We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wilma Herrera a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Wilma , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Undoubtedly, my work ethic is a legacy from my family, particularly my grandmother and father, and growing up in Germany, where hard work is just part of daily life. My grandmother, a resilient mother of five, faced the challenges of WWII when her husband was captured and gone for an extended period. Despite enduring heartbreaking loss when he was tragically killed by a drunk driver later on in life, she never ceased working, standing tall in the face of immense difficulty.
My father, orphaned at 14, defied the odds by building a successful business entirely on his own. Without seeking help from others, he created a foundation that not only sustained him but also provided for our entire family. He never really complained about the demanding work or the long hours. Their unwavering perseverance inspires me daily.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
In the dog rescue world, having a full-time job is the norm. Most folks in rescue, most people running a small nonprofit, don’t draw a salary from their efforts – it’s a genuine labor of love.
For over 20 years, I’ve been knee-deep in dog rescue. Started as a foster, moved up to vice president, took on board roles, and eventually founded my own rescue – the US Dog Coalition and Rescue. Juggling this with a full-time job is a daily reality. Clear boundaries are a must; otherwise, I spend many lunch hours making rescue phone calls, and rescue work often spills into late-night hours
As chaotic as it sounds, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I find joy in my job as a Marketing and Communications Specialist for a company near Lexington, NC. The occasional travel for conferences adds a refreshing twist to the routine and helps advance my professional education. It’s a hectic but fulfilling dual life that I’ve grown to appreciate.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Resilience, Networking and an Animal Welfare Knowledge and Heart.
Learn continuously, stay curious and seek mentorship from experienced individuals. Passion with boundaries, while passion fuels rescue work, set clear boundaries to prevent burnout, understand your capacity and learn to delegate tasks when needed. Resilience, networking, and a solid grasp of animal welfare principles have been instrumental in my journey
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
If I knew I had only a decade left, I wouldn’t make sweeping changes to my life, but I’d consider adding a 501(c)(4) to my endeavors. This would enable me to engage in lobbying efforts, specifically focusing on impacting animal welfare at the legislative level.
In particular, I’d channel my efforts towards addressing the concerning situation in North Carolina, where we currently rank second in the nation for shelter animal euthanasia. We’re not moving in the right direction. I’d advocate for lawmakers to reevaluate the existing conditions, emphasizing the alarming reality that breeders in the state are allowed to engage in questionable practices with little oversight.
North Carolina has become a place where dogs are treated as disposable, a trend that urgently needs to be reversed. By pushing for essential measures such as dog ownership licenses, spaying and neutering policies, and providing more financial resources to small rural shelters and counties, we can create a more humane and responsible approach to pet ownership. This would be my way of leaving a lasting impact on a cause I deeply care about during my final years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://usdogcoalition.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usdogcoalition/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usdogcoalition
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-dog-coalition-and-rescue
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/USDogCoalition
Image Credits
Roseyshell Photography (main personal picture)
