Her Story
About Valeria
Valeria Diaz is an international business and marketing student at the University of San Diego, where she has been an honors student since her freshman year with a GPA above 3.4 each semester. She has been working in marketing for about 4 years and currently serves as Creative Media Manager, where she networks with people from diverse countries, films events, and creates content to spotlight women from various backgrounds who are starting businesses. Her previous experience includes roles involving video editing and social media handling for nonprofits and organizations such as Packful, a design-thinking group empowering teens, and the Jacobs Institute, from which she received a certificate. She has studied abroad, taking a Marine Biology class in New Zealand, and is preparing to study in Spain. Valeria is actively involved in Women in Business at the University of San Diego, serving as VP of Outreach and VP of Election, and in Pi Beta Phi sorority as VP of DEI. She volunteers with nonprofits supporting children and families with lower incomes. She attributes her success to her mother, originally from El Salvador, whose hard work brought her to the United States. Valeria values communication, inclusion, and community, and she advises young women to be patient, confident in themselves, and not to let others define their worth.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Valeria
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would definitely say my mom. I'm a mom, and I'm originally from El Salvador. And I was born there, so her bringing me to the United States, I feel like she's the reason why I have done all the things that I have done now. Because of her hard work.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I think, because I am younger, I think one of the best things is to be patient. And that everything happens for a reason. Because I think I sometimes want to rush to something, or want to do something. Like, now? Patient and many things go as they were meant to be.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
To not let anyone make you feel less than you are. Because I feel like, especially when you're younger, you're still finding your identity, and sometimes you can feel maybe like, oh, I can't do this, or I'm not worth that role. Confident in yourself, and to know who you are, to not let anyone tell you, like, what you are, in a way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think that, because I do work with a lot of international people. Just being able to feel united. And, like, we're all one... It's hard to make everybody feel welcome. I think my biggest opportunity is that I will Get to travel more. And Keep learning about all the different cultures that I will meet when I'm traveling, and again, hopefully make everybody, like. Be, like, a good traveler, you could say, and make sure that I can make every, make everybody feel inclusive wherever I go.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Definitely Communication? Inclusion? And Community.
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