“I Chose UoPeople So I Could Keep Growing Without Putting My Career on Pause,” Says Sheila Diaz R., MBA Student

At 27, Sheila Diaz R. has already built a life that looks very different from the one she left behind. Originally from Cuba, Sheila came to the United States in 2022 as a political refugee, traveling alone through nearly six countries before arriving with approximately $500 and a determination to build a new future. Today she works as a Case Manager, runs her own business, and is earning a Master of Business Administration at University of the People.

Sheila grew up in a family that placed a high value on education. She comes from a long line of highly educated and hardworking people, including relatives with university, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Watching them study, work hard, and take their professional responsibilities seriously taught Sheila to view education as something worth pursuing throughout life.

Her decision to leave Cuba at a young age completely changed the direction of her life.

“Reaching the United States was only the first step. The years that followed required me to become financially independent, adapt to a new culture and professional environment, continue my education, and create stability without the foundation I had known before. The experience taught me to become resourceful and comfortable with uncertainty. I learned that I do not need to have every step figured out before taking the first one,” Sheila says.

Sheila works as a Case Manager at Prism Health North Texas, where she communicates with people from diverse backgrounds, coordinates resources, manages multiple priorities, and helps people navigate complex situations. At the same time, she owns and continues to develop Learn International Academy (LIA), a business focused on creating practical educational opportunities that help people develop English and other skills they can use in their careers and everyday lives.

Becoming a business owner has been another important learning experience for Sheila.

“Having an idea is one thing. Turning that idea into an organization requires you to think about finances, operations, customers, regulations, marketing, leadership, strategy, and a hundred other details that you may never have considered before,” she explains.

Her professional and entrepreneurial experiences also helped shape her decision to pursue an MBA at UoPeople. She wanted an educational model that would let her keep developing her career and business without putting either on hold.

“I have learned that there will probably never be a moment when life becomes completely free of responsibilities. Sometimes you have to create that time yourself,” Sheila says.

For Sheila, UoPeople provides the flexibility to do just that. Her MBA is helping her deepen her understanding of leadership, management, strategy, and operations while allowing her to apply what she learns to her own organization.

One of the aspects she values most is the connection between her studies and professional experience. Her work and business give her real-world situations to consider, while her MBA offers new frameworks for understanding the challenges she encounters.

“I enjoy when something I learn academically suddenly connects with something I have experienced professionally,” she says. “Those moments make education feel practical rather than theoretical.”

She sees her MBA as more than another academic credential. She wants to become a stronger leader and develop the knowledge needed to build her business sustainably.

Through LIA, Sheila hopes to create practical educational opportunities that help people develop English and other skills that can expand their professional opportunities. She also plans to continue growing professionally in healthcare and leadership, eventually combining her experience, business education, and entrepreneurial work to build organizations that create meaningful impact.

Balancing her career, business, and graduate studies requires intentional time management. Sheila does not claim to have a perfect formula. Instead, she has learned to prioritize what needs her attention and keep moving forward even when she does not have everything figured out.

“I have become comfortable learning while doing,” she says.

Outside of work and studies, Sheila enjoys traveling, discovering new places, spending time with family and friends, and working on new ideas and projects. She also makes an effort to enjoy the life she has worked hard to build rather than constantly focusing on the next accomplishment.

Being Cuban remains an important part of Sheila’s identity, but she does not want her story to be defined only by where she came from or the challenges she experienced.

“I want it to be defined by what I choose to do with the opportunities I have now,” she says.

Four years ago, Sheila arrived in the United States with no certainty about what her future would look like. Today, she has built a professional career, become a business owner, and is pursuing an MBA.

She still has much she hopes to accomplish—and for Sheila, that’s what makes the future exciting.