The Courage to Choose You with Maria Elena De Guevara (Part 1)

My friend and former colleague, Maria Elena De Guevara, is someone I’ve admired for years. She’s a brilliant HR leader whose career spans higher ed, government, and county leadership but what makes her unforgettable is how she’s navigated those spaces with courage, heart, and honesty.

In this episode, Maria shares how she learned to walk away from environments that demanded everything and gave little back. We talk about what it means to reclaim your power, protect your peace, and decide that choosing yourself isn’t selfish it’s survival.

This is a conversation for anyone who’s ever felt the weight of toxic leadership, questioned when it’s time to move on, or wondered if it’s possible to lead without losing yourself in the process.

Part 1 is about the decision to leave the turning point that reshaped Maria’s relationship with work and herself.

Listen in and take what you need.

🎧 Available now on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

• Leadership isn’t just titles: it’s how you reclaim your power in spaces not built for you.

• Healing is part of leadership: walking away, reflecting, and returning stronger is as valuable as any strategy.

• Legacy lives in people: the impact you leave behind is measured in lives touched, not job descriptions.

• Courage is a practice: choosing yourself, your values, and your joy is leadership in action.

About Us

Maria Elena De Guevara is a retired Director of Human Resources with over 40 years of leadership experience across city, county, manufacturing, and higher education. As Principal Consultant of HR Works!, she has guided organizations and individuals in building stronger systems and healthier workplaces.

🔗 Connect with Maria on LinkedIn

Dr. Debra Griffith is an executive coach, consultant, and the voice behind the Do Better with Debra podcast. With a career rooted in education and equity-centered leadership, she now supports women of color leaders and executives navigating professional transitions and leading transformative change.

🌐 Learn more at Do Better Executive Coaching 🔗 Connect with Debra on LinkedIn