We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shirley Ronquillo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shirley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Ronquillo Consulting Group, LLC was founded on the premise residents are experts of their lived experiences. This is especially true in underserved communities of color where residents understand the barriers and solutions to the problems in their community. My company offers 3 services: facilitation, interpretation, and community consulting. We offer culturally competent facilitation of health, leadership and language justice topics by local community health workers. We offer culturally competent interpretation by local residents who are trained to interpret in community settings. We offer community consulting by community organizers who offer local knowledge support for organizations or educational institutions who want to understand underserved communities to bring resources to community rather than extract information without giving back to the community.

This comes from community investing in me. I completed the Interpreting for Justice program sponsored by Avenue and facilitated by Tecolotl Collective in the Spring of 2022. I was invited to be a community interpreter a month after graduation. I was invited to facilitate the training to support residents becoming interpreters about 2 months after that. During this time, I was approached by Texas Appleseed to be part of a research project to create policy recommendations for buyouts based on participants’ lived experiences.

A few months later, I officially registered my company, recognizing the opportunity to help others leverage their skills to uplift their communities. By December 2023, I transitioned fully into self-employment, dedicating myself entirely to this mission.

Shirley, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Shirley Ronquillo, a proud first-generation Ecuadorian American born in Houston’s Near Northside and raised in East Aldine, an unincorporated area in Harris County. Growing up, I experienced firsthand the challenges faced by underserved communities. Taking the bus from East Aldine through Eastex Jensen to the Near Northside exposed me to the disparities in resources and opportunities, shaping my passion for advocacy. From a young age, I learned to speak up for my family and my neighborhoods—a skill that would become central to my work and mission.

With over 20 years of experience in the public sector, I’ve dedicated my career to helping residents take back their power. As a Texas Community Health Worker, I facilitate health-related workshops, bringing information and education to those in underserved communities. In 2022, I took a leap of faith by founding Ronquillo Consulting Group, LLC, a firm that bridges private-sector strategies with community development. Through facilitation, interpretation, and community consulting, my goal is to uplift residents, helping them develop marketable skills and access higher-paying opportunities while providing my clients culturally competent services.

One of my proudest achievements is receiving the $10,000 “Grow Your Chispa” grant from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, sponsored by AT&T. This funding has allowed me to support residents to become Texas Community Health Workers, equipping them to facilitate workshops in their own neighborhoods. This initiative embodies my mission: to create a ripple effect of empowerment, where communities take charge of their futures and thrive on their terms.

What sets Ronquillo Consulting Group apart is our deeply rooted understanding of the communities we serve. My lived experiences in historically underserved areas fuel my approach, ensuring that every service is both culturally relevant and impactful. Clients can trust us to deliver authentic, actionable solutions that prioritize the voices of the people we serve.

Through my work, I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that real change happens when we invest in people. At Ronquillo Consulting Group, we don’t just consult; we build bridges, nurture leadership, and create sustainable pathways for growth. Together, we can make a difference—one community at a time.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My journey has been one of resilience, reflection, and transformation. For over two decades, I dedicated myself to the public sector, working tirelessly to support and uplift the communities I care about. However, my path took an unexpected turn when I was laid off. The sudden shift forced me to reevaluate my purpose and direction. Transitioning to the private sector, I encountered a new set of challenges. Asking hard questions about equity, policies, and diversity—conversations that had been embraced in the community space—suddenly became uncomfortable for others. It was a stark contrast to the environment where I was celebrated for speaking up and empowering others to do the same.

This experience illuminated something powerful for me: I thrive in spaces where people value community, embrace differences, and strive to create equitable opportunities for all. I realized I wanted to be surrounded by individuals and organizations who share that commitment.

Through this journey, I founded Ronquillo Consulting Group, LLC, where I combine my lived experiences and professional expertise to support underserved communities. In this work, I break down barriers by ensuring people are seen, heard, and valued. Whether as an interpreter, a facilitator of culturally competent conversations, or a community consultant, I bring an authentic understanding of the struggles residents face.

My work is about more than just services—it’s about creating spaces where equity isn’t just a buzzword, but a lived reality. It’s about helping residents amplify their voices, celebrate their culture, and access opportunities that were once out of reach.

The pivot in my career taught me that challenges can be transformative. It showed me the power of standing firm in my values and aligning my work with my purpose. Today, I’m proud to lead a business that not only serves communities but uplifts them, celebrating their resilience, diversity, and potential.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

For years, my hard work and dedication were rooted in helping others. I poured my time and energy into supporting communities, advocating for equity, and empowering individuals to find their voices. But as I navigated my career, I came to a pivotal realization: while I was deeply committed to others, I wasn’t giving that same effort and care to myself.

Working in the private sector, I encountered barriers to professional advancement. My tendency to ask hard questions about equity, encourage employees to speak up, and challenge the status quo made people uncomfortable. It became clear that my voice and values weren’t aligned with the environment I was in. Rather than stay in a space where growth was stifled, I made the decision to work for myself—a choice that felt both empowering and necessary.

This shift wasn’t easy. For so long, my focus had been on lifting others up, often at the expense of my own aspirations. But as I reflected on my values and my work ethic, I realized something important: I’ve always worked hard for others, and I’m capable of working just as hard for myself.

Now, as the founder of Ronquillo Consulting Group, LLC, I’ve embraced the opportunity to channel my passion for community into building something meaningful on my own terms. This transition has been liberating, allowing me to align my work with my values and prioritize my own growth while continuing to empower others.

This journey has taught me an invaluable lesson: the energy we give to others is powerful, but we must also invest in ourselves. When we do, we create the freedom to thrive, the space to grow, and the ability to lead in ways that stay true to who we are.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ronquillocg.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556674538520
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ronquillo-consulting-group