Meet Trailblazer Maira Hernández

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maira Hernández.

Maira, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a first-generation Mexican American who was raised in an urban neighborhood in Los Angeles by immigrant parents. I was always taught that education was the path to success, and after graduating from UC Berkeley, I wanted to pay it forward by serving the community. Throughout my career, I have been an advocate for education but more so career success for marginalized individuals. During my career, I have mentored and coached dozens of first-generation students and professionals on how to leverage their education, skills, and knowledge to step into better opportunities.

Through my career in working with young individuals, I have recognized the effects of imposter syndrome, especially in high achieving individuals who suffer from burn out in the workplace environment. Through my own experience in working through burnout myself, I decided to quit my last job and travel for several months and go on my very own Eat, Pray, Love adventure with a Mexican twist. I spent months in the ranchos in Mexico my family originated from, capturing those moments through photography and writing and that is where my book Aventura, Amor y Tacos was born.

Through my writing, I share the greatness that runs through Mexican ancestry and culture in order to help others discover their own. I work to inspire my community to continue growing and to continue making positive changes towards diversity while at the same time taking care of themselves.

Currently, I hold a position with a nonprofit organization in Phoenix called Year Up that connects young adults from urban neighborhoods with internship and employment opportunities with corporate companies to connect them to the first step to financial independence. Through this work, I am given the opportunity to empower young individuals to take ownership of their own success. As a part of the recruitment team, I go out into the community to introduce this opportunity to young individuals and their families. Additionally, as a part of the organization, everyone on staff plays an active role in coaching our students towards success as they embark on their new careers.

Has it been a smooth road?
The road through academia was not easy, especially without any guidance from family. Similarly, the road to a stable career path that pays well was not easy especially when recognizing when the time to move forward from a position came. Going off the beaten path, to quit my job and write a book was also difficult as the only path to success I knew was through academia. Being the first in the family to accomplish many of the things that I have was the most difficult because it often felt like I was navigating this with little to no guidance. This is why I have always been dedicated to helping others navigate their way through success.

A piece of advice I would give young women is to surround themselves with the doers and the dreamers, those who believe their goal is possible. There are tons of resources out there, it’s just a matter of looking for them and utilizing them. Also to only take advice from people who have accomplished what they are looking forward to accomplishing. Sometimes that involves stepping out of your comfort zone, but when you do that you meet the people who want to help you accomplish your goals. No matter where you are, there will always be people wanting to help you accomplish your goals.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a writer, photographer, and empowerment coach. I write about all the lessons I have learned through my travels as well as my new perceptions of the world through the eyes of ancestral wisdom. I photograph people and cultural experiences to bring light to the beauty of humble traditions. Lastly, I specialize in helping others see their circumstances differently and helping them transform their lives by utilizing resources and opportunities that are available to them through coaching.

What I am most proud of is my book because in it I discuss how people can shift their perception of their identity to one of empowerment through their cultural wisdom, rather than internalizing the negative aspects of the word minority. I discuss and reflect on the values and bits of wisdom that have been passed down through generations as a way of transforming our experience into one of lifting up ourselves and our communities through our successes.

Through my own experience of fully immersing myself in the place and life my parents left behind I was able to understand not only their story more clearly, but also my own, and that of my community. I now understand, how stories of immigration are integrated with faith, strength, and courage and that is what we inherit from those who crossed the border for us. As first-generation individuals, we might forget that we also hold that faith, strength, and courage ourselves and I hope to reconnect individuals to these characteristics, so they too can continue on the trajectory of success for their families and community.

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
As a child, I always understood that my parents left Mexico for better opportunities for us. I grew up traveling to Mexico and I recognized the differences in economic opportunity, they came from poor humble towns and I grew up in an urban neighborhood near LA. I understood that I was given many opportunities that others did not have, the biggest being education. Additionally, I am the second oldest in my family so I was essentially setting an example for my younger siblings. My family and community was the biggest driving force for my success because I understood there was a lack of representation everywhere that was associated with success in America.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mairahernandez.com
• Email: hello@mairahernandez.com
• Instagram: @maira.hdez

Image Credit:
Book Cover Illustration by Gloria Felix

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