Her Story
About Hilda
Hilda Escher is a retired non-profit executive and community leader based in Rochester, New York. Born in Puerto Rico, she attended the University of Puerto Rico before beginning her career in the non-profit sector as a coordinator. She advanced through multiple roles and in 2005 became CEO of the Ibero American Action League, the only Latino organization in Rochester at the time, a position she held for 14 years. Following her retirement, Escher has remained active through extensive board service and consulting. She was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to the upstate Empire State Development Board and serves on the councils for the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, where she chairs the project review committee. She also serves on the board of Rochester Hope. Her work emphasizes non-profit leadership, board governance, and improving access to services for underserved populations amid challenges like mental health, poverty, and bureaucracy. Escher has received the Athena Award and a President's Award from a Rochester college for her contributions.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Hilda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to working hard and being very sensitive to other people's issues. Helping them to do better in life. If I can make a difference in one person's life, I'm happy with that.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Be humble. Always bring other people along with you. We sometimes get in positions and forget where we came from. Bringing other females along.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You have to be willing to go above and beyond. You have to be willing to give more than it is asked of you. It did sit... I... always worked more, you know, like, more than 5 days a week. I was always in the community, and I still am. The not-for-profit sector is quite difficult... you've gotta be able to help without losing yourself.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
There are a lot of issues of mental health, poverty, and being able to access services. With the current environment, there are issues with people accessing services, good education, healthy food. All my work is around making it easier for people to access services because the systems are full of bureaucracy.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being humble, speaking the truth, valuing other people, making the community better. I would like to be known as a person that gives back without expecting anything in return.
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