Maria G. Hernandez, PhD

I have consulted to public, private and nonprofit organizations for the past 20 years.  I founded MGH CONSULTING, LLC in 1999 and sold it in 2009 to Global Lead.  When they merged with their largest competitor to become Global Novations a year later, I resumed my independent consulting practice.   Some of the organizations that I have partnered with to consult on major change initiatives, talent optimization, training for inclusion include:

• InclusionINC- a national firm that shows corporations how Inclusion is a Business Strategy
• Prospero Leadership-- a consulting firm focused on Latino Leadership Development
• Williams Identity Network--an eChannel on the issues that shape human identity
• Solutions Strategies, Inc --a consultancy focused on the public policy 
• Leap Solutions Group, LLC --a boutique firm with a focus on strategic planning and change management
• KLR CONSULTING, LLC-- a firm with expertise in executive coaching, team development, and professional development

While I will always work on promoting the strategies and skills necessary for inclusion and respect for cultural differences, my career is opening a new chapter. In 2008 I began to study the social determinants of health and how much our workplace expereinces and the zipcode in which we live can influcence our health and quality of life.  The truth is that while half of our health can be attributed to physical and hereditary factors (genetics, age, and sex),  the other factors that contribute to health rest in our environment--the quality of our diet, our stress response, and the degree to which we experience some level of control over our daily life.  I am currently part of a team of researchers at UC Berkeley's Health Research for Action, social  entrepreneurs at Collective Health and policy analysts 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 with the Department of Housing and Urban Development 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 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.

More to follow...soon!