At an early age, Irene Valdes Wochinger learned what it meant to stand up for one’s beliefs.

“I vividly remember attending a march to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8th, 1989,” says Valdes Wochinger. “I was about 5 years old, and the energy and solidarity left a lasting impression on me.”

She was raised in a home in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that pulsed with the spirit of advocacy. Her mother was a women’s rights lawyer and co-founded the nonprofit organization Taller Salud, dedicated to improving women’s access to healthcare, reducing violence, and increasing access to education. Her father, a union organizer for the Department of Labor and an artist, pushed for better benefits for his colleagues.

“I recall watching my father lead discussions and organize workers in our living room, showcasing his dedication and passion for workers’ rights,” she says.

With her family’s emphasis on activism and the pursuit of education, Valdes Wochinger became acutely aware of social inequities and was inspired to work to improve the lives of others. So perhaps it is unsurprising that she has landed as chief of staff and director of strategy, planning and management for one of the most impactful philanthropic organizations in the world, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Like many in her field, Valdes Wochinger’s role is not without its challenges. “We often face scrutiny regarding our motives and transparency, so building and maintaining trust is a constant effort. We also must navigate diverse political and cultural contexts carefully, as well as combating misinformation.”

Looking back on the trajectory of her career, she can see how serendipitous her journey has been. “If you had asked me when I started my undergrad if I would have ended up here, I would have said, absolutely not.”

When deciding to pursue a college education, Valdes Wochinger, curious to explore the world beyond Puerto Rico and learn about other cultures and the depth of human connections, chose to pursue anthropology. She found that studying anthropology provided insight into the root causes of major problems much of the world was facing and revealed pathways to create solutions and meaningful change.

She earned a master’s degree in anthropology at UAlbany and planned on obtaining her PhD. Plans changed, however, when Valdes Wochinger received a Fulbright Scholarship to research social inequities impacting the health of women in Mexico. This experience proved to be pivotal and led her to an epiphany: “For me, being a professor might not be enough to create change.”

Realizing that she didn’t want to simply gather data, Valdes Wochinger looked to combine data with policies and operations to create transformative change. After returning from Mexico, she decided to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector, which has led her through Latin America, parts of Africa, and ultimately to living and working in Seattle for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“It is so critical to have someone to uplift and elevate you,” she says, crediting her parents and UAlbany professors Larry Schell and Elise Andaya for offering empathy, encouragement and support. She tries to pay it forward by mentoring others and cites a quote from Michelle Obama as inspiration: “‘Once the door of opportunity opens up for you, keep that door open for others.’”

Studying anthropology, Valdes Wochinger says, made her more empathetic in both her professional and personal life, allowing her to see problems from the point of view of those experiencing them. “Where change really elevates to potential is when it becomes generational and systematic,” she says. “If we want to create a system of long-lasting educational opportunities, we need to actively contribute to that and create a cycle to sustain it.”

Creating a better world has always been at the forefront of Valdes Wochinger’s life. Although she lost both her parents, she believes they would be proud of her contributions and accomplishments. “I continue to be that little girl who realized the world was not fair for everyone and now I am the one doing something about it.”