Michelle Juarez- Perry | Leadership, Homeownership and Building a Legacy

Michelle Juarez- Perry | Leadership, Homeownership and Building a Legacy

Sep 17, 2026 | Business, Women and Leadership

HL INSIGHTS

Michelle Juarez- Perry | Leadership, Homeownership and Building a Legacy

A Hispanic Heritage Month Story

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

or NHORA National President Michelle Perry, leadership, homeownership and community are personal. As a first-generation homeowner and longtime real estate professional, she understands how owning a home can change the trajectory of a family.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we often celebrate the accomplishments of individuals who are making an impact in their professions and communities. Sometimes, the more interesting story is understanding what motivates them to lead. For Michelle Perry, that story begins with home.

Perry is the 2026 National President of the National Hispanic Organization of Real Estate Associates (NHORA) and a full-time Realtor who has worked in Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County and San Benito County for more than 26 years.

Long before becoming a leader of a national real estate organization, however, Perry experienced something that continues to influence how she views her profession and community service.

She became a first-generation homeowner.

“I know what that trajectory is in life, and I know how it’s changed my family,” Perry told HL Media Network during NHORA’s 2026 National Conference in San Jose.

She became a homeowner before entering the real estate profession.

“So it’s something big for me,” she said. “I know what it means.”

Watch our conversation with NHORA National President Michelle Perry 

Discovering NHORA

Our introduction to NHORA went beyond attending its national conference.

The day before the conference, HL Media Network was invited to join NHORA leaders for a chapter retreat at Hayes Mansion in San Jose.

It provided an opportunity to observe the organization from the inside — chapter leaders gathering to discuss leadership, communication, professional development and the direction of the organization.

One word came up repeatedly: family.

The following day, as real estate professionals, lenders, affiliates and industry leaders arrived for the national conference, it became easier to understand what they meant.

There was an obvious professional purpose to the gathering. But there was also familiarity among the members and a sense that relationships between chapters mattered.

For those unfamiliar with NHORA, as we were before spending time with the organization, its work extends beyond professional networking.

The organization promotes sustainable homeownership while developing leadership within the real estate industry and encouraging its members to serve as trusted advisors within Hispanic communities. Its work also includes financial literacy, consumer education and community involvement.

Perry became involved with NHORA approximately six years ago.

“I knew what they were doing in the community,” she said.

That connection between profession and community appealed to her.

“This organization gives back to the community,” Perry explained. “In every aspect, not just in real estate, not just in education, but actually giving to people that are in need.”

Leadership Starts With Communication

When Perry became National President earlier this year, one of her priorities was strengthening NHORA from within.

Her focus has been on the chapters and, particularly, developing the professionalism and leadership skills of the people running them.

“They’re the ones that are really serving the community,” she said.

For Perry, effective leadership starts with something basic.

Communication.

“The number one thing for me, when you talk about leadership, is communication,” she said. “It’s really important that we establish what our priorities are, and how we communicate them.”

That meant investing in leadership training and making sure chapter leaders understood not only the organization’s priorities, but where NHORA wanted to go next.

The result, Perry believes, has brought the organization closer together.

“We know what our purpose is. We know what the vision is, and we know what the next step is, because we are being strategic about how we move forward.”

More Than a Real Estate Transaction

Perry’s perspective on homeownership is particularly relevant to the work NHORA is doing.

Real estate professionals spend their careers around transactions.

Buyers. Sellers. Financing. Properties. Contracts.

But Perry remembers the experience from the other side of the table.

She remembers becoming a homeowner before she became a Realtor.

That distinction matters.

For a first-generation homeowner, purchasing a house can represent something much larger than acquiring property. It can change how a family thinks about stability, opportunity and its financial future.

Perry lived that experience herself.

Today, she wants NHORA professionals to help others understand the homebuying process and the possibilities that can come with it.

She also sees the organization’s responsibility extending beyond homeownership education.

Perry talks about building wealth and leaving a legacy.

That means creating relationships with people and organizations capable of providing knowledge and resources within the communities NHORA serves.

It also means showing up in other ways.

Perry points to activities such as backpack drives, scholarships, nonprofit support and educational programs as examples of how local chapters can become part of their communities.

The objective is for NHORA members to become people their communities know and trust whether someone is trying to understand the homebuying process or simply looking for information and resources.

Building a Legacy

That brings Perry to what comes next.

She envisions NHORA continuing to expand into additional communities and states while maintaining the local relationships that have helped define the organization.

“We want it to expand into communities where they know that we are the trusted advisor,” she said.

Partnerships will be an important part of that expansion.

This year, NHORA introduced what Perry describes as its Legacy Partnership, creating deeper relationships with organizations supporting its mission. NHORA’s current national partnership structure includes Legacy, Impact, Community and Supporting Partner levels, with its Legacy Partners positioned for long-term participation in the organization.

But when Perry discusses those relationships, she doesn’t speak about them simply as sponsors.

“They’re part of our family now,” she said.

It reflects the same theme we heard during the leadership retreat the previous day.

For Perry, growth is ultimately about collaboration.

“That’s how we move forward,” she said. “It’s with collaboration, partnerships, and building futures for more than just ourselves, for giving back to our communities.”

A Story Worth Continuing

Our conversation with Michelle Perry was one of several we captured during our time with NHORA in San Jose.

We arrived wanting to learn more about an organization that was relatively new to us. We left with a better understanding of its leadership, its chapters and the people working within real estate and financial services to address homeownership and economic opportunity in their communities.

There are more of those stories to share.

For Hispanic Heritage Month, however, Michelle Perry provides a fitting place to begin.

She is a real estate professional who remembers what it felt like to become a first-generation homeowner.

A national president who believes leadership begins with communication.

And a Latina leader whose definition of success extends beyond what she can build for herself to what she and others can help build for the people who come next.

That is where leadership becomes legacy.

Learn more about the National Hispanic Organization of Real Estate Associates at NHORA.org.

EDITOR NOTES 

HL Media Network was invited to attend the 2026 NHORA National Conference in San Jose, California, including a leadership retreat held the day before the conference. It was our first opportunity to spend meaningful time with the organization, its national leadership and representatives from several of its chapters.

What began as an introduction quickly became an opportunity to listen, learn and document. During our time in San Jose, we conducted several interviews exploring leadership, homeownership, financial education, community service and the work being done by professionals serving their communities.

Our conversation with NHORA National President Michelle Perry is the first of several stories we look forward to sharing from that experience.

 

Beyond Success: What Comes Next?

Beyond Success: What Comes Next?

Aug 28, 2026 | Culture and Influence, Women and Leadership

HL | Culture and Influence

Beyond Success: What Comes Next?

Dr. Betty® Uribe’s ELEVATE program brings accomplished women together to examine leadership, purpose and what comes after professional success.

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

n a Saturday at Pepperdine University, eight women stood before an audience to share presentations representing the culmination of months of work as participants in Dr. Betty® Uribe’s ELEVATE program. Their subjects were as varied as their professional and personal experiences. There were conversations about leadership and artificial intelligence, reflections on childhood and family, and candid stories about navigating personal challenges, loss and change. One participant spoke about overcoming ADHD and the challenges associated with preparing and delivering presentations.

There was no single definition of leadership offered that afternoon. Instead, each woman approached the subject through the experiences that had shaped her, providing a glimpse into not only what she had learned through the program, but also what she had learned about herself.

HL Media Network was invited to document the final presentations and graduation ceremony. As we recorded the participants and listened to their stories, another part of the experience became increasingly interesting. These were not women at the beginning of their professional journeys searching for their first opportunity. They were educated and accomplished women business owners, managers and professionals who had already assumed significant responsibilities within their respective careers.

Yet each had made an intentional decision to invest months of her time, along with the financial commitment required to participate in an executive development program, to become a better communicator and leader.

That decision may say as much about leadership as anything presented from the stage.

ELEVATE participants and program leaders gathered at Pepperdine University in Malibu to celebrate the completion of the program. Pictured: Stephanie Paul, Maggie O’Sullivan, Diana Jundi, Teresa Razo, Dr. Betty® Uribe, Carolyn Ebersole, Lina Safa, Marisa Sato, Maryl Petreccia, Carolina Chavez and Dawn Robinson.

Creating the Conditions to ELEVATE

For Dr. Betty® Uribe, the program grew from a question she says she has spent much of her life studying: What causes human beings to transcend and how do we create the conditions for that to happen?

Throughout her career working with accomplished leaders and organizations, Uribe says she repeatedly observed that sustainable success begins with alignment understanding who you are, what you value and what you uniquely bring to the world, and then allowing those principles to become the foundation from which you lead.

“I developed ELEVATE to give accomplished leaders space to step away from external demands and examine their lives and leadership more deeply,” Uribe explained.

The program was designed to address a broad range of areas affecting modern leadership, including values, identity, strengths, trust, relationships, negotiation, executive presence, communication, storytelling, branding, technology and artificial intelligence, strategy and legacy. Importantly, Uribe says the objective is to move beyond simply acquiring knowledge and toward putting that knowledge into practice.

“My hope was that each leader would leave with greater clarity about who they are, what they uniquely bring to the world, and how they want to use their influence in this next season of life.”

That idea the next season was particularly relevant as we listened to the women present.

The Investment in Yourself

Success has an interesting way of changing the questions we ask ourselves. Early in a career, the goals can appear relatively straightforward: find an opportunity, develop experience, earn a promotion, build a business or establish yourself professionally. Eventually, however, many accomplished professionals reach a point where the next move is less obvious.

The skills that helped someone become a successful manager may not necessarily be the same skills required to become an executive vice president. Building a successful business does not automatically prepare its founder to lead a significantly larger organization. Professional knowledge and experience can open doors, but increased responsibility brings new expectations surrounding communication, negotiation, decision-making, strategic thinking and leadership.

Throughout the ELEVATE presentations, we heard a great deal about what the participants had experienced and what they had discovered about themselves. There were moments of vulnerability and stories of perseverance. Some reflected on difficult personal chapters, including divorce, the death of loved ones and periods when life’s circumstances required them to regain their focus.

Their stories were reminders that professional development rarely occurs independently of everything else happening in someone’s life. Leadership is shaped by all of it.

Uribe describes one of the most significant outcomes of the inaugural ELEVATE cohort as “clarity accompanied by agency.”

“These leaders entered ELEVATE already accomplished,” she said. “Through the experience, they became more intentional about how they wanted to lead, make decisions, communicate, negotiate, build relationships, and invest their time.”

Their reflection papers and final presentations, according to Uribe, demonstrated greater clarity surrounding values and identity, stronger executive presence and communication, increased confidence in negotiation and decision-making, and a greater ability to recognize both patterns that needed to be released and opportunities worth pursuing.

That last point deserves attention.

Confidence at this stage of a professional career isn’t simply the ability to deliver a presentation or speak comfortably before an audience. At increasingly higher levels of leadership, confidence can mean trusting your judgment when the consequences of a decision become larger. It can mean expressing an opinion in a room filled with accomplished people, pursuing an executive position before someone else tells you that you are ready, expanding a business beyond its comfortable boundaries or recognizing that years of experience have earned you a place at the table.

The women participating in ELEVATE had already demonstrated that they possessed many of the tools necessary to succeed. Their professional accomplishments were evidence of that. Their participation suggested something equally important: successful people can recognize that there are still tools they need to acquire. 

From Success to Stewardship

Something else happened as the cohort progressed. Uribe saw the participants begin thinking beyond their individual success.
She points to the trust developed among the women as an important part of the experience. That community created an environment for vulnerability, accountability, encouragement and learning that extended beyond the formal curriculum.

More significantly, she said their thinking began shifting toward stewardship and legacy.

“What have I been entrusted with? Who can benefit from what I know? What do I want my leadership to produce beyond my own success?”

For Uribe, that is the point where personal transformation has the potential to become something larger.

“That is where transformation becomes multiplication.”

It also presents an interesting evolution in the way we think about professional success. At some point, the question may no longer simply be how much someone can accomplish personally. The question becomes what their experience, knowledge, relationships and influence can create for other people.

Dawn E. Robinson, MBA, served as Master of Ceremonies for the ELEVATE graduation ceremony at Pepperdine University in Malibu.

Graduation Is a Milestone, Not an Ending

As the presentations concluded and the women were recognized for completing the program, I found myself thinking less about graduation and more about what happens afterward.

It turns out Dr. Betty® was thinking about the same thing.

“The inaugural cohort taught us something important: ELEVATE cannot end at graduation,” she said.

Uribe is now developing ELEVATE as what she describes as an ecosystem—a continuum intended to support leaders through discovery, executive development, application, accountability, integration and eventually legacy.

The journey begins with Discovery Foundations™, where participants examine their values, strengths, identity, purpose and areas requiring greater alignment. Leaders can then move into the Executive Leadership Master Certification™, an intensive experience incorporating values-centered leadership, negotiation, executive presence, storytelling and branding, trust and belonging, strategic thinking, ethical AI and real-world application.

Graduates can continue their development through the Impact Circle™, designed around ongoing reflection, accountability, peer learning and leadership development. Uribe is also building Integration & Expansion™, which will include immersive global experiences intended to deepen the work by removing participants from the pressures and routines of everyday life.

Over time, selected graduates may also return as Fellows, faculty collaborators, mentors or understudies, allowing the lessons and methodology to move from one generation of participants to another.

This begins to redefine what graduation represents.

Instead of being the conclusion of an educational experience, graduation becomes one marker along a much longer leadership journey.

What Comes Next?

That idea also raises a broader question about women and leadership.

For decades, HL has had the opportunity to meet, interview and recognize accomplished women across numerous industries and at virtually every stage of their careers. Many no longer need someone to convince them that they are capable. Their résumés demonstrate their abilities. They have built companies, managed employees, led organizations, raised families, survived difficult circumstances and established themselves professionally.

For this group of women, the conversation may need to evolve beyond simply encouraging them to succeed. The more interesting question is what they need to reach the next level.

For one woman, that may mean stronger executive communication skills. For another, it could be financial education, understanding artificial intelligence, developing strategic relationships, learning how to negotiate at a higher level or preparing to serve on a corporate board. A successful entrepreneur may need to understand capital and scaling. An experienced corporate executive may need greater visibility and relationships outside her organization before she can realistically compete for a CEO position.

There isn’t one missing skill because there isn’t one definition of what comes next.

Perhaps that is one of the most valuable lessons from spending an afternoon listening to the ELEVATE participants. Professional development doesn’t end when someone becomes successful. In many respects, success simply creates another set of questions.

Dr. Betty® sees an even longer horizon for the program. While the graduation HL documented predominantly featured women, ELEVATE itself is not exclusively a women’s leadership program. The founding cohort included one male participant who joined from Croatia, and Uribe says the next cohort, planned for this fall, will bring together a more balanced representation of accomplished women and men.

“It was an extraordinary honor to lead this founding cohort of remarkable leaders,” Uribe said. “There was something very special about watching this group challenge themselves, support one another, and ultimately discover that ELEVATE is about far more than professional success—it is about who we become, the impact we are called to make, and the legacy we are leaving behind for a time we will never see.”

As she looks toward the next cohort, Uribe believes bringing together a broader range of perspectives, experiences and leadership styles will add another dimension to the experience. Her larger vision is for ELEVATE to eventually become a global community of values-centered leaders who understand leadership as stewardship. Success, she believes, should ultimately be measured by what happens beyond the classroom: the organizations participants strengthen, the people they develop, the families and communities they influence, the decisions they make when nobody is watching and the opportunities they create for those who follow.

“That is what I believe ELEVATE can become: transformation that multiplies from one leader to another, to an organization, to a community and ultimately across generations.”

At HL, we have always been interested in asking people a deceptively simple question: What’s next?

For these eight women, we now have another reason to ask it.

They invested in themselves. They challenged themselves. They completed ELEVATE. Their graduation at Pepperdine University marked an accomplishment worth celebrating, but both the experience we witnessed and Dr. Betty® Uribe’s vision for the program suggest that graduation isn’t where this story ends.

It may be where the more interesting story begins.

Now we look forward to discovering what they do next.

Exclusive photos taken at the ELEVATE graduation ceremony at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Photos by HL Media Network.

2026 Elevate Executive Certification Program | Pepperdine University

EDITOR NOTES 

HL Media Network was invited to document the ELEVATE final presentations and graduation at Pepperdine University in Malibu. What began as an opportunity to capture an important milestone became an opportunity to listen to accomplished women sharing their experiences, challenges and ambitions for what comes next.

Their stories reinforce our belief that leadership development does not end with professional success. We look forward to following their journeys and continuing the conversation about the skills, relationships and opportunities that help accomplished women reach their next level.

MORE STORIES

Milestone | Judith Valles

Milestone | Judith Valles

Jul 7, 2026 | Culture and Influence, Milestone

HL | Milestone Series

Milestone | Judith Valles

For generations, Mayor Judith Valles represented the very best in public service. As an educator, trailblazer, and the first Hispanic elected Mayor of the City of San Bernardino, she dedicated her life to expanding opportunities for others while inspiring future leaders through her example.

Article/Commentary by
Richard Sandoval

Mayor Judith Valles
1933–2026
Educator • Mayor • Mentor • Trailblazer

er influence extended well beyond City Hall. She believed in education, invested in people, and demonstrated that leadership is rooted in character, service, and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of others.

Those who knew her admired her accomplishments.

Those who met her remembered her presence.

A Leader Who Left an Impression

My first introduction to Judith Valles came long before Hispanic Lifestyle existed.

A newly made friend, Raven Workman Lopez, encouraged me to attend a political fundraiser for Esther Estrada, who was running for office in the City of San Bernardino.

She offered one simple piece of advice:

“Look for Mary Figueroa. She’s good people and she’ll take care of you.”

She was right.

That evening became one of the pivotal moments in my career.

Around that table I met people like Mary Figueroa, who would later become President of the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees, and Andres Soto, then President of the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. More importantly, I found myself surrounded by people who believed community leadership wasn’t simply a title—it was a responsibility.

Among them was Judith Valles.

At the time, she was already an accomplished educator and academic leader.

What I remember most wasn’t her title.

It was her presence.

She possessed a quiet confidence.

She spoke with clarity and purpose.

She carried herself with grace, dignity, and professionalism.

She didn’t need to command the room.

The room naturally listened.

Breaking Barriers

Born in 1933 in San Bernardino, California, to Mexican immigrant parents, Judith Valles believed deeply in the transformative power of education.

Her career began in the classroom before advancing into educational leadership, eventually becoming President of Golden West College, where she made history as the first Latina to lead a California community college.

In 1998, she again broke new ground when she was elected the first Hispanic Mayor of the City of San Bernardino.

Throughout two terms in office, she championed education, neighborhood revitalization, youth development, economic opportunity, and civic engagement.

Whether serving students or residents, she believed strong communities are built by investing in people.

Supporting a Vision

Years later, as Inland Empire Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine was beginning to take shape, I invited Judith to join an informal advisory board made up of community leaders whose judgment and experience I respected.

She graciously accepted.

When she was elected mayor, she stepped away from the advisory board to focus on serving the City of San Bernardino, but she remained supportive of our mission.

Looking back, I realize she was one of the earliest people who affirmed the vision behind Hispanic Lifestyle.

She helped me believe that the stories of community leaders deserved to be documented not because of who they were, but because of the difference they made.

She later became one of the earliest recipients of our Inland Empire Latina of Influence recognition and returned as a featured speaker during our inaugural Inland Empire Latina Conference.

 Judith Is My Homegirl

One story has stayed with me for decades.

During one of our advisory meetings, Judith mentioned that Stater Bros. Markets Chairman Jack H. Brown had Latino roots.

Some time later I had the opportunity to briefly meet Mr. Brown and shared what Judith had told me.

He smiled and simply replied:

“Judith is my homegirl.”
— Jack H. Brown, Chairman, Stater Bros. Markets

Those four words said everything.

They reflected the genuine respect and affection Judith Valles earned throughout her lifetime.

HL Archive

Mayor Judith Valles addresses attendees during HL’s inaugural Inland Empire Latina Conference in 1999. Long before HL became a statewide and national platform, she encouraged our mission to recognize, celebrate, and document leadership throughout our communities.

Her Legacy Lives On

Mayor Judith Valles passed away in 2026, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of education, public service, and community leadership.

But perhaps her greatest legacy cannot be measured by elections won or titles held.

It lives in the students she encouraged.

The neighborhoods she served.

The leaders she mentored.

And in those of us who looked at her example and believed our communities deserved to have their stories preserved.

For me, Mayor Judith Valles was one of those people.

She helped shape the editorial philosophy that has guided Hispanic Lifestyle for more than three decades.

Mayor Judith Valles…

You were a role model to me.

Thank you for believing in our community.

Thank you for believing in our work.

And thank you for inspiring one young publisher to believe these stories were worth telling.

“Leadership is not defined only by the offices people hold, but by the lives they inspire.

That is how I will always remember Mayor Judith Valles.”

— Richard Sandoval, Founder & Publisher, HL

Milestone Timeline

1933
Born in San Bernardino, California.

Education
Began her career as an educator before serving in numerous academic leadership roles.

1988
Appointed President of Golden West College, becoming the first Latina to lead a California community college.

1998
Elected the first Hispanic Mayor of the City of San Bernardino.

1999
Featured speaker at HL’s inaugural Inland Empire Latina Conference and an early supporter of the vision behind Inland Empire Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine.

2000
Recognized as one of Inland Empire Hispanic Lifestyle’s earliest Latina of Influence honorees.

2002
Re-elected Mayor of the City of San Bernardino.

2003
Awarded Mexico’s prestigious Ohtli Medal for her contributions to education and public service.

2012
Published As My Mother Would Say: Como Decía Mi Mamá.

2026
Passed away, leaving an enduring legacy of leadership, education, and public service.

EDITORIAL NOTES 

Today, as HL begins a new chapter, this article also marks the beginning of HL | Milestone Legacy our commitment to preserving the stories of leaders whose lives have shaped our communities and inspired future generations.

Our responsibility is not to define our community.

It is to document its history, celebrate its achievements, and ensure that the lives of people like Mayor Judith Valles are remembered long after today’s headlines have faded.

Because today’s milestones become tomorrow’s history.

 Richard Sandoval, Founder & Publisher, HL

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Jazmin Diaz

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Jazmin Diaz

Jun 7, 2026 | Milestone

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Jazmin Diaz

Growth • Purpose • Impact

When Jazmin Diaz founded Flourish Learning & Development, she transformed a lifetime of personal resilience, professional achievement, and leadership experience into a mission dedicated to helping others grow with intention, confidence, and purpose.

As a first-generation Mexican-American, wife, mother of four, author, executive coach, and business leader, Jazmin’s journey reflects the power of perseverance, continuous learning, and a commitment to helping others recognize their potential. Through her work, she has inspired individuals to embrace growth, overcome limiting beliefs, and pursue meaningful success in both life and career.

Jazmin Diaz will be recognized during  our HL | Milestone Series – Silicon Valley event, taking place on June 17, 2026. This invitation-only reception brings together a curated audience of executives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders for an evening of connection, conversation, and recognition.

👉 Event details & RSVP: https://bit.ly/41B5Z3J

Throughout her career, Jazmin has demonstrated a unique ability to bridge leadership development, education, business, and community impact. Her professional journey spans more than two decades, beginning in public education where she dedicated herself to serving students and families before transitioning into the technology sector. Today, she serves as Chief of Staff for a leading cybersecurity company, helping executive leadership teams advance organizational strategy, transformation, employee engagement, and operational excellence.

Her passion for personal and professional growth extends beyond the workplace. Through Flourish Learning & Development, Jazmin provides coaching, workshops, keynote presentations, and leadership development programs designed to empower individuals to take ownership of their future and flourish in their own unique journey.

Milestone Moments

• Founder and CEO of Flourish Learning & Development, a leadership development company focused on personal and professional growth.

• Author of Ignite Your Growth: Perspectives and Tactics to Flourish in Life and Career and the Spanish-language companion Enciende tu Crecimiento.

• More than twenty years of leadership experience spanning public education, technology, organizational development, and executive leadership support.

• Serves as Chief of Staff for a leading cybersecurity company, partnering with executives on strategy, transformation, and organizational effectiveness.

• Board Member of the Center for Employment Training (CET), supporting workforce development, skills training, and economic opportunity.

• Mentor, speaker, and advocate dedicated to empowering students, emerging leaders, first-generation professionals, and members of the Hispanic community.

What distinguishes Jazmin’s leadership is her belief that growth is not reserved for a select few it is available to anyone willing to invest in themselves, embrace change, and pursue continuous improvement. Through her coaching, speaking, writing, and community engagement, she has helped countless individuals discover their strengths, build confidence, and create new possibilities for their future.

Her story serves as a reminder that leadership begins with personal growth and that the greatest impact often comes from helping others recognize what is possible within themselves.

As HL  celebrates leadership, influence, and legacy, we are proud to recognize Jazmin Diaz for her commitment to empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and helping others flourish in life and career.

The HL | Milestone Series is a national platform designed to celebrate leadership across business, community, education, and innovation.

The 2026 HL | Milestone Series is made possible through the support of Wells Fargo, the series’ funding partner, whose commitment to community engagement and financial empowerment helps bring these important conversations and recognitions to life.

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Gloria Mirazo Gregor

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Gloria Mirazo Gregor

Jun 5, 2026 | Milestone

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Gloria Mirazo Gregor

Leadership, Influence & Legacy

Throughout her career, Gloria Mirazo Gregor has helped families achieve one of life’s most important milestones homeownership. As a respected mortgage banking executive and community leader, her influence extends beyond lending, helping create pathways to financial stability, wealth-building, and opportunity for countless individuals and families.

Today, Gloria serves as a Mortgage Retail Senior Market Manager and Executive Director with Wells Fargo Home Lending, leading a team of more than 150 mortgage professionals across California, Washington, and Oregon. Her expanding leadership responsibilities reflect both her performance and the trust placed in her ability to guide high-performing teams across multiple markets.

Gloria Mirazo Gregor will be recognized during  our HL | Milestone Series – Silicon Valley event, taking place on June 17, 2026. This invitation-only reception brings together a curated audience of executives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders for an evening of connection, conversation, and recognition.

👉 Event details & RSVP: https://bit.ly/41B5Z3J

Known for her commitment to exceptional client service, Gloria has built a career focused on helping individuals and families navigate the homebuying journey while empowering the teams she leads. Her ability to combine operational excellence with a people-first leadership style has helped establish her organization as one of the nation’s top-performing mortgage teams.

Throughout her career, Gloria has received numerous top production awards and currently leads the number one mortgage team in the country, a distinction maintained for the past two years. She remains focused on improving customer experiences through stronger sales processes, innovative technology, and a commitment to building lifelong client relationships.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Gloria has remained deeply engaged in Hispanic and Latino community initiatives. Her service as President of the Latina Business Women’s Association reflects a longstanding commitment to mentorship, advocacy, and expanding opportunities for future generations of leaders.

Milestone Moments

• Mortgage Retail Senior Market Manager & Executive Director, Wells Fargo Home Lending

• Leads a team of more than 150 mortgage professionals

• Leadership responsibilities spanning California, Washington, and Oregon

• Leader of the nation’s #1 mortgage team for the past two years

• Recipient of numerous top production and leadership awards

• Former President, Latina Business Women’s Association

• Advocate for homeownership, financial literacy, and community engagement

• Bachelor’s Degree, University of California, Berkeley

• Master of Business Administration (MBA), Drexel University

• Proud immigrant from Mexico

Creating Opportunity Through Homeownership

For many families, homeownership represents more than purchasing a house—it represents stability, opportunity, and the ability to build a lasting legacy. Throughout her career, Gloria has remained committed to helping individuals and families navigate that journey with confidence.

Her own story reflects the power of perseverance and opportunity. As an immigrant who built a successful career through dedication, education, and hard work, Gloria understands the transformative impact that access to financial resources and homeownership can have on future generations.

That perspective has shaped her leadership approach. Whether mentoring team members, serving clients, or supporting community organizations, Gloria consistently focuses on creating opportunities that help others achieve their goals.

Her influence extends beyond production numbers and business results. Through her leadership, she has helped strengthen teams, expand access to homeownership, and inspire future leaders within both the financial services industry and the Hispanic community.

Today, Gloria continues to demonstrate how leadership, service, and a commitment to excellence can create meaningful impact across communities and generations.

Her career stands as a powerful example of how professional success and community engagement can work together to create lasting influence.

The HL | Milestone Series is a national platform designed to celebrate leadership across business, community, education, and innovation.

The 2026 HL | Milestone Series is made possible through the support of Wells Fargo, the series’ funding partner, whose commitment to community engagement and financial empowerment helps bring these important conversations and recognitions to life.