Elevate

Estela Hernandez is a visionary strategist, dynamic leader, and transformational coach who has dedicated her career to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve meaningful change. With over two decades of experience in public health, executive leadership, organizational management, and political advocacy, Estela is committed to helping leaders not just succeed but thrive—guiding them to design and build lives and careers that drive impact and inspire significance.

As the CEO and Principal Leadership Coach at Elevar, Estela partners with established leaders—executive directors, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and politicians—who are ready to redefine leadership and create a life of purpose. At Elevar, she delivers personalized coaching, immersive workshops, and strategic guidance that empower clients to align their ambitions with their values, cultivate better work-life integration, and lead with confidence and clarity. With her signature blend of insight, strategy, and heart, Estela inspires leaders to move the needle, embrace their authentic autonomy, and make a lasting impact in their fields.

Estela’s leadership extends far beyond Elevar. As President and Executive Director of Arrowhead Innovation Fund, she championed high-tech startups by building an extensive network of collaborative partners and securing substantial private and federal investments. Her efforts fostered a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing expertise and funding to support the growth of these entrepreneurs and their ventures. In the political arena, she has leveraged her expertise as Executive Director of Emerge New Mexico, a Registered Lobbyist, a Constituency Organizing Director for a congressional campaign, and Chair of the Democratic Party of Doña Ana County, consistently achieving outcomes through strategic action and relationship-building.

A passionate advocate for mentorship and community empowerment, Estela advises boards, leads workshops, and fosters initiatives designed to elevate emerging leaders. Her influence has earned her recognition in outlets such as Hispanic Executive Magazine. She is also a Kauffman Fellow, the former Co-Chair of the Kauffman Fellows Women’s Special Interest Group, an alumna of Emerge New Mexico, a member of the Democratic Party of New Mexico State Rules Committee, and Former President of Friends of the Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks.

Estela holds a Bachelor of Community Health from New Mexico State University, a Masters of Business Administration in Design Strategy from California College of the Arts – San Francisco, and is a Certified Jungian Coach. This diverse educational background informs her approach, combining strategic insight with deep psychological understanding to empower leaders to align their actions with their core values.

Estela empowers leaders to lead with impact through focus, alignment, and purpose. She believes that transformative leadership begins with the courage to look within and the discipline to act. By helping leaders clarify their vision, embrace their authenticity, and align their goals with what truly matters, Estela equips them to create meaningful change in their organizations, communities, and lives.

Whether guiding leaders at career crossroads, preparing them for high-stakes roles, or fostering greater impact within their teams, Estela’s work meets individuals where they are and accelerates their growth. By blending strategy, insight, and heart, she creates pathways for leaders to step fully into their purpose, achieve alignment, and thrive as catalysts for transformation.