Her Story
About Heather
Heather Hebert del Cuadro is an Education Specialist, Certified Holistic Health Coach and consultant focused on brain education. She is the founder of Brain Educate Me and serves as Region 6 Director and a board member of the California Association of Resource Specialists Plus (CARS Plus). A longtime special education teacher and counselor, Heather is passionate about creating healthier, kinder, and more inclusive learning environments and considers herself an Earth Citizen committed to whole-person education and community well-being. Heather specializes in supporting community members with brain-based practices. Her professional philosophy emphasizes respect, positive guidance, and empowering community members with calming and self-regulation strategies so they can fully engage in self care. She also integrates body-and-brain approaches such as Qigong, joint exercises, and gut-health strategies to support neuroplasticity, stress management, and overall wellness. With 28 years of experience as an educator including one-to-one counseling, classroom instruction, and casemangement. She served as a union representative for the Oceanside Teachers Association, advocating for teachers supporting students with extensive support needs. She also presented Brain Educate Me stress management strategies at conferences around California. Heather holds a degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Special Education. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys practicing Qigong, beach boogie boarding, volunteering, and cooking, activities that reflect her commitment to balance, health, and lifelong learning.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heather
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to seeing obstacles as opportunities for growth. Challenges have pushed me to adapt, learn quickly, and develop resilience, allowing me to turn setbacks into meaningful progress. This mindset has helped me stay focused, innovative, and forward-looking, even in uncertain or demanding situations.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to learn to laugh and not take life too seriously. Maintaining a sense of humor and perspective has helped me stay grounded, build stronger relationships, and navigate challenges with resilience and optimism. It reminds me that while work matters, balance and levity are essential for long-term success and well-being.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would urge young women entering the industry to plan carefully for the financial startup costs of launching services, including rent, space, and overhead. I also encourage them to view setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than barriers, to seek out strong mentors who can provide guidance and perspective, and to prioritize stress management and self-care from the beginning. Building a sustainable career requires both strategic planning and taking care of yourself along the way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in the personal self-care field is the growing interest in brain based education, including how to maintain better physical, mental, and social-emotional health as an integrated whole person centered approach. I feel I have much to offer as a professional consultant in this area of holistic health coaching.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The value most important to me in both my work and personal life is treating others with kindness. I believe kindness builds trust, strengthens relationships, and creates environments where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best.
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