Yulkendy's Story

Hi! ¡Hola! My name is Yulkendy Darlene Valdez Valdez Ortiz Hermoso. I am unapologetically a patchwork of cultures - Afro-Latina with Caribbean roots in the Dominican Republic, Midwesterner at heart from St. Louis, Missouri, and now a proud Northeastern currently based out of Jersey City.

Since graduating from college in 2017, I have committed to engaging in meaningful projects that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across the private and public sectors. I center transparency, humility, and vulnerability in my approach to working with collaborators and clients.

I am a Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur, BostInno 50 on Fire, Latino 30 Under 30 by El Mundo, Latinx Hispanic Exceptional Leader by theboardiQ, and a top Millennial Leader by Get Konnected. Media outlets including NPR, USA Today, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Vice Impact, Boston Globe have featured me since I was 14 participating in the National Spelling Bee after speaking English for only two years.

I have traveled to 40+ countries for work and for fun. You can find me hiking, biking, or checking out the new coffee/restaurant or cocktail bar in town.