of being a community and people-based business that transcends the gender, race and ethnic spectrum, and that is something I am passionate about preserving. For my team, it’s not just about meeting a number, but about having commitment to recognizing that good talent comes from every walk of life. Economic empowerment is important for girls and women, and I am beyond proud to play a role in providing them with opportunities for success,” San Pedro said. 

For San Pedro, it’s not just about women supporting women, it’s about the need to come together to build bridges and opportunities for all, especially those who have been systemically marginalized. As a first-generation immigrant and woman, that’s exactly what San Pedro has done and continues to do in her role at Inspire Brands and as a community leader in Oklahoma City.

To learn more about San Pedro and her journey click here.