Congratulations to our Outstanding Alumni Award Winner

Teresa Hernandez is a business leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist with more than two decades of experience in leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and performance management.

Her career began in retail sales, where she rose through the ranks to become a store manager, then a store director. But from her very earliest days, she was driven to be an entrepreneur. “I knew that I wanted to go further and pursue my degree in business,” she says. “That was always a passion of mine, to be a business owner someday.”

Teresa enrolled at Strayer University, completing her bachelor’s degree and then continuing to her master’s. “I think before Strayer, I had that ‘manager’ mentality,” she says. But her education helped her gain a broader perspective. “Now, there’s a big difference,” she says. “I’m able to lead a solid team of people.”

Today Hernandez leads field sales training and development for over 100 employees at 18 retail locations for a worldwide beauty brand. “It’s just really about getting [employees] ready for their next position,” she says. “That’s the rewarding part—making sure people reach their fullest potential.”

Hernandez realized her own entrepreneurial dream several years ago by launching a makeup line. She also recently published her first book, a step-by-step guide to building a new business.

Giving back is important to her, too. “I teach girls in underserved communities about entrepreneurship and how to create opportunities for themselves,” she says. Her charitable activities have brought international recognition, including a U.S. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, a Woman of Substance Award in Dubai, and an Uprising Women Platform Award in Ghana.

Although she has accomplished many of her goals, Hernandez isn’t resting on her laurels—especially when it comes to helping others. “I want to be able to impact at least a million girls around the world from different backgrounds and nationalities,” she says.

By Ava Richardson
Ava Richardson Program Specialist