Omar Duque is passionate about technology its potential to empower the Hispanic community and the future of America. Duque is the President of The Hispanic Technology Executive Council (HITEC). HITEC is the premier global executive leadership organization of senior business and technology executives who have built impactful careers in technology.
Previously, Duque was the President & CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC). Under his leadership, IHCC developed initiatives to connect more Latinos to the innovation economy. IHCC has partnered with 1871 Chicago to develop a first-of-its-kind incubator program for Latinx tech startups. Since launching in late 2016, 95 Latinx founders have completed the program. Cohort companies have raised more than $8.8 million in early-stage capital, created more than 200 new jobs. He is the co-founder of the Latinx Founders Collective, a national initiative to build a community of more than 100 venture-funded Latinx startups by 2022.
Duque was recognized by Latino Leaders Magazine in 2018 as one of the 101 most influential Latinos in the country. He was a 2018 Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar, a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and was recognized by the US Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency as the Minority Business Advocate of the Year in 2011.
Duque is a Chicago native whose parents immigrated to the United States from Guatemala. He received his Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Duque and his wife Clarisol live in Chicago’s South Side with their two children. He is an avid runner and loves to cook.