Monica Mejia
Monica Mejia is a nonprofit operations and systems leader with over 15 years of experience advancing community impact through equitable, people-centered infrastructure. As the Director of Programs and Operations at Friends for Youth, she works at the intersection of strategy, systems, and service delivery—overseeing program implementation while leading critical organizational functions including human resources, finance, compliance, and operational strategy. Her work ensures that organizations are not only mission-driven, but structurally equipped to deliver sustainable, scalable impact for the communities they serve.
Monica began her career in direct service, supporting youth and families in under-resourced communities across the Bay Area. Over time, her focus evolved toward strengthening the systems behind the work—recognizing that long-term impact depends on how organizations are designed, resourced, and governed. She has since built expertise in developing operational infrastructure, implementing financial and HR systems, and leading cross-sector collaborations that expand access to holistic, wraparound services. Her leadership is deeply informed by her lived experience as an immigrant and as someone who directly benefited from nonprofit support systems, fueling her commitment to building pathways where communities can truly thrive.
In addition to her professional role, Monica is actively engaged in civic and community initiatives, including serving on the San Mateo County Charter Review Committee, where she contributes to advancing equity and accountability in public systems. She is a strong advocate for collaborative models that move beyond siloed approaches, believing that meaningful change happens when organizations align their strengths to meet complex community needs. Grounded in both purpose and balance, Monica leads with compassion, resilience, and a vision for systems that embed dignity, access, and opportunity into the fabric of society.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid
• California State University, East Bay — Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
• Cañada College — Associate’s Degree in Sociology
• Influential Women 2026
• Friends for Youth (FFY)
• Whole Health for You Collaborative
• One Life Counseling
• Police Activities League (PAL)
• Siena Youth Center
• Influential Women Network
• AFS Intercultural Programs (Volunteer; participated in school rebuilding and cultural exchange in Panama)
• Charter Review Committee Member, County of San Mateo (focus on equity, governance, and public systems improvement)
• Contributor to Whole Health for You Collaborative (cross-sector partnership supporting wraparound services for families)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to stepping into leadership roles from the heart. It is hard work, something you definitely have to grind, but it's also heart work. It comes from a place of love and passion, and I ground myself in what is important and what is at stake. Because this work is so dear and close to my heart, I had to learn balance. At one point, I was not a very healthy person. I was a workaholic, really 24-7 thinking about work. I had an epiphany on a plane when I was on vacation with my work laptop open, even though I was on PTO. I heard the flight attendant say to put your oxygen mask on first before helping others, and I realized I was on PTO, on vacation, but answering emails. I was not putting that oxygen mask on. I realized that if I am not healthy, if I am not alive, if I am stressed out or burnt out, I will not be able to support the community. I will not be able to think strategically or have a cool and sound mind to make decisions. Now I practice a very good balance of life and work. My husband and I made a rule that at 7pm, we close those laptops, we are not working, and we are really connecting with each other, going on walks, cooking together, seeing life outside of all the work that needs to be done. It allows us to put a pause and really look at life in a bigger picture and try to find the good. Because if you are stuck on what's wrong and what's bad and not working, you can get pretty pessimistic, and you want to look at life with hope.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In a perfect world, I like to say that the goal for nonprofits should be that they have worked themselves out of a job. That we no longer need nonprofits because we have fixed the system in which folks are struggling to work and find and really truly thrive in our society. The biggest opportunity I see is moving beyond working in silos. We looked at ourselves and said, hey, we don't want to work in silos anymore. There's plenty of need to go around, and we can actually work really smart if we all focus on our niche and what we're really good at, then pass families along and make sure they all get access to everything that they need in order for them to thrive. We need more collaborative partnerships, people advocating for housing, advocating for education. My next goal would be an executive director role or an advocacy role, really working alongside policymaking and advocacy, creating a systems impact that is bigger than what just one organization does, but really truly aligned with what we want to see in the world.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value community-centered collaboration, sustainability, and leading with love and passion. My work is deeply personal, and I believe in building systems that honor dignity, access, and equity for all. At the same time, I prioritize self-care and balance, recognizing that effective leadership requires both resilience and reflection. Staying connected to purpose while maintaining well-being allows me to contribute meaningfully and sustainably over time.