We’re in San Francisco: Daniela Fernandez

What is your current role? How would you describe the work that you do?  

So my role is the founder and CEO of Sustainable Ocean Alliance, a global organization that I founded during my freshman year at Georgetown University when I was 19. The mission of the organization is to empower people globally to build solutions for the ocean. Just to give a little bit more context, we have the world’s largest network of young ocean leaders. We have young people in 168 countries working on different ocean solutions. And we also support entrepreneurs who have for-profit, scalable startups and companies that are going to have a positive impact on the ocean. 

What was your Chicago Scholars experience like?  

I mean, the only words I can use to answer this question is life changing, and I mean that in every sense of word. I did not have any role models growing up or anyone to guide me through the college application process and I was the first in my family to go to college. I come from a single mother household, low-income background, so I didn’t have any guidance, any support at home, and all I knew was that I had to go to college because it would guarantee that I would have a better life, and I wanted to provide that for my mom and my the rest of my family that was back in Ecuador. So, I joined the Chicago Scholars Program. I was accepted. And the programming itself was fantastic, but for me, the life changing component of Chicago Scholars was truly the people that I met, the mentors that I’m still in touch with, and, more importantly, the people who ran Chicago Scholars. So the President at the time, Karen Foley, she was my guardian angel. She was incredibly supportive and always there for me. Meredith Kravitz, who also was working there, supported me through every step of the application process to college. I had a unique journey, because I had to take a year off before going to college, where I actually interned at Chicago Scholars. And I worked there. So, Chicago scholars was my first job, even before going to college. Last, but not least, I also had a fantastic relationship with the founder of Chicago Scholars, who not only became my mentor, but is also a father figure to me. That’s Tim Schwertfeger, who I still have regular check-in calls with. He hasn’t only been there for me since I was 16. I just turned 30, and he’s still in my life, he’s a very present person in my life, and has been there in every milestone of my life journey. So, I did gain a beautiful family out of Chicago Scholars, and that’s something that I will always be grateful for.

How did Chicago Scholars support you to be the person you are today?  

I mean, in literally every sense of the word, would not be here if it weren’t for Chicago Scholars. I haven’t really thought about what or where I would be if I hadn’t found Chicago Scholars, because that just takes me to a really dark place. I didn’t really have any options before Chicago Scholars. I didn’t know the path forward. Chicago Scholars shaped me professionally. I was given so many role models through the mentors, and my whole world opened up. I don’t think I had ever been to a downtown building before interviewing at Chicago Scholars and later joining. It opened up my eyes to the business world. Personally, I grew and I learned so much from working with them. When I was forced to take a year off after graduating from high school, I was shaped by those around me and I developed a very deep relationships with a lot of the people that made Chicago Scholars what it is. So I think my answer is, in every step of the way, Chicago Scholars has shaped my journey, my life, and who I am today. And I think the other component of it is just my deep desire to give back. I saw Chicago Scholars as a beautiful model that, in some ways, I am now replicating through the work at Sustainable Ocean Alliance, in that we also provide access to resources and mentorship to young people globally to help protect the ocean. So I think it was an inspiration in so many ways. 

What advice would you have given yourself just after being accepted into the program? What advice do you have for current Scholars?  

The advice I would give to myself is just to make the most out of every single moment and to continue building as many relationships as I can. And it’s actually a great segue to the advice I’d have for current Scholars. I would say that their focus, in addition to getting support programmatically, which is critical, they should absolutely take advantage of every single relationship available to them. The mentorship network is critical, going to the career fairs, taking advantage of internship opportunities. I mean, I think that I learned what the value of the network was by being a part of the Chicago Scholars Program. And I do believe that, out of any skill in the world, I would say networking and knowing how to build relationships is one that you can build through Chicago Scholars. And you should definitely take advantage of that, because there are people here who just want to help you, who want to see us be successful. Because I think that’s one piece that that will go a long way. 

What does being from Chicago mean to you now?  

I unfortunately have lost touch with Chicago if I’m being completely honest. I left Chicago when I went to school in DC, and then my mom, who lived in Chicago, moved to DC to follow my path. I don’t have any other family in Chicago other than my Chicago Scholars family. I am very fond of memories growing up in Chicago. I was born in Ecuador, but I did grow up in Chicago, so I have a really special place in my heart for Chicago, and I would do anything to give back to Chicago, to the city. I haven’t visited in a long time, but I’m happy to come back and do whatever I can support Chicago and, more importantly, Chicago Scholars.