Leading by example

“Lead by example” is the motto Daniel adopted from his father, an engineer in the oil industry. 

Born and raised in Venezuela, Daniel’s family moved often due to his father’s work. Adapting to new cultures — and sometimes being the only representation of Venezuelans in the area — became part of Daniel’s childhood. To make his family and his homeland proud, no matter where he lived, Daniel made a point of leading by example.

“I had to learn a new way of living when we moved from Venezuela to Mexico, then again from Mexico to the U.S.,” Daniel says. “It hasn’t been easy. But looking back at all the hurdles and roadblocks I’ve overcome makes me proud.”

While living in Mexico, Daniel visited Texas where he ultimately attended the University of Texas to follow in his father’s footsteps and earn a Mechanical Engineering degree. 

“I look at pictures of my dad’s work and can see how he understands mechanisms and systems,” Daniel says. “Because of him, I became interested in learning more about systems, how they worked, and troubleshooting in general.”

Daniel uses his passion for problem-solving daily as a Technical Specialist, Field Test Engineer at Cummins Inc. His work happens in phases, from building engines to installing test units for validation in the official field test period. During this period, Daniel tracks data to ensure the products are developing as expected, if not better. If there are any faults, errors, or issues, Daniel is responsible for finding the root cause and providing recommendations. 

“It’s like a roller coaster,” he says. “Sometimes everything's fine, but sometimes issues pop up unexpectedly, and we must find the cause and finesse a solution. That innovation part — fixing things to exceed customer expectations — motivates me. It’s so gratifying.”

Daniel works closely with his team to develop innovative solutions. He attributes the breadth of ideas they come up with to the team’s diversity in race, gender, and nationality. 

“When I interviewed with Cummins at a college recruiting event, I could see that the other people interviewing and pre-screening at the booth were from all different backgrounds, unlike some other booths,” Daniel says. 

“We have the benefit of various perspectives,” he says. The sincere adoption of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace is one of the reasons Daniel wanted to work full-time with Cummins after being an intern in 2016. 

After seven years with the company, Daniel knows that Cummins’ commitment to DE&I is real. 

“It’s not just that the workforce is diverse,” he says, “it’s that we’re all one. No matter your background or position, your opinion and purpose in the company matters. To be Hispanic and have a voice in the automotive industry in the United States — that makes me proud.”

Daniel is using his voice for a fuel-agnostic initiative, developing a natural gas engine that reduces emissions and aligns with the company’s goal of Planet 2050. He’s also working on his MBA — a lifelong dream that he hopes will help him become a key leader at Cummins.

Continuing his education while delivering stellar work is the definition of leading by example. To do it in a space not traditionally occupied by people who look or sound like you is significant. And just like Daniel’s father inspired him, he’s hoping to do the same for other young Hispanic engineer hopefuls everywhere, letting them know “Yes, there’s a space for you here, too.”