Professional Bio:
Haydée Cuza, EdD (pronounced I-day, she/her) provides collaborative coaching, practical resources, and thought partnership, specializing in organizational structures and restructures, budget planning, and implementation strategies for nonprofit, philanthropic, and government entities.
She brings deep expertise across leadership, research, and operations, shaped by roles as an executive director, program leader, policy and evaluation specialist, and strategy advisor over the last thirty years.
She’s also had the honor to provide thought leadership in national publications on youth perspective and recommendations on transitions in foster care; healing-centered practices for young people in foster care; and senior-centered workforce development programs. An especially proud moment is advising Japan’s Children and Family Agency on best practices for youth engagement and transitioning from primarily institutional to family placement practices.
Her approach centers race and class consciousness by honoring each client’s intersectional experiences while critically engaging with the tensions and contradictions embedded in social impact frameworks and the entrenched inequitable systems they often reproduce.
Formal Education: Associate of Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and African American Studies, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership with a Critical Race Theory focus.
A bit more personal:
My spirit is expressed through my name, Haydée Adelita, shared with historic figures centered in liberation. I’m guided through my understanding that our basic needs include love, nourishment, home, comfort, and an abundance of joy.
My identities as a Cuban-American, mixed-race, femme queer womyn, daughter, mother, lita, wife, sister, tia, titi, cousin, scholar, and friend are the collective of how I walk through the world. Each role, each notch of wisdom earned, each kinship is present with me.
We are not separate identities but a constellation, which is a reminder that, like a grain of sand, we belong to something greater, and that belonging informs every connection we make.
I am deeply grateful to partnerships and collaborations that are committed to learning through the transformative power of co-creation, stumbling blocks, and celebrations.
Client and Partner Insights
Within a year, after successfully implementing employee and program evaluation systems and bringing in new innovative peer programming, she transitioned to the Executive Director. As the ED, she transformed the relationship with our primary funder, reduced operating expenses, and diversified the funding so additional new peer-led programs could be brought to the community, including a robust youth program, peer certification, and special messages support network. She worked well with the board and created a transparent, co-partnership relationship that has had a positive, long-lasting impact on the organization's sustainability. I valued her sense of collaboration, deep knowledge, and genuine empathy. - Board President
“I feel comforted knowing that there are people like you in the world who hold space with love, care, fierce intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to pursue a world that we can feel proud that we are leaving to future generations.” - Consultant, Finance and Executive Coaching
“Haydée is a dynamic and visionary leader who has made a significant impact in advancing social justice and equity. As a strategist and mentor, she partners with stakeholders to align organizational structures and finances with mission. Her collaborative and visionary leadership style unites people around a shared vision, inspiring those around her. Haydée's transformative work is rooted in her understanding of the impact of economic oppression, exploitation, and racism on vulnerable communities. It has been an honor to work with and be mentored by Haydée, and her thoughtful approach has left a lasting impression on me.” - Executive Director
“Haydée has been one of the most incredible collaborative partners I have worked with. She brings not just knowledge and expertise, but an incredible passion and empathy for those she is working with as well as those she is working for.” - Vice President of Strategic Development
“Haydée is a wonderful facilitator and guide. I recently worked with her on fiscal trainings for our staff and board. She was responsive and took the time to get to know our team and our needs. She helped us design clear and efficient internal budgeting processes that we launched with great results. Her insights at our board training have inspired action and a renewed enthusiasm for fundraising. I look forward to working with her more in the future.” - Development Director
“The perspective and experience you bring is a gift to us all and I feel privileged to have worked along side you” - Director, Client Services
“Haydée brought a unique combination of experience with executive leadership and community-based initiatives. One of the most important contributions she made was the complete transformation of organizational finances. She transformed a deficit budget into a full-cost structure that supported staff raises, new administrative roles, and new youth-led programs, while also completely paying off past debt and rebuilding the reserves. We worked closely together to develop accurate cash projections and annual budgets for long-term planning and sustainability. She was a pleasure to work with and improved the board's understanding of budget building and organizational sustainability strategies.” - Board President
