Stepping Up at Metro EDGE’s Emerge Summit Shaped My Path as a First-Gen MBA Alumna

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Naturally, a bookworm as a child, the idea of doing anything that required me to poke my nose out of the latest Magic Tree House book seemed unnecessary. The real world was a cruel, cold place and I would rather be anywhere else. However, true to the theme of my life, I was forced out of my book-built comfort zone.

My first memory of "standing out" was in third grade when I was the only Latina in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program.

However, what lingers isn’t the achievement but rather the angry mother who questioned why I was accepted while her daughter was not.

That experience taught me to go incognito and celebrate in silence when caught, pretending not to care too much under the guise of humbleness. Most importantly, you learn to stay out of the way if a louder, more prominent voice takes the stage.

This “keep your head down” mentality followed me through school and even into my decision to pursue graduate school.

The Intersection of Mental Health, Career and Motherhood

Microaggressions are tough to navigate, feeding into systemic barriers that are hard to acknowledge or even recognize. While that’s a conversation for another day, what’s clear is that sometimes we have to build our own table to get a seat. For me, that means carving out space by going a little rouge and embracing my new identity as a C-PTSD and mental health blogger.

Without the constraints of a 9-to-5, I’m rekindling my love for learning. This summer of change has me pondering life’s potential next seasons, like motherhood. Maybe it’s all the new bouncing babies in my social circles but I’m questioning how I can continue to grow now while preparing for potential changes later.

I’ve always been apprehensive about motherhood because it can change the opportunities available. My childhood was shaped by a married single mother, so I learned early that I’m all I have. Adding another stereotypical layer to my identity feels unsettling at times.

With 10% to 20% of pregnant women and new mothers experiencing a mental health disorder, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), that apprehension seems valid. The overlap between motherhood and mental health often gets swept under the rug, but when it comes to mental health, prevention is better than recovery.

Thriving in Vulnerability and Growth at Metro EDGE’s Emerge Summit

In a mix of curiosity, apprehension, and growth, I asked myself: How can I develop now while preparing for the future?

Enter Metro EDGE’s Emerge Summit, a collaborative effort of regional organizations committed to supporting young professionals and their growth in the Sacramento community.

The 11th annual Emerge Summit was held at the The Sofia Home of B Street. It was an all-day event with keynote speakers, breakout sessions at venues across midtown Sacramento, and tailored networking.

The UC Davis Graduate School of Management is proud to again be a lead sponsor as a long-time supporter of Metro EDGE. Several of the school’s faculty, alumni and MBA students led sessions that were selected by the EDGE organizing committee.

Lecturer Vanessa Errecarte, Professor Steven Garcia, and I hosted breakout sessions throughout the day.

This is my third year presenting at the annual event. I was a keynote speaker in 2022, then hosted a breakout session tackling workplace challenges for women of color with fellow Sacramento MBA students Esther Muriithi and Jocelyn Guzman in 2023. This year, I moderated the panel, “Slaying Stereotypes: Motherhood, Mental Health, and Mentoring."

Third time's the charm might apply in other situations, but it doesn’t make it easier to step up and out. I may seem cool, calm, and collected but sometimes, I can’t hear your reassurances over my heartbeat.

As a first-generation student, I had tons of questions and no idea where to start. When the Graduate School of Management offered me a ticket to Emerge Summit during my first year in the Sacramento Part-Time MBA program, I never expected it would lead to me being the keynote speaker in 2022.

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I hadn’t presented to large groups in years, so my skills were rusty. The summit’s #ChallengeAccepted theme hit close to home, making it both necessary and difficult to speak on. Vulnerability was key, and it turned out to be exactly what others needed to hear too.

That experience stuck with me, so I raised my hand again the next year, leading a panel on workplace challenges for women of color. I didn’t think my topic would be accepted, let alone fill a room—but I was wrong about both.

It turns out our community wanted to learn and grow together, showing me the value of speaking up, taking up space, and being authentic. It also highlighted the hunger of marginalized communities, which needed to learn from each other to thrive, not just survive.

My experiences at Metro EDGE’s Emerge Summit have taught me that raising your hand is the first step. The second was following through and confronting fears, self-doubt, and panic.

As a recent UC Davis Graduate School of Management alumna, I’ve learned a lot about myself, and I’m committed to being transparent and, hopefully, inspirational. In the right community, you become unstoppable with a shared wealth of knowledge, heart, and experience.

In choosing to submit my conference proposal on moderating a panel about motherhood, mental health and mentoring, I hope to learn more for myself and create space for women with experiences that can shape a healthier generation of mothers.

My advice is to be curious about who you can become. It’s not just about what you need to do but who you can grow into.

Mother, professional, leader—or all three—embrace the questions. You’ll be grateful later for being an active advocate in your own journey. And don’t forget, you don’t have to do it all alone.
 

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Leticia Garay shares her journey of mental health recovery, self-love, and authenticity, inspiring women to embrace their struggles and rediscover vibrant living on her personal blog, Leticia Living in Color.

Leticia Living in Color