About Dora Mendez, MPA
Dora Mendez, MPA (she/her/ella)
Leadership Coach | HR Consultant | Author | Podcast Host
Dora Mendez is a C-Suite Executive, Leadership Coach, HR Consultant, and Podcast Host who helps organizations build inclusive, people-centered cultures where everyone thrives.
Formerly the Vice President of Human Resources and Chief DEI Officer, Dora has led strategic initiatives aligning leadership development, HR strategy, and equity with organizational values. Her experience spans the education, healthcare, nonprofit, and public sectors.
Her early career in public service included work in law enforcement and investigations into housing and employment discrimination cases, shaping her lifelong commitment to equity and social justice.
Dora earned her Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the City University of New York—John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she now serves as an Adjunct Professor. She is also a Contributing Author in “Latinas Rising Up in HR, Vol. III: Executive Edition” (2024), United Latinas Extraordinary Latinas Vol. IV (2025) sharing her insights on inclusive leadership and executive growth. Host of the Building Leadership Community podcast, where she amplifies diverse voices in leadership and empowers leaders to thrive in the age of AI.
👉 Connect with her on LinkedIn.
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My Career Path
- Started career in law enforcement
- 12+ years of HR experience in the nonprofit sector
- 10+ years as an Adjunct Professor in Public Management
- Passionate about centering DEI in core values, mission and vision
Mission Statement
My mission is to be a beacon of bold authenticity, igniting conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through my writing and public speaking. I envision a world where everyone feels empowered to lead with courage and compassion, and my coaching and consulting services are the tools to make this vision a reality.
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