Her Story
About Cesiah
I've dedicated over 9 years to the education field, and my journey has taken me across borders and through various leadership roles. I started as a teacher in Mexico, where I was honored as Teacher of the Year at my school in 2017. I then transitioned to the United States, working as a classroom teacher at Glendale Elementary School District in Arizona before moving into an achievement advisor role in the same district. From there, I joined Arizona State University as a placement coordinator in the Teachers College. Most recently, I was promoted to Vice President of Cultural Exchange Programs after serving as Director of Operations for over a year and a half. In my current role, I bring international teachers to the United States on cultural J-1 exchange programs, overseeing four teams that handle everything from recruitment to getting teachers settled in the United States. I work with J-1 visas, H1B visas, and teacher certification across 32 states. My daily responsibilities include touching base with all my teams, ensuring everything runs smoothly, checking in with teachers who might be facing crises, providing the support they need to stay safe, and handling Department of State compliance reporting. Being from a Mexican background, I've faced challenges navigating the professional field in the United States, especially in the current geopolitical climate, but I remain passionate about what I do. I believe in being a servant leader, leading by example, and never forgetting where I come from. I'm a lifelong learner, always looking for new opportunities to grow, and I'm passionate about supporting teachers at both a professional and personal level.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cesiah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think it's just being passionate about what I do and liking being in the education field. I believe that if you do what you love, you're just gonna be able to grow and shine in your field. My passion for education drives everything I do, and even outside my role, I always try to connect with the teachers and support them at a personal level. My life pretty much revolves around my job because I'm really passionate about it. I'm kind of a workaholic, but it's because I genuinely love what I do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received, especially going into leadership, is don't forget where you come from and how hard it takes to go into leadership, because I feel like sometimes leaders forget about that human part. You should be a leader and not a boss, because those are two different things. It's important to remember the hard work it takes and to maintain that human connection with the people you lead.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say stand for what you believe in. If you're passionate about it, just keep going, because it might be hard. Sometimes it's hard starting, it's hard, and you might think that you're not making change or it's not going to be any different, but it will be at the end. Don't give up on what you're passionate about, even when the journey feels difficult or you question whether you're making an impact.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I've faced is being from a Mexican background and being Latino in this field. I transitioned from working in Mexico to coming to the United States, and I had to learn about the new culture and try to embed myself in that professional field. Especially with the geopolitical situation going on right now, it's kind of hard to try to be around people that are not too comfortable with somebody that is from a Mexican background being in a leadership role or any role in the education field. Sometimes, even if you talk about your experience and say you have a master's degree and did your education here, just because of the way you look or you might have a little accent when you talk, it changes everything. Not everybody has the same values or thinks that we're all the same. As for opportunities, I see educational opportunities for myself in learning more about the visa process and becoming more of an expert in that field. Maybe getting something more related towards law so I could handle that a little bit better. That would be an opportunity for me to grow.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think the most important values are honesty and just being truthful in everything, right, across the board, both personal and professional. Keeping your promise is crucial. I think if you say something, you just have to stick to it. Having communication with people around you if anything's going on or anything's gonna change is essential. I also value having a strong work ethic. These are the main values that guide me in both my work and personal life.
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