2019 Latina of Influence Yudi Fernandez | Executive Vice President Schwartz Media Strategies
Hispanic Lifestyle is pleased to recognize Yudi Fernandez Executive Vice President Schwartz Media Strategies as a 2019 Latina of Influence. Ms. Fernandez along with our entire list of 2019 Latinas of Influence are invited to participate in Latina Conference 2019 taking place April 10 and 11, 2019 in Ontario, California.
Yudi Fernandez has been defying the odds her entire life. Her and her family were forced to leave their home country of Cuba due to the socio-political issues the country faced. She endured the treacherous sailing from Cuba to Miami at age 9 where she was subsequently enrolled in public school without speaking a word of English, she continued her journey by excelling in higher education through the completion of her bachelor’s degree in journalism at University of Florida and later a master’s in business administration at Nova Southeastern University.
Initially beginning her career as a real estate and business reporter in Miami, Yudi has since become a renowned figure in Public Relations through her career at Schwartz Media Strategies, where in under a decade she has climbed through the ranks to become Executive Vice President. Yudi has successfully built up her book of business to be valued in excess of $1 million. At Schwartz Media Strategies, considered one of South Florida’s top 10 PR firms, she leads public relation efforts for real estate, banking and construction services clients. Yudi is known for providing excellent client services and her keen attention to detail. Clients view her as a trusted advisor in times of crisis when the reputation of entire brands hang in the balance. She has spoken on panels and at conferences across the US, covering topics such in branding and social media for real estate companies. She has been honored by CREW Miami (Commercial Real Estate Women) and has served as an advisor for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s leadership training academy.
Currently, Yudi sits on the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Southeast and Caribbean Chapter’s Management Committee, in which she chairs the communications and marketing sub-committee. The organization is a leading advocate for responsible land use practices to build more sustainable communities. Her role is to help brand and promote the organization and its key initiatives. She also speaks at real estate and branding conferences locally and nationally.
A mentor by nature, Yudi is a graduate of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Miami institute and has served as a volunteer program facilitator ever since going through the program on her own. For three years, she was engaged in the Switchboard Miami’s Women’s Leadership Council, promoting awareness and raising funds for an organization that provides counseling, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention services. Each year, she organized Switchboard’s popular ‘bachelor auction,’ which raised tens of thousands of dollars for the nonprofit. For years, she has also served as a volunteer and supporter of Women of Tomorrow, a Miami-based mentoring and scholarship program for young women, of which she was a mentee herself when she studied at Coral Gables Senior High School in Miami. And on a regular basis, Yudi visits inner-city schools across Miami to talk about her career in communications, growing up as an immigrant in the US, and the importance of education.
At age 33, Yudi has not only excelled as a business professional but as an example for young women who want to excel in any given career path. She continues to out shine herself in the business world and as an example to every Hispanic woman, demonstrating how it is possible to achieve goals through hard work and perseverance.
Nomination submitted by Valeska Nuñez
