About Sandy Alcala
Executive Director - Con Mi MADRE

Sandy Segura Alcala, Executive Director, is a former founding board member of Con Mi MADRE and Past President of The Junior League of Austin. As Community VP, she oversaw the Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program, the predecessor of Con Mi MADRE, and was a past Program Chair. She is on the Board of Leadership Austin and involved with Texas Exes, the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, and other community organizations. In both her League experience and other community work, Ms. Alcala has developed expertise in fundraising, organizational management, and relationship building. As Executive Director, she oversees all staff and is responsible for fundraising and cultivating relationships on behalf of the organization. She is conversant in Spanish and is a Hispanic female.

Which of your personal traits is most important in making you a good leader?
Leading from the bottom up! Servant Leadership is my strongest strength and is a direct result of all my volunteer experience. I am first driven to serve and fulfill a need, later I find myself leading others that I am working with for a common cause.
Was there a particular experience in your life that prepared you for leadership?
The majority of my leadership training came from my membership in The Junior League of Austin. It gave me a great understanding of the overall needs in our community and the impact our nonprofits and volunteers have in the Austin area. Many of my experiences in the League allowed me to grow and expand my skills, identify my strengths and gave me the confidence to lead.
What was the “aha” moment that got you started in your current career/line of work?
It was truly being in the right place at the right time. Over the years my volunteer work seemed to relate to issues around education, women and the Hispanic community. As a volunteer and as the founding Board's President for our organization, I helped establish Con Mi MADRE as an independent nonprofit. Due to an unexpected down turn in the economy, my role quickly changed into an executive role to help financially sustain the organization. I quickly realized that I was the person best positioned with our staff and donors to assume the role as the Executive Director. At that moment my work became my personal mission, not a job.
What is the most rewarding thing about working in public/social service?
What I find most rewarding is the fact that I am working to better the lives of others. Con Mi MADRE is my vehicle to help others every day. It is very rewarding to be part of a legacy that has served the Austin community for 20 years.
What is one thing you want to tell the Austin community about your organization?
I would like for the Austin community to know that Con Mi MADRE has served our Hispanic community for 20 years. With the demographic shift facing our city, state and nation it is vital that we improve the educational achievement levels among Latinos. We are successful because we have a holistic model that starts young, involves the parents and eliminates the language barrier by designing bilingual programming which is culturally relevant. We are developing Latinas that will lead us into the future with college educations and contributing to the state's bilingual workforce.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Carmel apples at Disneyworld on Main Street, they just taste so good there! Happiest place on earth!
What gadget can’t you live without?
My iPhone…it carries my world in it!
Do you want to “Keep Austin Weird”? If so, why?
Of course! Because if we didn’t Keep Austin Weird we would be excluding many of our best people, businesses and places to visit!
How long have you lived in Austin? What brought you here?
I am a TRUE Austinite! Born, raised and educated!
What’s your favorite Austin dining, entertainment, or outdoor experience?
UT Football and Tailgating…that covers all 3!