Adriana Mendes-Sheldon Selected for 2025 Latino & Hispanic Leadership Award

Mendes-Sheldon brings a unique and deeply valued perspective as a Latina leader, bridging cultural understanding with equity-driven advocacy and community engagement. Her commitment to grassroots organizations is evident through a community investment program directing resources to nonprofits working to co-create community-led solutions with those with lived experience of hunger. Mendes-Sheldon also leads a statewide community of practice that brings together food security leaders and individuals with lived experience, fostering mutual learning, resource sharing, and authentic collaboration.  Her participation at national conferences and her efforts to include diverse voices in Project Bread’s strategies to permanently solve hunger demonstrate her commitment to systemic change. Mendes-Sheldon’s work not only addresses immediate needs but also builds long-term resilience. In doing so, she continues to inspire and uplift others in the fight against food insecurity, and she is a role model for emerging Latino and Hispanic leaders.

In reflecting on this award, Mendes-Sheldon shares her unconventional path to where she is today — as a Brazilian immigrant with an engineering degree, management consulting background, a career break to raise her three children, and now years of work engaging people and organizations to make their communities a better place.

“Success is rarely a straight path — especially for immigrants. We often walk into rooms where our competence may be questioned before we even speak, where our accents speak louder than our words, and where our resumes are read with an extra layer of scrutiny. I thought I had already overcome those hurdles. After stepping away from the workforce for ten years to raise my children, I learned that sometimes, you have to prove yourself all over again.

Before my career break, I was a global management consultant, advising top executives, shaping strategies, and traveling the world. But when I decided to return, my impressive resume didn’t come with a “Welcome Back” sign. There was no structured plan, no roadmap, and in my case, no mentor guiding me through the transition.

So, I did what I have always done: I showed up. Not in boardrooms, but in my community. I volunteered, offered my skills, and gave my talents freely. I approached every task — big or small — as if it were a million-dollar project. Because for me, excellence isn’t about a title — it’s about how you show up.

Then, one day, when I wasn’t even looking, a job found me. The effort I put in, the way I brought people and ideas together, the impact made, none of it went unnoticed. The role was a big shift from my past positions, focusing on impact, not job title. But I took it on with a full commitment. Little by little, new doors opened and opportunities unfolded, leading me to where I am today.

Looking back, I realize I reinvented myself many times during those years. Dormant talents came back to life. My re-entry wasn’t structured, but it happened. Not because someone showed me the way, but because when you show up with humility and persistence, a path builds itself.

This journey has taught me that we don’t need to wait for the perfect position or plan to start doing something! I didn’t have a roadmap, but I had integrity, resilience, and a belief that meaningful relationships create impact. Immigrants often have to prove ourselves beyond the norm, but I know that authenticity and a commitment to excellence can break down barriers.

To anyone facing a career gap, starting over, or feeling underestimated: Just start. Show up! Add value! Success isn’t defined by where you begin or the detours you take. And if anyone doubts you? Smile and get to work!”

So, I did what I have always done: I showed up. Not in boardrooms, but in my community. I volunteered, offered my skills, and gave my talents freely. I approached every task — big or small — as if it were a million-dollar project. Because for me, excellence isn’t about a title — it’s about how you show up.

Mendes-Sheldon joins 27 other Latino & Hispanic Leadership Award recipients nationwide, leaders who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement, a commitment to mentorship and community engagement, and a dedication to fostering leadership excellence in their organizations and industries. The 2025 honorees represent a broad range of sectors, from law and finance to education and healthcare, reflecting the diverse contributions of Latino & 

Hispanic leaders in today’s business landscape. Mendes-Sheldon’s accomplishments are now featured in the Q1 2025 issue of Profiles in Leadership Journal®, available online.

"We are proud to recognize these exceptional leaders and the organizations that support and empower them," said James Rector, Founder and Publisher of Profiles in Leadership Journal®. "Their leadership, expertise, and impact exemplify the value of diverse perspectives in driving success and innovation."

Since 1999, Profiles in Leadership Journal®, previously Profiles in Diversity Journal®, has recognized outstanding leaders who drive positive change in their organizations and communities. Through its Latino Leadership Award, Women Worth Watching® awards, and other leadership recognition programs, the Journal highlights individuals who are making a meaningful impact in today’s workforce.