Raq Gonzalez

Mentorship Commitment Preference: Participate in short-term mentoring (connect only during scheduled LinkUp events). Available for online mentoring.

Industry: Independent 

Employer: Veracious Heart Consulting

Job Title: CEO and Founder

Areas Raq is interested in mentoring: 

• Resume Review
• Career Planning
• Networking Strategies
• Interview Preparation
• Skill Development
• Leadership Growth
• Time Management 
• Goal Setting and Motivation
• Graduate School Advice 

Bio: Raq Gonzalez (they/them) is an award-winning leadership development, civic engagement, and public administration expert, with an academic background that centers people, relationships, and ethics. As a first-generation college graduate from a low-income family, Raq chose a public sector career to advocate for next-generation leaders from underserved communities through training, mentorship, and inclusive policy making. Now, Raq has 20 years of experience directing strategy, culture, operations, and outreach – in government, political campaigns, and nonprofits. They are in demand presenter on a variety of professional development and public policy/administration topics, such as effective writing for government, navigating the executive branch, and campaign volunteer management. 

Describe how you got your first job: I started working when I was 15 (had to get a parent signature) teaching 4th graders how to swim. I made $5.15/hr working ~5 hrs per week. I also worked during high school at K-Mart, (I applied) and the local public library, where I was a member of the inaugural Teen Club and a regular spoken word poetry performer.

If you were starting your career today, what is the one piece of advice you would give yourself? Don't be afraid or ashamed of government support programs, especially if you come from a low-income family. 89% of low-income students don't graduate within six years, due to challenges such as needing to work to support their families, food and housing insecurity, and financial stress, which all negatively impact their academic performance and persistence. Life can be more difficult than it has to be if you let your pride get the best of you. Take advantage of unemployment insurance, SNAP benefits, and income-capped rent programs whenever you are eligible (likely during college and/or for a while after graduation). 

In what ways has your career path been unique or unconventional? I'm a first-generation college graduate from a low-income family in one of the poorest counties in New Jersey. I identify as Latine, gender-fluid, and pansexual. I have often been the youngest person in the room, the only Person of Color, the only member of the LGBTQ+ community, and/or only survivor of generational poverty in the room where major policy and funding decisions are made. I see it as my duty to advocate on for inclusive policies and systems that uplift marginalized and underserved populations - and I unabashedly I speak truth to power when necessary.

What career paths have you explored or transitioned between? Government (federal and state), political campaigns, progressive nonprofits, small-business owner.

What skills or experiences have been most valuable in your career? I've moved around a lot and am really comfortable with change and uncertainty. Many of my roles have had expiration dates, whether due to term limits, contracted end dates, or campaign cycle rhythms. I've also served as in-house consultant, moving around to different offices/agencies as my employer requested to launch new programs, support teams through leadership transitions, and build or improve processes and systems. I've gained a reputation for quickly diagnosing root causes of problems and transforming operations and culture. 

Raq is open to participating in informational interviews