The challenges brought upon in March 2020 defined many of our career pathways. CHLI Alum Luisana Zambrano experienced this firsthand as part of the Global Leaders cohort to go virtual mid-semester. Regardless of the obstacles arising from the pandemic, Luisana is persevering as she begins the first semester of her master’s program.

Completing her first semester of her MBA program, CHLI Alum Olivia Padilla explains her passion for sustainable business practices. The added hurdles of beginning a demanding grad school program in the COVID-19 pandemic did not hinder Olivia’s ability to succeed as her cohort’s First Year Class President and bringing what she learned as a Global Leader to her academic career.

Proudly serving our country as a Cryptologic Warfare Officer with the United States Navy, Lyana Cortés shares her experience leading sailors out at sea. As a 2014 CHLI Alum, Lyana was exposed to the processes present at the highest levels of government showing her how to properly communicate with constituents at her congressional internship which later translated into effective communication with her sailors.

CHLI’s first Communications Fellow Michelle Archilla became the organization’s first Creative Communications and Marketing Director, embarking on projects spanning from a website relaunch to a monthly podcast. Building CHLI’s Communication and branding effort from the ground up, Michelle crafted CHLI’s identity over social media and other platforms. As Michelle moves forward in her career, she reflects on the lessons learned and impact made as a part of CHLI.

After spending a semester in Spain as a part of the CHLI Gateway to Madrid Program, Lola Wiarco Dweck has dedicated her career to spreading her love for Mexican cuisine and culture. Her social media impact has been recognized by organizations like OprahMag.com, New York Magazine, and mitú, among others. By teaching cooking classes and selling authentic Mexican treats, Lola continuous to impresses with her cultural impact and delicious recipes.

Uplifting Latinas while weathering the COVID-19 storm directly from Capitol Hill. CHLI Alumna, Eliza Ramirez shares how her CHLI fellowship prepared her for future roles and her day-to-day as Deputy Chief of Staff/Legislative Director. Founder of the Latinas in the House, a group that provides professional development resources for Latina Capitol Hill staffers, Eliza also hosts several speaker series each year providing Latinas the opportunities to engage with high profiled women of color in politics.

After completing her CHLI program in 2017, Dominique Espinoza continued her work in public service, focusing on issues she deeply cares for like immigration, healthcare, and mental health awareness. She landed a job on the Senate and most recently worked on a presidential campaign, as the Special Assistant to the National Political Director and the Latinx Liaison. Now, she’s using her background in clinical psychology to launch an online service where she virtually connects with other individuals.

Sharlett Mena, 2012 CHLI Alumna, is running for Washington State's House of Representatives seat in the 29th Legislative District. We had the pleasure of learning about Sharlett's path into public service, from interning with Representative Albio Sires, to working as the Special Assistant to the Director of the Washington State Department of Ecology, as well as the factors that led to her decision to run for office.

Ricardo Rauseo serves as the Constituency Media Associate at the Center for American Progress. Learn about his experiences studying abroad in Paris and how completing internships in Belgium and CHLI have impacted his career development, as well as how he stays connected with his community through his current role.