Vanessa M. Perez advances career access for underserved learners

Vanessa M. Perez, MBA, CPRW, is using her work in research, higher education, marketing and nonprofit leadership to expand workforce development and educational equity for adults, first-generation students and other underserved groups. Her profile highlights how lived experience, faith and purpose are shaping her efforts to improve career readiness and economic mobility. Why it matters: - Vanessa M. Perez’s work targets a real gap in workforce development: many learners finish school without the skills, experience or support needed to move into stable jobs. - Her focus on adult learners, first-generation students, veterans and justice-impacted people addresses groups that often face the steepest barriers to education and employment. - Her nonprofit and professional work aim to improve career readiness, which can shape long-term income, stability and mobility. What happened: - Influential Women featured Vanessa M. Perez, MBA, CPRW, as a doctoral scholar, corporate marketing analyst, workforce development researcher and nonprofit founder. - Perez is based in Pueblo, Colorado. - Perez grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, was raised by a single mother who did not finish high school, and became a teenage mother at 16. - Perez says those experiences shaped her commitment to breaking generational cycles through education and service. - Perez earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Colorado State University Pueblo. - Perez earned an MBA from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. - Perez is completing a Doctor of Education in Applied Educational Sciences at the University of Miami. - Perez’s doctoral research centers on workforce development, adult learning and career outcomes for nontraditional learners. The details: - Perez works as a Corporate Marketing Analyst, where she supports strategic marketing through research, analytics and data-informed decision-making. - Perez previously worked in higher education career services and built career readiness programs for students and alumni. - Perez says she worked directly with hundreds of people navigating career transitions. - As a Certified Professional Résumé Writer, Perez has led workshops on résumé writing, interviewing, networking, LinkedIn optimization and professional branding. - Perez founded VMP Career Pathways, a nonprofit focused on career readiness, mentorship and workforce development for at-risk youth and women rebuilding their lives after domestic violence. - Perez’s nonprofit work seeks to expand access to education, career resources and sustainable employment pathways. - Perez identifies faith, integrity, perseverance and service as the values guiding her leadership. - Perez has been married for 18 years and is the mother of two children and grandmother to a young granddaughter. Between the lines: - Perez’s story blends personal experience with professional specialization, which gives her message credibility with the audiences she serves. - Her emphasis on purpose over titles suggests a leadership style centered on mission and measurable impact rather than status. - Her critique of the gap between academic preparation and employer expectations reflects a broader workforce problem, especially for students who need practical support to land jobs. - Her focus on partnerships between schools and employers points to a systems-level fix, not just individual coaching. What’s next: - Perez says stronger collaboration between educational institutions and employers can create more flexible and inclusive pathways into work. - Her research and nonprofit work are expected to keep centering support for nontraditional learners and women facing major life barriers. - The full profile offers more information about Perez’s background and work. The bottom line: - Vanessa M. Perez is building a career around one idea: talent should not be limited by circumstance.