Owner & Chief Executive Advisor Dulce Sherman: An Inspiring Leader in Nebraska
By: Xitlally Velasco
Dulce Sherman is the owner and chief executive advisor of Sherman Executive Consulting, which provides expert human resources and operations solutions to nonprofits and businesses. She has more than 30 years of human resources leadership experience in both profit and non-profit sectors. Sherman is also the inaugural chief human resources and DEI officer for Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative.
Sherman is a first-generation Latina whose immigrant parents taught her the importance of being a Latina and helping all communities. As the daughter of a minister in central Nebraska, Sherman enjoys serving others and being active in her community. She has a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management and a master’s degree in Management from Bellevue University, and an Organizational Development Graduate-level certificate from the Fielding Graduate Institute. She is a graduate of the Lead Diversity program and the Nonprofit Executive Institute. Sherman is bilingual in English and Spanish. She is a past Women’s Center for Advancement Tribute to Women Honoree.
Sherman has dedicated her life to serving on several nonprofit boards. She currently serves as the President of the Latino Center of the Midlands, a board member for Girls, Inc. of Omaha, Millard Public Schools Foundation and the University of Nebraska-Omaha Internship Advisory Council. As a civic engagement leader, she is the former Latinx Caucus chair for the Nebraska State Democratic Party, currently the Vice Chair for the Douglas County Democrats, and Vice Chair for the State LatinX Caucus. In 2020 she was a coalition co-director for the National Biden Campaign, winning the CD2 blue dot. Dulce has presented at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Young Professional’s Summit, CODE Conference, was on the planning committee for the CODE conference and has been a speaker for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Diversity Conference and several other community panels.
We were lucky to chat with Sherman, knowing that she has a busy schedule. Here is what she had to share about her five faves…
1. My Family.
I will never forget who I am and that my parents were immigrants from Mexico. I am a first-born generation in the United States. This picture reminds me of my values, the strength of familia, and to always be a community servant as my parents were.
2. My Company.
I felt like a proud Cheshire cat sitting on my sister's office couch. Currently, my website is going through some minor updates. I love working with nonprofit leaders and navigating what they need help with so they can focus on growing their non-profit.
3. My Sisters.
“I embrace strong Latina women everywhere, and these two happen to be my sisters.”
- Dulce Sherman
My youngest sister Esther, the President and Creative Director of E Creative Inc., convinced me to start my human resources consulting business. She is savvy and comes with many years of experience. My other younger sister Mary Ann is a Spanish teacher and proud that she is teaching Spanish. I embrace strong Latina women everywhere, and these two happen to be my sisters.
4. The Importance of Family.
After losing our youngest son to suicide, I don't want to take any minute for granted with my family. I love them very much, and tomorrow is not promised. I want our young people and anyone else to know that there is always an opportunity to find an answer, to be heard, and to feel loved. We created a scholarship at Metropolitan Community College for students who may need funds for medication, food, doctor appointments, or majoring in social science, dentistry or automotive, which were my son’s interests. It is Jon-Jon's legacy to keep giving to others as he did when he was here.
5. Community & Relationships.
I love, love, love being with different groups of people, whether it is serving on a board, speaking to the public, leading a team or coaching a nonprofit chief executive officer. My biggest advice is, who are you surrounding yourself with? If it’s not people that are amplifying you, then find those who inspire you, who want the best for you and whose eyes light up when they see you. No jealousy allowed. When we speak about the Latino community, that means all Latinos and not where you presently live in Omaha or where you come from. We are one cultura: Latina and juntos. We are a growing and influential group of leaders. The picture above is from speaking at the Latino Commission conference about the changing demographics of Latinos in the workforce. The governor was present and provided great feedback, including that he enjoyed my presentation. I thank Yesenia Peck with the Nebraska Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for the many opportunities she has provided to showcase my speaking skills and business.
Xitlally Velasco is a University of Nebraska at Omaha journalism student with a concentration in public relations and advertising and a minor in Psychology. Velasco is the Digital Content Curator at Lozafina Marketing and Public Relations. Send your tips and story ideas to office@lozafina.com
