Growing up in Mexico City, Dulce Gallardo was surrounded by everything she loved. Her friends, family and work were all in one place. She was comfortable. Life was good.

But something still tugged at Gallardo’s heart, and at age 30, she made the hard decision to leave home and search for a greater purpose. Along the way, she graduated with a Sustainability Certificate from UCLA Extension, gaining knowledge she still uses today.

When Gallardo set off from Mexico City, she knew that there was more that awaited. Her first stop was a volunteer site in Nairobi, Kenya.

"I was kind of looking for that meaning in my life." she said. “During my time in Kenya, it wasn't just me helping others, they helped me. The trip opened my eyes to understanding the world better and I am beyond grateful for that opportunity. I believe it was the turning point of my life.”

During her time in Kenya, she learned more about the world regarding its environment. Gallardo began to take notice of her immediate surroundings: plants, animals, people and the environment.

“We all live on this planet, so how do we give back?” she wondered.

After saving up and planning meticulously, she began searching for a way to gain expertise in sustainability. Gallardo set her sights on UCLA Extension’s program in 2019.

“There were not many programs where I could get a certificate in sustainability,” she said. “It was relatively new at the time of my search. But once I found UCLA Extension and read about its program, I knew it was the right place for me.”

Gallardo took the challenge of moving, yet again, in stride.

“I think overall, the three-hour evening classes on complex topics like sustainable food and agriculture, in my second language of English, were demanding at first.” Gallardo said. "I was like, ‘What? I need captions here.’ However, the instructors were so talented and inspiring that I couldn’t help but want to do my best.”

Gallardo pushed through any early difficulties with her courses, and took a part-time job at the Hammer Museum. She worked alongside many other international students also pursuing certificates at UCLA Extension.

“I found a community and I am so grateful that UCLA Extension was ultimately what brought us together.” she said.

The certificate program connected Gallardo to internships that encouraged and shaped her future career. She interned at Warner Bros. Discovery in its sustainability department and Global Green, a nonprofit where she worked in marketing.

“I learned more about the social and environmental impact of a large global company." she said. “With all the experiences I went through, I realized I had a preference for corporate sustainability roles too.”

UCLA Extension gave her close friendships, work experience and the academic growth that shaped what Gallardo would later decide to do after she had graduated.

“I realized that private companies have a lot of resources to put into social programs and it’s ultimately what led to the decision to work for large corporations rather than nonprofits,” she said. “All in all, everything was because UCLA Extension gave me access to it – to the education, to the foundations and to the opportunities to be with such companies."

Gallardo now works in a marketing position at Dayforce, a technology company, where she applies sustainability principles to connect people and technology responsibly, and showcase the importance of sustainability when thinking of the future.

“With the rise of technology and AI, they all have an impact on our planet. The part I play is to ensure its development keeps humans as the most important part of technology,” Gallardo said. “We’re not the only ones on this planet, and it’s our duty to give back. We must think of the future also. What do we want it to look like in a few years? How can we make it so that everything’s all right for the next generation? That’s my purpose.”