Maria G. Hernandez, PhD

I have consulted to public, private and nonprofit organizations for the past 20 years.  Depending on the project requirements, I will partner with one of several entities to work with you or your team. Some of the firms that I partner with are listed below along with the key work I have completed with each:

• InclusionINC- an international firm that shows corporations how to make inclusion a core business strategy that promotes engagement, innovation and market optimization
  • ERG Leadership Development
  • Training for Diversity and Inclusion
  • Strategic Planning for Diversity and Inclusion

• Leap Solutions Group, LLC --a boutique business firm based in Northern California with a focus on strategic planning and change management for family owned businesses, hospitals and public agencies
  • Community Assessments
  • Nonprofit governance and board development
  • Human resource planning

• ExploraInternational, LLC--a Silicon Valley firm with a focus on strategic advising to non-US based entrepreneurs who want to enter the US market or prepare for market optimization.  This firm has asked me to support presentation regarding:
  • Understanding the US Business Culture
  • Translating the Silicon Valley Culture to Other Cities
  • Family Owned Business Entrepreneurship

In addition to these organizations, I have started a new chapter in my career which reflects a return to my original study of public policy, health, and community mental health.  This new body of work looks at how best to inform and educate corporate human resource and benefits managers about the impact of social determinants of health.   In  essence these are the "up stream health factors" such as our workplace and neighborhood conditions, that can influcence health outcomes.  The truth is that while half of our health can be attributed to physical and hereditary factors (genetics, age, and gender),  the other factors that contribute to health rest in our environment--the quality of our diet, the air quality, and the degree to which we experience some level of control over our daily life.  Remarkable research has emerged that suggest the healthiest individuals are those that can control their daily routine! 

I am currently part of a team of researchers and policy analysts at Health Research for Action, based at the University of California at Berkeley's School of Public Health and social entrepreneurs at Collective Health  looking at the potential of creating a social impact bond that would address these social determinants of health.  We have received an initial grant from the California Endowment and have started exploring what community we might partner with to explore the potential of social impact investing. This work is deeply tied to the nation's health care challenges and the reality that while more access to health care is important for all--unfortunately it will not change the rate of individuals who continue to get chronic illnesses.  There is much more to be done to address the causes of diabetes, heart disease, asthma--the big three illnesses that contribute the most to our health care costs. 

If you think I can contribute to your project, team or panel presentation, please call my assistant at 510.550.7179 and leave a message or you can complete the contact form available on this page.  I will personally respond to your message.--All the Best, Maria