Ed Herrera

COO | Speaker & Advocate for Transformational Leadership, LGBTQ+ & Hispanic Visibility | Culture | Nonprofit & Startup Operations Expert | Crain's NY Honoree

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

If you’re the first in your family to reach a new income level, your paycheck may change before your financial knowledge catches up. get qualified help when you need it and make sure the extra income is improving your overall financial position.

#FinancialLiteracy #FirstGen

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Training tells people what they need to know. L&D should also ask what’s keeping them from doing their best work. Context, practice, confidence and feedback matter as much as knowledge. #LearningDevelopment #Leadership

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

You probably know what you pay each month for insurance. Do you know what you’d need to pay out of pocket before coverage kicks in? Check your deductibles, and check if your emergency fund still lines up with that number and your current expenses.

#MoneyTips #PersonalFinance

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

When I moved from retail into accounting, my first lesson was learned by sitting next to the billing clerk for a month.

Sometimes the best training is already inside your organization. You just have to create opportunities to share it.

#Leadership #WorkforceDevelopment

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Capacity problems start with repeated revisions and slower decisions, before deadlines are missed. The list of active assignments doesn't tell the whole story.. Leaders need to understand exactly what each commitment demands.

How do you spot capacity issues?

#COO #Leadership

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

When you’re the first in your family to reach financial stability, helping others can start to feel expected. Decide what you can afford before requests come in, and don’t use credit or retirement savings to give beyond your means. #MoneyTips #FirstGen

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Employee development should help people succeed in their current role and build skills for where they want to go next. Ask what they want to improve, then give them practical opportunities to present, lead or practice. #Leadership #WorkforceDevelopment

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Work can take every available hour if you let it. I’m trying to be more intentional about making time for my health, relationships and the people who need my full attention. That carries into leadership too. People can tell when you’re truly present.

#Leadership #WorkLife

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Just because an expense doesn’t appear every month doesn’t make it an emergency. Car repairs, annual fees and holiday spending are irregular, but expected. Plan for them separately. Review the past year and start setting aside what you can. #MoneyTips #PersonalFinance

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Our operations team stepped away from the daily work for our first biannual Stepback. We talked through working styles, defined what success should look like in two years and drafted a mission and vision together. We’ll keep making space for this work. #Leadership #Operations

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Your benefits are part of your compensation. Check what your employer offers, whether you need to enroll and whether you must contribute before the company does. Ask HR to explain anything you don’t understand.

You’ve earned access to these benefits.

#MoneyTips #FirstGen

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Workforce programs can help people get hired. Employers still need to ask what happens next. Did the employee stay, increase their wages and gain support to advance? Clear expectations, regular feedback and guidance help people build from the opportunity.

#Workforce #Leadership

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

REFORM's recent Father's Day luncheon celebrated fathers who are showing up for their children, rebuilding relationships and staying committed to their families. Progress deserves to be recognized, as it's just as meaningful as any specific milestone.

#Leadership #SecondChances

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Before you buy something, ask two questions.

1. Can I afford it?

2. Do I still want it after I've had a little time to think about it?

A small pause can lead to better financial decisions than any budgeting app.

#FinancialLiteracy #PersonalFinance

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

One piece of advice I often give first-generation professionals:

Find someone who's already walked the path you're hoping to take.

The right mentor won't have every answer, but they can help you avoid learning every lesson the hard way.

#FirstGen #Mentorship

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Moving from CFO to COO changed the questions I ask.

Financially sound is still important.

Now I ask: Can we actually execute this well?

Good ideas succeed when organizations have the people, capacity and commitment to carry them through.

#Leadership #Operations

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

When people think about savings, they often focus on a future purchase. I've always viewed savings as a tool that creates flexibility and peace of mind.

Financial security changes the choices you have when life doesn't go exactly as planned.

#FinancialLiteracy #PersonalFinance

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Which response would make you more likely to bring another idea forward?

"I don't see how that's going to work."

or

"Tell me more."

People are more willing to share ideas when they feel heard before they're evaluated.

#Leadership #Management

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

Some people learn about investing, credit, and salary negotiation early. Others learn through experience and mentors. A willingness to keep learning is what matters most.

You don’t need to be handed the playbook to master it.

#FinancialLiteracy #FirstGen

[Ed Herrera @herrera__ed]

About 40% of our team at REFORM Alliance is formerly incarcerated or justice-impacted.

Our training programs are designed to help people succeed in their current roles, and to create more opportunities for their future.

#WorkforceDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment