00;00;00;03 - 00;00;31;03
Coach Dora Mendez
Welcome back, amazing leaders to season three of Building Leadership Community podcast. And this episode is incredibly special. We are honored to welcome a leader who embodies that very heart of what we believe here. That leadership is not just about strategy and systems, but about people. About connection. About creating spaces where every voice can be heard and every person can belong.
00;00;31;05 - 00;01;08;14
Coach Dora Mendez
Our season three episode guest is an organizational leader, educator, and champion of workplace cultures where belonging and innovation thrive. Dr. Lori Marie Huertas by the end of this conversation, you will walk away with a renewed understanding of what people centered leadership truly means. Practical wisdom on building cultures of belonging, and a powerful reminder that investing in people with both strategy and heart is the pathway to sustainable change.
00;01;08;16 - 00;01;25;03
Coach Dora Mendez
This episode is your invitation to lead with deeper purpose, greater compassion, and the conviction that when we develop people, we transform organizations. So let's settle in, take a breath and get ready.
00;01;25;06 - 00;01;50;19
Intro-Outro
Hello and welcome to Building Leadership Community Podcast. I'm your host, Dora Mendez. I am the founder and CEO of Coach Dora LLC. Our guests will be entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders that drive social impact. It can be lonely at the top, but it doesn't have to be.
00;01;50;22 - 00;02;09;12
Coach Dora Mendez
Thank you so much. I'm so thrilled and happy that you joined us week after week for these conversations that you're back with us for season three. It can be lonely at the top, but it doesn't have to be. That is why we started this podcast.
00;02;09;14 - 00;02;32;18
Coach Dora Mendez
If you're new to building leadership community, we are so glad you are here. Please don't forget to like, share and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Say hi in the comments and make sure you hit that bell button if you're watching on YouTube. So that you get notified when new episodes drop. We have some great resources to share with you today.
00;02;32;21 - 00;03;02;00
Coach Dora Mendez
If you're thinking about starting your own podcast, check out our mini course, The Entrepreneurs Podcast Blueprint. I've partnered with my husband and co-producer Dylan Rogers to create five easy to follow video modules, along with a workbook that you can download and follow along at your own pace, and you get a very handy AI prompt sheet that will make getting your episode out there into the world a breeze.
00;03;02;02 - 00;03;36;13
Coach Dora Mendez
The link is in the description. Also, this video includes affiliate links. If you purchase through them, it will help us continue to bring you amazing, inspiring content. We are continuing this season with incredible momentum and purpose. Let me tell you about our guest today, Dr. Lori Marie Huertas. She is a bilingual in English and Spanish organizational leader with more than a decade of experience in human resources, leadership development, and higher education.
00;03;36;15 - 00;04;14;22
Coach Dora Mendez
But what truly sets her apart is her unwavering commitment to developing people and cultivating workplaces where belonging and innovation can thrive. Doctor Walters draws inspiration from Maya Angelou belief in the power of human connection, and she brings that philosophy to life and everything she does. Her career has included leading workforce initiatives, designing experiential learning programs, and coaching hundreds of students and professionals as they discover their voice and purpose in the workplace.
00;04;14;24 - 00;04;56;16
Coach Dora Mendez
Doctor Walters excels at building collaborative pathways between education and industry. From 2020 to 2025, Doctor Walters completed her doctoral studies while navigating one of life's most profound challenges. Supporting terminally ill loved ones. This period of transition reinforced her commitment to purposeful people centered leadership. Today, she continues to explore opportunities in organizational culture, learning and development, and people strategy roles that allow her to help organizations invest in their people.
00;04;56;23 - 00;05;13;20
Coach Dora Mendez
With both strategy at heart and today. Dr. Huertas is here to pour into you. I am so thrilled to welcome the brilliant Doctor Laurie Marie with us to the stage.
00;05;13;22 - 00;05;16;05
Coach Dora Mendez
Hi, doctor Laurie.
00;05;16;07 - 00;05;19;19
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Hi, Dora. Nice to see you again.
00;05;19;21 - 00;05;50;25
Coach Dora Mendez
I'm so thrilled that you're here. We have so much in common, and I just want to share, with our audience, our listeners and our viewers that, I didn't I learned about you just through social media, and I think we were connected through LinkedIn, and you immediately, immediately reached out. We had a lovely conversation, and you recommended me for another podcast, which I was happy to do.
00;05;50;27 - 00;06;17;12
Coach Dora Mendez
Speaking to a first-gen, we have that in common. We're both we both teach, at the college level. And I'm just so thrilled that you're here. I know people are going to get so much value out of listening to to your story. So without any further ado, can you share with our listeners and our viewers you know a bit about your unique leadership story?
00;06;17;14 - 00;06;46;08
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Yeah. So, born in New York, raised in Puerto Rico. So my family moved to Puerto Rico when I was in the fourth grade. So I did, half of elementary, middle school and then half of high school and then moved back to the US, moved back to Virginia, which for me was a culture shock because at that time there weren't many Hispanic students at the school that I went to in Virginia.
00;06;46;11 - 00;07;14;29
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
So, I think I've talked about this in other podcast. So I was bullied a little bit. But thanks to a teacher who really, saw me and made me feel valued, I realized that college was an option for me. So did my bachelor's. I finished my bachelor's at USC. University of South Carolina. Columbia. And I, it's pretty funny.
00;07;15;01 - 00;07;44;06
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Hootie and the Blowfish used to play on my campus when I was in school, and I used to say that guy’s gonna be famous one day. And of course, this is, the rest is history. Yeah. Now he's doing country music. Then I ended up, getting my masters in counseling psychology, started in education, and then switched to counseling psychology and completed my doctorate in organizational leadership.
00;07;44;08 - 00;08;13;15
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
I really clicked or I will share something that I don't think I told you, but I'll say it really quick in regards to leadership is that, you know, from when I was a little girl, my dad, may he rest in peace always. Empowered me to use my leadership skills. And so I'll give a quick example of something that resonates with me because I still kind of do it today, and I try to emulate the same, empowerment with my grandkids now.
00;08;13;15 - 00;08;31;18
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And I used to try with my son. My son was born a leader, so with him it was really easy. But I remember when I was about 6 or 7 years old, I was with my dad at a business meeting at a hotel lobby, and there was something that him and his colleagues needed, and whoever was had said, no, I don't know.
00;08;31;18 - 00;08;48;17
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
They needed something from the front desk. And the guy came back and he's like, yeah, they said they can do it. And he looked at me and he says, Laura, you go ask. I was seven years old and I went up there and I don't even remember specifically what it was. It was a document or something. And I came back with the document and they were like, how'd she do that?
00;08;48;18 - 00;09;04;19
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And I was like, she she just has that gift. And so he never framed it or, pointed the term leadership. But, it just really stuck in me that after that, I just felt like invincible.
00;09;04;22 - 00;09;41;20
Coach Dora Mendez
You're brave. You've always been courageous and compassionate and that really that sort of genuine, courageousness. I don't know how to how to also to to phrase it just really comes through. And people, people gravitate towards that. That's a beautiful story. Sort of the genesis of Doctor Walters leadership of a seven year old just, you know, commanding, getting what she wants for other people's facilitating, making things happen.
00;09;41;23 - 00;10;02;23
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
That, you know, to her real quick. I'll just say also because it just reminded me so in October and, so I work at Metropolitan State University of Denver, like you mentioned, and it's in the, bio. And I brought students to HACU, which is the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, annual conference that occurred in Denver.
00;10;02;25 - 00;10;23;04
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And it was during lunch. They had like, speakers on stage. There was like thousands of people there. And I'm with my student leaders at the table in the back. And this gentleman gets on stage from Deloitte, the company, and one of my finance students says, wow, I always wanted to meet that guy. And so I said, well, let's go.
00;10;23;06 - 00;10;42;02
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
So that trait from seven years old was still in me. So as soon as the guy said, watch when he's at the end of his speech, let's start walking up. So we started walking up. We went through this side as soon as he came down the stairs, I had my business card and I said, that was a wonderful speech.
00;10;42;02 - 00;11;09;14
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
I want to introduce you to one of my student leaders. Here's my business card. You are just one of someone that he looks up to. I don't know if you have an hour for him to interview you, or maybe consider being his mentor. And so again, just showing that those skills that we empower young people, when I say young from kindergarten, to, to, you know, the future, they do make a difference.
00;11;09;17 - 00;11;34;20
Coach Dora Mendez
Thank you for sharing that story that, you have to take that risk with leadership. Part of leadership is really putting yourself out there. And, you've learned how to do that, and that's that's a great story. And that's a great segue to our next conversation prompt. We asked all our guests sort of, what does community mean to you?
00;11;34;20 - 00;11;55;03
Coach Dora Mendez
And and, you know, because leadership can be isolating. It can be, you know, it's, you know, it takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there. Right? And it can be isolating and can be lonely. So here's your opportunity to kind of share what community means to you and why it's important.
00;11;55;06 - 00;12;20;23
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Yeah. So do I 100% agree that leadership, even though for me I find it very rewarding. It is lonely at times. You know, people, sometimes people don't understand. Sometimes people just assume that because leaders, we got it like they see us in this like superwoman. We don't need anybody role. And so community is what grabs us.
00;12;20;23 - 00;12;49;28
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And I think community is just extremely important to sustain our work. It just reminds us that we don't have to carry the weight of change on our own. So as leaders like like yourself, when we surround ourselves with trusted peers, mentors and collaborators, you, we just gain like different viewpoints, perspectives. We get encouragement. And it's also, a level of accountability that makes our journey feel less isolated.
00;12;49;28 - 00;13;14;07
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And it just continues to give us purpose. And I did also want to say, Dora, that wellness is really important. So I think building intentional pauses in our day, even if it's a short walk, journaling, breathing, it's just ways for us as leaders to recharge and stay present, personally and within our community and connecting regularly with supportive communities.
00;13;14;10 - 00;13;37;08
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Not just professional, but personal. Looking at areas that we're passionate about, that's another way for us to create a circle of care. And this is a way that we can share our struggles, like you share, you know, I, you know, experience grief during my doctorate. And I actually quit my job. I quit my job. I quit school to take care of my sweet dad during, his last year of life.
00;13;37;08 - 00;13;55;28
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
I would have done it all over again. But finding communities like within hospice, of other families that went through the same thing was really helpful for me to not feel alone, celebrating victories, learning from each other. And then, you know, at the end, I feel that leadership is just that. We don't have to stand alone at the top.
00;13;56;01 - 00;14;13;23
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
We can stand together, which is something I feel like you and I are doing and hopefully continue to do and create spaces of belonging and just modeling balance like I try to do for my students so that others know that they can lead, would strengthen humanity.
00;14;13;26 - 00;14;39;17
Coach Dora Mendez
Oh, that the words. Thank you so much for those words. But they're not just words you have. You take action, you've taken action and you lead by example. So I, I wanted to just pick pick up on a thread something else that we have in common. My father passed away due to Covid, Covid 19. And so.
00;14;39;18 - 00;15;14;13
Coach Dora Mendez
And he was Puerto Rican, very proud Rican, like, I'm sure your dad was. So we have that. We share that in common. And I love this notion of circle of care. And you mentioned a couple of things when we were talking. We were talking about, I always like to think of community with respect to balance as authentic authenticity and accountability, like together, like where you feel comfortable in your own skin to be yourself.
00;15;14;13 - 00;15;44;26
Coach Dora Mendez
But at the same time, there's a there's a sort of, accountability partner. Partners and in your peers. So I find that that's because you mentioned balanced. And I when I boil down like the nugget to what you're saying, I feel like it's like authenticity and accountability together, is kind of how the way I'm hearing I'm translating what you're saying about this circle of care when it comes to community.
00;15;44;26 - 00;15;53;15
Coach Dora Mendez
So I thank you for that. When is your book coming? When is your book coming on? I feel like that's more towards your book of it.
00;15;53;17 - 00;16;11;03
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
So I'll tell you, real quick about the book, but I can I just really quick, Dora, I do want to give a visual. I'm a visual person. Everybody knows like I'm all about visual stuff. So just for the audience to visualize what we were just saying about the “Circle of Care”, I'm going to give everybody a great example.
00;16;11;03 - 00;16;41;20
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
So I just got certified last year as a doula because it was a grant endeavor to get certified as doulas, because there was a shortage of Spanish speaking bilingual doulas, in Denver. And anyway, that whole, grant was, initiated by a nonprofit called Elephant Circle. And the reason that nonprofit is called Elephant Circle, because elephants in Africa specifically, they are an animal that's extremely maternal.
00;16;41;22 - 00;17;04;17
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And they have a great memory. Right. But one of the beautiful things is that there's actually pictures of elephants in a circle, right? Holding those, holding their tails. And it's the grandmas and it's the moms. And if you look in the middle, they're protecting a baby. And many times when people look at the baby, the baby's not an elephant.
00;17;04;19 - 00;17;28;16
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
They protect baby monkeys. They protect baby tigers. And it's again that community of care and that it doesn't matter. What race or what type of animal that's in there. It is worthy of being cared for. And how can, as a community, can we care? And every time I think of that term, I think of the elephants.
00;17;28;20 - 00;17;38;15
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And how can we protect and then empower regardless of where, where the whoever we're encouraging comes from?
00;17;38;17 - 00;18;01;15
Coach Dora Mendez
Oh, I love that image. It's great for especially for our listeners out there, for our viewers, I'm gonna put a little note to our, my podcast producer to put a little picture of that elephants miracle. So I think, Lori, for our for those who watch us on YouTube, that we're gonna splice in a little picture of that elephant circle.
00;18;01;17 - 00;18;34;14
Coach Dora Mendez
And for those listeners out there, I think Lori's description will paint a picture in your, in your mind, which is lovely. So that leads to the next, to to our next conversation prompt, which is what advice, would you give, to the next generation of leaders? And is it something you would, you know, tell your younger self when you first started out on your journey, which you have such a unique journey?
00;18;34;16 - 00;18;37;17
Coach Dora Mendez
What advice do you have to give?
00;18;37;20 - 00;19;05;25
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Yeah, I feel that if I could speak to my younger self at the start of my career, I would just remind myself that leadership is a journey and to enjoy the journey, that it's about direction, not perfection, and that it's not a race. And just so you know, even though this is the advice I would give my earlier self, I still have to give myself this advice today.
00;19;05;28 - 00;19;36;13
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Because like you said, how you message me and I message you back right away, I do feel that, sometimes I'm in a race, you know? And so, just reminding ourselves that we don't have to have it all figured out at once that it's important to stay curious, to keep learning. I even I was approached by NYU to get my masters in speech pathology, and even though I had my doctorate, I'm seriously considering it because I do think that learning is really important.
00;19;36;13 - 00;19;58;15
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Trust in every experience, even the challenging ones, you know, just really helped shape us into the leader that we're called to be. I would tell my younger self to seek out mentors. There is so much value. I really, you know, I had a teacher that looked out for me when I was in high school, which was kind of a mentor, but I feel like my first strong mentor.
00;19;58;22 - 00;20;16;24
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
I found them when I was getting my graduate degree, so I would encourage my younger self to seek out mentors really early, especially first gen like we were talking about, because I love my parents. My parents were amazing. But, you know, at one point they were like, look, just find a nice guy and get married. They didn't really care if I went to college.
00;20;16;24 - 00;20;40;19
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
So that's what mentors really were able to give me the tools, and encouragement and resources so that I could do what I needed to do and not feel like I was alone. I feel like volunteering is extremely important, so just getting involved in your community early is important. Surround yourself with people. People like you, Dora. People that inspire us, challenge us.
00;20;40;19 - 00;21;00;19
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
People that support us. Just remembering that your voice matters, that's a big thing for me with my students is just reminding them that they have a voice, even if it shakes up first, just do it. It's kind of like what you talked about taking a risk, just jumping in, just, you know, being able to start, you know, with baby steps.
00;21;00;26 - 00;21;35;17
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And then most importantly, I would just tell my younger self to prioritize balance and wellness. I think growing up wellness was never even talked about. So titles and achievements are important. And I think The New Yorker in me is very competitive. But family, faith, health and joy are, invaluable. And and so the next generation of leaders really needs to know that true leadership comes, as you said earlier, from authenticity, compassion and the courage to bring other people along with us.
00;21;35;20 - 00;22;15;29
Coach Dora Mendez
I love that, I love that, bring there is a common thread in what you said, but bringing along people, a common thread where I'm trying to like the nugget of what you're saying really is, Finding mentors, but really a connection, building connections along along the way. And so connection for you seems to be the thread in that advice, like really making genuine a connection.
00;22;16;01 - 00;23;03;05
Coach Dora Mendez
In order to build, build, build, designed what success looks like for you because it's not a race, right? We talked about that. It's not a race. And, it's different for everyone. But you want to have genuine connection to support others, and they support you. So I, I wonder, I want to just build on something because we both work with like, for me, one of the things that I love about teaching, you know, I teach as an adjunct in a public management department, at, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, which is part of the City University of New York.
00;23;03;07 - 00;23;32;17
Coach Dora Mendez
You share that you're in Denver. And part of the reason why I love teaching, is I feel like I learned just as much from my students as I. I hope that they learn from me. Right. And, I'm very open to, like, learning from continuously learning and improving and, getting that feedback from them, as I know they really care about getting feedback from me.
00;23;32;17 - 00;23;59;16
Coach Dora Mendez
So I'd love to just, take us on a different direction and pick your brain about. What's that, for last, like your teaching philosophy. Because for me, it's really not a top down. Like, I don't teach, like, here's all the things that I have to say. Just learn it and spit it back out. I mean, it's it's more about, like, a collaborative process of, like, learning and growing together.
00;23;59;18 - 00;24;04;11
Coach Dora Mendez
And I would love to hear your philosophy on that.
00;24;04;13 - 00;24;29;25
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Yeah. I feel like my, teaching philosophy is a combination of a couple of different ones. I feel it's definitely kind of like along the lines of what you were saying, servant leadership. So servant leadership in that, you know, I'm really here to serve the students. Yes. I have information on whatever the course topic that I need to share with the students.
00;24;29;28 - 00;24;57;06
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Make sure they understand it, answer their questions. However, a lot of times, like you say, well, every time, every class, I learn more from the students than they do from me. Their insight, especially in thinking of different generations, and how this generation, like they've had struggles that I didn't have, like if they went through Covid, you know, I have students that didn't even go to their high school graduation.
00;24;57;09 - 00;25;21;12
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Then I have students that, are only taking online because maybe they're taking care of their sick family members or they're, you know, they're single parents. You know, I actually have students, that maybe even had, issues with the law, but now they're getting their, you know, they're trying to do the right thing now. And so they're navigating those challenges.
00;25;21;12 - 00;25;43;24
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
I've also had student veterans that are transitioning from being in the military to now being in the civilian world and trying to see what's that like, you know, and I mean, I remember I had a student that in my class we were talking about leadership, and we were talking about careers and job searching because I'm teaching a careers in psychology course.
00;25;43;27 - 00;26;07;01
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And the student was like, well, I'm not getting interviews. And, and I get it. And the student was so humble. The student was like, can I get it? It's because, you know, I just got out of the military. I don't have the experience. And I was like, what was your role in the military? And they're like, well, I was an officer and I used to lead the pilots and I'm like, whoa, like you're a leader.
00;26;07;01 - 00;26;31;12
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Like, what do you mean you don't have experience? You’ve got more experience than me. So I will look at the resume and the resume, the civilian resume. I was just like “I was in, in the, Marines. Right. And then, you know, I'm in college right now”, and it was just like a super short resume. And I would say, can I see your joint services transcript, which is the military transcript, and they would show it.
00;26;31;12 - 00;26;58;15
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And that thing was like 4 or 5 pages long of all the trainings they did. How like they were like leading these groups. And I'm like, look, let's put that on your resume because that those are what we call transferable skills and transferable skills critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, communication. These are the essential skills that employers are looking for.
00;26;58;15 - 00;27;24;10
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
They say it over and over again. And so again, learning from the students like that to me was like an “A-ha!” moment to just remind students at the beginning of class that, hey, feel free to bring up your challenges, because as we so my other leadership style is solution focus, which I feel like I get from my counseling background as we like try to find solutions to challenges.
00;27;24;12 - 00;27;36;03
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Your challenge can help another student, can help another person. Like even this podcast you have. Dora. I hope somebody listening to this is like, damn, she's right, I should put that on my resume.
00;27;36;05 - 00;28;22;25
Coach Dora Mendez
That's what I hope that is part of the that is part of the, It's so funny that I offer that service as well. Lori, coach door, I help coach people into rethinking and reframing their, career trajectory. And it starts with really telling the real story on their resume. So they stand out. And it's so interesting you said that about, the veteran who, like, they they were so focused on the difference between military and civilian that they didn't realize, like, how much value, like how much value and how much, the military experience and training they have is transferable to anywhere, really.
00;28;22;27 - 00;28;45;12
Coach Dora Mendez
And the fact that they didn't think they had experience was so incredible, incredible moment. And it's so wonderful to know that there are professors like you can really see and help students really see their full potential and live up to it. And so I love that, and I'm happy that this will now be out in the world.
00;28;45;12 - 00;29;14;11
Coach Dora Mendez
And I hope that people are inspired and motivated to rethink their worthiness, because it's really about worthiness. Sometimes people don't feel like they're worthy of, of, success. And 4 or 5 pages of, amazing training and experience was, was overlooked because they didn't like in their mind, they didn't see how worthy they were of, leadership roles.
00;29;14;14 - 00;29;41;14
Coach Dora Mendez
And they didn't see themselves as a leader. And so that's why I think that thread of finding mentors, right? Not being afraid to share and be vulnerable because had that student not, been vulnerable and shared, you wouldn't have been able to help guide them to, to help them understand that they are worthy. And so.
00;29;41;17 - 00;30;06;01
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Yeah, I, I'm so sorry to interrupt. I was just going to say that I really believe so much in the whole pay it forward concept. And, you know, I really feel called every day of my life, to leave a legacy and to help others like others helps me. And even the challenges I've had in life, like losing my mom and dad.
00;30;06;03 - 00;30;25;02
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And yesterday was really hard for me because yesterday we had our graduation at MSU Denver, and I was chosen as the faculty to hold the banner And when I put my doctorate outfit on for the first time and, you know, the cute little velvet hat and all that, you know, I was crying, you know, because there is a human factor to us as leaders, right?
00;30;25;02 - 00;30;50;12
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Or like, we're still human and just thanking God for the honor and thanking my parents wherever they are, hoping they can hear me. And then trying to trying to leave a legacy. But like thinking of the students, like, I think I've always had leadership qualities. But honestly, it wasn't until mentors like you spoke about earlier highlighted them to me, or put a mirror in front of my face.
00;30;50;15 - 00;31;13;07
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
I didn't really see them like they were there, but they weren't really being used. Kind of like that student that did the simple resume, the one that came from the military. I remember when I worked at, an import export company and I had my bachelor's degree and I had I was, secretary. Well, I say secretary, they called it executive administrative assistant.
00;31;13;07 - 00;31;33;22
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Whatever. Same thing. She the vice president of the company, and he was out. He had to be out for like a couple weeks. And when he was done, he said, look, since I'm going to be gone, really, there's nothing much for you to do. Just let these people know. I'll get back. I, I'm gonna forward my emails to you so you can just let them know that I'm gone, and then I'll respond when I get back.
00;31;33;29 - 00;31;52;03
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Well, I just naturally took it upon myself to with some of the emails. Resolve it. So like if it was issues, I knew I was like, no, this is what you need to do. So when he came back out of probably like, I don't know, 200 emails that he normally gets, he only had like five and he's like, where are the rest of my emails?
00;31;52;03 - 00;32;11;27
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And I'm like, oh, they're filed. And he's like, but don't I need to do them? And I'm like, no, I did them. And he pulled me out of the room. He says, I need to talk to you. I thought I got in trouble, like scared. And he had a board and he drew a picture and it had a boat, and it had all these people and, and had like a building.
00;32;12;00 - 00;32;32;08
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And I said, what are you doing? He says, here we go. Hear me out, because you come in here every day, you do your work, you do 150%. You say hi to everybody. You just basically did VPI work as a as an administrative assistant. Right. And I need to explain something to you. He goes, do you see this boat?
00;32;32;08 - 00;32;52;04
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Do you see that building that's sinking? And I said, yes. He says, what would happen if that was our company? And our company was sinking today? And let's see, I was in the boat with the president and a couple of other VIPs, and it's sunk. And let's say H.R. said, we have an option. We could keep the company running if any of you guys want to do it, or we could close it down.
00;32;52;11 - 00;33;08;11
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Do you think you could keep it running? Like, without hesitation, I was like, yeah, I could keep your part running. And he's like, how? And I was like, yeah, because. And I have like a strategic plan. We would do this like this and this like this. And I talk to this person and talk to that person. He goes, yeah.
00;33;08;16 - 00;33;28;06
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
He says, because you are a natural leader. And he's like, and you know how to delegate. And he's like, you need to use that. So I really want to get you to consider getting your master's degree. And so he was the one that even encouraged me. And then he was like, and another thing, we're opening up an office in the Bahamas, and we have a new secretary that's new.
00;33;28;06 - 00;33;48;20
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
And I want you to train her and show her how you're running. My office. So I was like, I was able to travel to do that. But again, bringing up the fact that, you know, I didn't even realize my potential either until he pointed it out. And so me trying to be that person for my students, like someone was for me.
00;33;48;22 - 00;34;13;10
Coach Dora Mendez
That's a great story. And I love that, paying it forward. And with that, that's a great way to wrap up our segment. I feel like, Dr. Huertas I could speak to you forever. We could talk forever about so many things personal and professional. But, we have to wrap up, so I would. I want to leave it to you.
00;34;13;10 - 00;34;20;27
Coach Dora Mendez
What would you. How can people learn more about you, support your work, and connect with you?
00;34;21;00 - 00;34;32;27
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
Yeah. It should be in the bio comments, but LinkedIn is the best way. The same way you and I found each other during LinkedIn is the best way for anyone to reach out to me.
00;34;32;29 - 00;34;45;18
Coach Dora Mendez
And when's that book coming, doctor? When you gotta get that book out because you have so much to share with the world. And, when's that book coming?
00;34;45;21 - 00;35;04;02
Dr. Lori Marie Huertas
So I actually am currently writing a book called Careers in Psychology that'll be piloted next fall. And then I have another book proposal that I just sent out to a publisher. And so stay tuned. I don't have the date, but stay tuned.
00;35;04;05 - 00;35;32;20
Coach Dora Mendez
All right? I just want to make sure we get that that out there so people can look out for your work, because I think people will find a lot of inspiration, motivation and value in what you have to share. So thank you for being on our show. We are so honored that you, spend time. We know how valuable your time is with us and across time zones, because you're on the West Coast and we are on the east coast here in New York.
00;35;32;22 - 00;35;52;26
Coach Dora Mendez
So thank you so much. I want to thank our I want to let our listeners and viewers know, that, we we appreciate them. We hope they found value in our show. Don't forget to like, share and subscribe and docked with us. Hold on a moment as we roll our closing credits.
00;35;52;28 - 00;36;22;09
Coach Dora Mendez
You've been listening to Building Leadership Community. Watch on YouTube @CoachDoraM. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts, follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube @CoachDoraM. Visit me on the web at CoachDoraMendez.com. Hosted by me, Dora Mendez. Produced by Dora Mendez and Dylan Rogers. Graphics, editing, and sound mixing by Dylan Rogers.
