We were lucky to catch up with Marcela Aldaz-Matos recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marcela, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?

Creating a truly inclusive workplace is more than a policy – it’s a fundamental shift in how we see and value people. For me, it starts with centering equity and lived experience. At Arka HR, we don’t just consult on inclusion; we build it from the inside out, recognizing that our team’s diverse backgrounds are our strength. We partner with organizations to build people-first systems, understanding that sustainable growth naturally follows when we prioritize every employee’s well-being and potential.  

My own journey has profoundly shaped my perspective. Arriving in the U.S. as an immigrant, unable to speak the language, was a trial by fire. In those early days, navigating a world where I felt like an outsider, I learned the deep importance of belonging. That experience fuels my passion to ensure that no one feels unseen or unheard in the workplace.  

I also believe in leading with authenticity, excellence, and service. Trust is the bedrock of inclusion, and it’s earned through consistent integrity and a genuine commitment to impact. I’ve always prioritized listening deeply and connecting meaningfully with others. It’s about seeing beyond the surface and valuing each person’s unique story.  

Another pivotal moment that transformed my understanding of inclusion was facing a double mastectomy. It forced me to pause, to reconnect with myself as a whole person – a woman, a mother, not just a professional. This experience taught me the importance of creating workplaces that honor our shared humanity, recognizing that we all bring our whole selves to work.  

Ultimately, building inclusive workplaces is about creating space for others to rise. It’s about breaking down barriers, amplifying voices, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. It’s not just good for business; it’s about building a more just and equitable world.”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Marcela Aldaz, Co-Founder and CEO of Arka HR Solutions, the only Latina-owned and
Latina-led HR firm in the Northeast. My work sits at the intersection of strategy, inclusion, and
transformation. We partner with organizations to build people-first systems that fuel sustainable
growth, helping them lead with intention while embracing the full potential of their workforce.
But my story begins in a very different place.

In 1998, I survived a catastrophic car accident in Colombia that changed the course of my life. I
decided to start a new life. From learning a new language and earning my MBA, to
rising through the ranks of corporate America, I built my career one step at a time—with
humility, tenacity, and an unwavering belief in what’s possible.

As the inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at MassGeneral Brigham,
Massachusetts’s largest private employer with 80,000 employees, and an affiliate of Harvard
Medical School. and as former National Chairwoman of ALPFA, the country’s leading Latino
professional association with over 100 thousand members and 120 chapters across the U.S., I led
systems-level change, ensuring historical transformations, strengthening governance, and digital
presence, and business transformation efforts.

Arka HR was born from that same mission: to reimagine the workplace as a space where
everyone can thrive. What sets us apart isn’t just our expertise—it’s our lived experience. We
don’t talk about equity from the outside looking in; we build it from the inside out.

What I’m most proud of is not just the career I’ve built, but the lives and communities I’ve
helped uplift along the way. My work is about more than business. It’s about legacy. It’s about
creating space for others to rise, just as I once did.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I’ve built my reputation by doing more than showing up—I show up with purpose, presence, and
precision. I believe trust is earned over time through consistency, integrity, and impact. Whether
advising Fortune 500 executives or mentoring emerging leaders, I approach every relationship
with the same core values: authenticity, excellence, and service.

I’ve never subscribed to the idea of transactional leadership. I listen deeply. I connect
meaningfully. And I deliver results that not only solve problems but expand possibilities.
During my leadership at ALPFA, we not only weathered a global pandemic, but we also modernized,
scaled, and redefined what Latino leadership could look like on a national stage.

Ultimately, reputation is not built in big moments alone—it’s built in the everyday choices to
lead with vision, to lift others as you climb, and to honor your word in all circumstances.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The most powerful lesson I’ve had to unlearn is that my worth is not defined by my output.
Like many immigrant women, I internalized the belief that I had to constantly prove myself—
That success required sacrifice, that rest was indulgent, and that value came only through
relentless effort. For years, I poured myself into work, wearing resilience as armor.

Then life humbled me again—this time through a double mastectomy. It forced me to stop. To
listen. To reconnect with myself not as a professional or a provider, but as a woman, a mother, a
human being. It was during that vulnerable season that I learned my most valuable leadership
lesson: true power lies not in doing more, but in being more—more aligned, more present, more
whole.

Now, I lead from a place of clarity. I set boundaries without guilt. I measure success not just by
revenue or accolades, but by peace, impact, and legacy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://diversitymbamagazine.com/recognitions/diversity-mba-media-2021-top-100-under-50-marcela-aldaz-matos/
• Instagram: https://diversitymbamagazine.com/recognitions/marcela-aldaz-matos-mba-2018-top-100-under-50-emerging-leader/
• Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/arkahr_/p/DH66kciTxpj/?img_index=1
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcela-aldaz-matos-mba/
• Twitter: https://blog.gsema.org/2015/10/12/hispanic-heritage-month-spotlight-marcela-aldaz-matos/
• Youtube: https://www.simmons.edu/news/meet-marcela-aldaz-matos-06-mba-trailblazer-business-talent-management-…
• Yelp: https://www.cambridgecollege.edu/certificates/diversity-equity-inclusion-belonging/advisory-council/…
• Soundcloud: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/association-of-latino-professionals-for-america-alpfa-appoi…
• Other: Can you share a story that illustrates your resilience?

  My entire life is a story of resilience, but if I had to choose one chapter, it would be the moment
  I landed in the U.S., completely alone, unable to speak the language, and filled with uncertainty.
  I remember standing in my first classroom, not understanding a single word, but refusing to let
  fear win.

  Resilience, for me, has never been about bouncing back—it’s been about rising differently every
  time. From that classroom to corporate boardrooms, from chemotherapy sessions to keynote
  stages, I’ve carried the same quiet fire: the belief that I was made for more, and that no
  circumstance could dim that truth.

  And now, with Arka HR, and with every client I serve, I carry that fire forward—not just for
  myself, but for every woman, every immigrant, every dreamer who’s ever wondered if they were
  enough. I’m here to say: you are. And your story is still being written.

Image Credits

Special Thanks to Arka HR, Inc.’s Team

Thank you CanvasRebel