The Collective Spotlight: Sandra Blanco, Executive Assistant

Executive Assistant Sandra Blanco has lost count of the times people have brought up her hair.

Over the last two decades, she’s heard it all: “How do you wash it?” “How long did it take to get done?” “Is it fake?” “It looked better when it was curly.”

“Sometimes, people would just start touching my hair,” she recalls. “One person told me that my hairstyle reminded them of a basketball player who also had locs. I knew who they were talking about—his hair looked nothing like mine.”

The people who most often made such brazen comments? Her colleagues at her last company.

“Most of the comments and questions came from coworkers I’d never seen or met before, as there were thousands of us in a single location,” she says. “One time, I was chatting with three women from my team—all of whom were white—when one of them, who lived in Walnut Creek, said she was upset that her kids were making friends with children who lived in Pittsburg, which has a large Latino and Black population. She even said she told her kids to ask other students what city they were from before becoming friends with them because she didn’t want them  associating with kids from Pittsburg. At the time, that’s where I lived. Even now, it hurts to think about that conversation.

“I think it really said a lot about that company’s culture. It would have been amazing to have an ally back then—someone to advocate for me, especially when I wasn’t in the room.”

In late 2024, Sandra’s company informed her they’d be relocating her to Houston, TX. It felt like the perfect time to explore other options—she was tired of her coworkers’ microaggressions, and she had no interest in leaving the Bay Area.

After telling her longtime friend, Prequalification Analyst Chanelle Jones, about her situation, Chanelle encouraged her to apply for the executive assistant position at Webcor’s Alameda office. If the opportunity worked out, Chanelle assured her, she’d be spending her days in a healthy work environment with respectful, empathetic colleagues.  

• Throughout the interview process, Sandra realized everything Chanelle had told her was true. She felt comfortable with everyone she met—no judgmental stares, no thinly veiled racist comments.

She received Webcor’s offer letter a few days later. After 18 years, she decided it was time to take the leap and leave her former company.

Settling into the Alameda office felt effortless—like a wave of relief washing over her. Throughout her first week, she was warmly welcomed by her Alameda teammates and executives: EVP/Chief People Officer Mei Lin Wolff and CFO/CAO/Sr. EVP Matt Reece. For the first time, she felt genuinely accepted—even embraced—by her colleagues.

• Nearly a year later, she has yet to hear a single unwelcome comment or question about her hair. “My Webcor coworkers don’t make the statements or ask the questions my last ones did,” she says. “Here, I’m actually given room to comfortably exist as myself.”

Her first few weeks flew by as she continued learning about Webcor and befriending more coworkers. Little did she know, she’d soon find a whole new level of community in Webcor’s Black employee resource group (ERG)—The Collective.

Finding Trust & Community in The Collective

When Sandra joined her first Collective call, she was immediately struck by the frankness and openness of the members’ conversations. No topic appeared to be off-limits.  

“As I sat there and listened, something in me immediately settled,” she recalls. “I loved the unique blend of personalities and the progressive, forward-thinking mindset everyone brought to the discussion.”

Since that first meeting, her fellow Collective members have become much more than coworkers. They’ve supported her through difficult times, celebrated with her during joyful ones, offered thoughtful professional advice and guidance, and reminded her she always has a safe space with them.

• “They feel more like family than colleagues,” she says. “I don’t know if I’d feel as grounded without the community and connection they provide.”

When The Collective’s leaders (HR Specialist Dante Robinson, Outreach and Partnerships Manager Sharla Sullivan, and Assistant Quality Manager Melanie Walker) nominated Sandra to represent them at Webcor’s ERG-led Construction Inclusion Week (CIW) panel last October, she didn’t hesitate. The opportunity to represent the group that had given her so much was an honor she couldn’t pass up.  

On Oct. 14, she joined representatives from Webcor APAC (Asian-American/Pacific Islander ERG), Webcor Q&A (LGBTQ+ ERG), Fuerza (Latinx ERG), and Women of Webcor for a candid discussion led by Sr. Director, Insurance & Risk Management Andy Stoelting. As she nervously awaited her turn to speak, she realized her anxiety was far outweighed by her determination to educate attendees—on the significance of ERGs like The Collective, on the ways Black people’s reality differs from others’, and on the simple fact that people from various cultures and backgrounds exist at Webcor and deserve to be respected.

• “I’m Afro-Indigenous, born in Nicaragua, and for much of my life, people have made assumptions about who I am,” Sandra says. “Many assume I’m African-American; even within the Latino community, I’m often not immediately recognized as Latina. It’s a reminder of how complex our identities are and how important it is to create spaces where all of who we are can be acknowledged and embraced.”

As Sandra voiced her thoughts to Andy’s questions on cultural identity and The Collective’s indelible impact on her employee experience, she locked eyes with Matt Reece and Mei Lin. Both executives had shown up to not only support Sandra in person but learn from her (and her fellow panelists’) perspectives and experiences.

“Seeing Matt and Mei Lin in the audience felt incredible,” Sandra says. “Their support truly meant everything to me.”

As she rounds out her first year at Webcor, Sandra looks forward to exploring new ways to “bridge and deepen the connection” between Webcor’s Latino and Black communities and recruit/retain more Black employees—a Collective goal particularly close to her heart.

• “I’m committed to being an aspiring leader, staying true to who I am, and finding solutions to obstacles The Collective may have,” she says. “My door is always open to anyone in The Collective who needs help or encouragement.”

Webcor: The Perfect Culture Fit

After being treated like an outsider for nearly 20 years, Sandra’s first year at Webcor has felt like a breath of fresh air. Everyone from her fellow executive assistants (EAs) to her colleagues at the Alameda office have welcomed her with open arms and offered their support—without a single ignorant comment.

• “Here, I feel like every part of me is accepted: my identity, my hair, my presence, etc.,” she says. “It’s my first time experiencing such a true sense of belonging in a corporate environment.”

As Webcor’s newest EA, Sandra credits the entire EA team for going above and beyond to set her up for success and ensure she feels confident in her new role. “Sr. Executive Assistant Tanja Huni has helped me tremendously in learning how to get things done properly here!” Sandra says.

However, no one has shown up for Sandra quite like Dante, who’s had her back since day one. That day, shortly after signing into Workday to complete her new hire trainings, she was faced with several technical issues that went over her head.

“Dante stepped in with patience, kindness, and a genuine willingness to help,” Sandra recalls. “Since then, he’s supported me in more ways than he probably realizes. Dante, I hope you’re reading this!

“Dante’s inclusive leadership during The Collective meetings is the reason I attend every single one. He shows no bias, welcomes different perspectives, and creates a space where everyone feels valued. He’s been there during difficult moments in the office by simply listening, offering support, and helping me navigate challenges.

“In December, he guided me through the process of taking a two-week medical leave, showing the same positivity and professionalism he brings to everything he does. His attitude is consistently uplifting. Truly, he’s a superstar. Webcor is incredibly fortunate to have him, and I look forward to seeing where his career grows from here.

“I’m so thankful to be here at Webcor and to have found such a special community in The Collective. Every member is insightful, intelligent, and excited to contribute something valuable. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!”

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