The vice president of a nonprofit organization that works to ensure all students receive quality education and job opportunities delivered a presentation Wednesday night about diversity in the workplace.

Adalberto Andino emphasized the impact the American workplace has on the rest of American society during his lecture in the Sun Room at the Memorial Union, which was filled to capacity.

“I think the changes we make in the workplace will change society, not vice versa,” Andino said. “Change will happen when you change minds.”

A major focus of the lecture was taking action and achieving personal potential as a member of the 21st century workplace. He placed emphasis on how ethnically and racially diverse workplaces would be the norm in the future.

Andino also spoke about the progress that has been made to achieve diverse workplaces and the long road that still lies ahead.

“Ideals and reality move at different speeds,” he said. “You can change a law in a single day, but you can’t change a person’s mind or preconceptions.”

Andino’s motivational style was clear as he asked the crowd for its participation in repeating, “Attitude 100.”

“All the numerical representations in the letters in ‘attitude’ add up to 100,” he said.

“And that’s what it takes to achieve a positive diverse workplace.”

He encouraged students not to dwell on past achievements, but to continue working toward the future.

“You’re not going to be judged by what you’ve already accomplished, but by what you do with the challenges in front of you,” he said.

He also urged people to be educated on ethnic and racial issues in the workplace in this day and age.

Ames business leaders said they strive to achieve diversity among their employees and feel advantaged to live in a city that offers a diverse employment pool.

“Guidelines are set as a company, but we’re fortunate here that this is a pretty diverse town, thanks to ISU,” said Bill Detweiler, a manager for Hy-Vee, 640 Lincoln Way. “Other towns in Iowa struggle with diversity because of small populations.”

Detweiler said Hy-Vee is an equal-opportunity employer, and the store strives to hire diverse employees.

Andino said workplaces in the future will reflect the increase of diversity in the American population.

“Anyone who owns a business and doesn’t see this change and doesn’t embrace it is a fool,” he said.

He said increasingly diverse workplaces breed innovative and improved business practices.

“More diversified workplaces create new ideas and perspectives,” he said.