Esmeralda Adame Ed.D. | 2024 Latina of Influence
Hispanic Lifestyle is honored to recognize International Motivational Speaker certified speaker, trainer, and coach Esmeralda Adame Ed.D. as a Latina of Influence. Dr. Adame will be recognized for her leadership in our community during Hispanic Lifestyle’s Connecting Latinas of Influence | Texas to be held on August 27, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Esmeralda Adame, a first-generation student, has several degrees including a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Masters in Business Administration, and a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.
Dr. Adame is the founder and CEO at Consulting Firm, LLC where she supports organizations by assessing and improving company’s culture, business processes, and efficiency. When it comes to leadership, she’s the “Leadership Doctor”. Services provided include: trainings, conferences, operations management advice, strategic planning, leadership workshops, one-on-one coaching, mentoring and more. Dr. Adame is bilingual and provides services both in English and Spanish. She has trained and equipped educational entities, retail, banks, parents, construction companies and young adults, and more.
Dr. Adame is an International Motivational Speaker and is a John Maxwell certified speaker, trainer, and coach. Her industry experience is in design, working for an Engineering and an Architectural firm and possesses construction experience which add up to over 12 years. She also possesses 19 years of teaching experience from South Texas College, including face to face, hybrid, lab and online courses. Her teaching realm includes: Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Welding, Organizational Leadership, and Technology Management. Dr. Adame has served the college at various leadership roles including Associate Professor, Program Chair, and Assistant Dean. She has been part of many committees, taskforces, leadership teams and grant writing efforts for the National Science Foundation and the Texas Workforce Commission.
Dr. Adame’s research and one of her passions is persistence in STEM, exposing the diversity of career opportunities and the importance of soft skills, networking and giving back. She has founded and led various recruiting and marketing efforts including some with focus in increasing females in non-traditional careers. She also serves in various local, state and national boards and organizations; some include: First RGV, RGV LEAD, Hidalgo and Mission School District Advisory Committee, RGV Hispanic Chamber, Hispanic Women Network of Texas (HWNT), and PSJA advisory committee just to name a few. Dr. Adame is also an active member of other organizations such as the Mission Chamber of Commerce, and the Persistence in Adversity Mentoring Circle which she founded.
Dr. Adame was instrumental in the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) accreditation for South Texas College and was the first female in Texas and in the United States, and still is, to earn her NIMS Level I certification. She has lead initiatives that have earned over $98,000 in student scholarships. She has founded and led many efforts such as the Wonder Women in the Making and community events such as the #SpreadtheWarmthRGV blanket drive for the past three years where over 6,000 blankets have been collected and distributed throughout the valley. Throughout her career she has presented, mentored, and impacted over 70,400 individuals.
Dr. Adame’s passion to give back is evident and is seen in the vast number of committees, student initiatives and civic service events she has led, founded and participated in. Her heart is in the community and in those looking to improve, grow professionally and in every aspect of their lives. She knows her purpose it to mentor, guide and lead others to advance and to be an example for others to find their purpose. She mentors and volunteers her time in all age groups and at diverse capacities as a mother, professor, engineer, Sunday school teacher, entrepreneur, and others. Her desire to be a role model led her to another achievement.
Dr. Adame is the founder and host of the Persistence in Adversity Podcast. In the Podcast she shares people’s stories of challenges and adversities and how regardless of roadblocks people persist to reach their goals. Her hunger to bless others doesn’t have a limit. She recently founded the Persistence in Adversity Foundation, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to support the community through various initiatives. Dr. Adame’s drive to spread the warmth is apparent and she wants to support those in need, spread hope to those facing adversities and provide aid to those willing to persist while reaching their purpose!
Dr. Adame has been the recipient of various awards and recognitions such as Faculty of the Year at South Texas College, National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Teaching Award, National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) fellow, 2022 Woman of Distinction by the RGV Hispanic Chamber, Woman of Distinction by the Texas Association of Mexican American Chamber of Commerce (TAMACC) and others. She has presented and been the keynote speaker at numerous local, state and national level events and conferences such as the National Community College Hispanic Council Leadership Symposium. In addition, she has been a guest on the Mujer Resiliente, Lead Up for Women Podcasts, and Latinos Who Thrive Podcast.
Obstacles and challenges have come being a woman in her field and community but she has overcome them. Growing up with seven brothers and being the youngest of 12 she has developed a though skin. Most of her jobs have been 95% men so she had to keep proving herself time and time again. And the times where she was not invited to the table, she had to go out and create her own table. Being a Hispanic woman, many biases and hurdles had to be conquered. Thriving in a men’s world has not been easy however with ganas, persistence, and a positive mindset anything can be accomplished. And of course, one of her favorite verses: I can do all things through God who strengthens me, Philippians 4:13.
Dr. Adame wears many hats but one of her favorites and the most challenging one is being a mother. She is the proud mother of 3 children for which she wants to be an example for. On her spare time, she loves to spend time with them, with her family, gardening, exercise, and watch movies. She knows that every day is a blessing and tries to make the most of each day and strives to bless and help others along the way. She shares that all her blessings come from above and is thankful that God has found favor in her and because of Him she has been privileged to accomplished what she has. Some of her mottos are ganas and persistence will get you anywhere, let your work speak for you, and keep going #REGARDLESS! An advice she shares is, keep God in the center of all you do and He will take care of the rest!
Dr. Adame has been working with young adults for over 20 years and has been giving back to the community for more than that. She has been a role model for many young adults especially young ladies who look up to her for advice and encouragement. Dr. Adame has crossed many obstacles, as a young girl been a victim of abuse, sleeping on the floor for about 8 years and having to build her career, profession, business and everything she has from nothing. Having no mentors or role models of her own, now she wants to set the example and be that person she needed when she was young for the future generations.
