Michelle Hernandez

My family. I have a very large family, and we're very close. I have nieces in high school who are starting to explore college options, and we've had conversations about their plans after graduation. I guide these conversations by asking about their goals and encouraging them to explore scholarships and available resources. I also support a niece who is now a college freshman by helping her navigate her own college experience and encouraging her to build a mentor network beyond me. I’ve come to recognize how valuable mentorship is, especially since I didn’t have that support during my own college experience. Being a first-generation student, I lacked guidance during my own experience, which has shaped how I now value and provide mentorship. My family is my motivation, and I really attribute my success to them, because I want to be an example for my nieces, and also for other women who are in the same boat. Only 8% of Latinas earn a master's degree, and I take great pride in that, and I want to help increase that number, that's really important to me. What really brings me joy and purpose is finding and mentoring all these young Latinas and other young women that are just wanting to belong in these spaces that we may think were not really meant for us, but they are.

To stay authentic and never underestimate the power of relationships. I've learned that leadership is not about titles, but about how you show up for others and the impact you make along the way. One of the best pieces of advice I have received is to say yes to opportunities, even when they feel uncomfortable or intimidating. It can be easy to become complacent or let fear hold you back, but real growth happens when you step outside of your comfort zone. Saying yes has been essential to my development and has played a significant role in shaping the leader I am today.

Know that you belong in every room that you enter, even if it doesn't always feel that way. Don't be afraid to just take up that space and ask questions and really seek out mentors who will support your growth. Lead with confidence, not the pressures or expectations you may feel, and really use your voice and your perspective and your lived experiences, because they really matter, especially in these leadership spaces where representation is still lacking. We need more women, we need more Latinas, we need women stepping forward to lead authentically and inspire the next generation of women to do the same. Know that you belong in these spaces, and we have to get over the fear and just really lead with our confidence.

I think one of the biggest challenges I see is that some leaders struggle with just the fundamentals of effective leadership, from clear communications to accountability to just genuinely supporting your team. That's so important right now in all aspects of the world. Going back to those core values of empathy and transparency and eventually trust. I think there's a moment where we can really redefine what strong leadership looks like just by returning to those core values, but also making space for more diverse voices and perspectives. As far as opportunities, I think we need to create spaces for conversations about what it is to be a leader, what it is to be a mentor, and how that can help us improve our workspaces. Especially in siloed work cultures, I think there's just a need for that leadership and that mentorship to really come hand-in-hand and create these opportunities and spaces for us to do our jobs, and do them well while fostering a workplace that boosts morale and engagement.

I would say mentorship, humility, empathy, and authenticity are probably the most important to me, both personally and professionally. As a first-generation Latina in leadership, I know firsthand the impact of navigating spaces without guidance, and I strive to stay true to myself while showing humility in learning from others, practicing empathy in understanding different perspectives, and being authentic in every interaction. On a personal level, this means giving back in the way I wish I had been guided—mentoring young women, helping them access opportunities, and supporting their growth in spaces where representation for us is still limited.