Baez has been instrumental in driving Fuse Media’s growth through his leadership in brand solutions and strategy. He helped launch groundbreaking initiatives, such as Culture Collective, a collection of diverse-focused FAST channels like Latino Vibes, OUTtv Proud and Shades of Black. This strategy has positioned Fuse Media as a leader in inclusive entertainment, reaching over 85% of FAST multicultural households in the United States.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about diversity within the industry? That cultures are monolithic. They are not. Diversity, in all its forms, is intersectional and rooted in constantly navigating multiple layers of identity. We have a lot of work to do to change the industry’s reductive mindset.
What nonprofit are you proud to champion? I have led many efforts at the Human Rights Campaign and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of NY. Since moving to the Hudson Valley, I have been a volunteer for, and supporter of, People’s Place, a not-for-profit organization feeding, clothing and responding to the needs of the people of Ulster County and the surrounding areas with kindness, compassion and dignity.
Who is an unsung DEI hero? As a proud first-generation Uruguayan-American, I would say José “Pepe” Mujica. After a lifetime of fighting for the working class in Uruguay during decades of military dictatorship, he was able to become President, maintain his humility and lift the country to its largest economic growth—all while enacting forward-thinking social policies and expanding civic resources, free healthcare and education.