Mentor Spotlight: Marco Valadez
For the 2025–2026 Leadership Lab cohort, mentors like Marco Valadez have a transformative impact that resonates.
Marco brings professional expertise, but what distinguishes him is a journey defined by hard-earned resilience, a profound sense of identity, and his deep-rooted connection to community.
Like many, Marco’s path didn’t follow a straight line. His journey took several unexpected turns.
Growing up in Los Angeles as an undocumented immigrant, he faced uncertainty about the future. After high school, he worked, struggled financially, and felt unsure of his direction.
At this low point, Marco recalls, “I remember sitting in my car… and I just felt so helpless,” he shared. “I didn’t know what to do.”
That turning point led Marco to community college, where he built his path from remedial classes to transfer. His persistence and growth ultimately led him to the University of Southern California, showing that paths become clearer when opportunity meets determination. It always starts by taking a few steps, though.
At USC, Marco double-majored in Economics and Chicano Studies and served as a leader in student organizations. He supported undocumented and LGBTQ students, aiming to redefine success for people like him.
Throughout all of this, mentorship played a critical role in shaping Marco’s journey. In particular, finding someone who reflected his identity marked a pivotal transition.
As a young queer person in the 90s, visibility was rare. Finding a mentor who understood him changed everything.
“When we find someone that knows what we want to know… we gravitate towards that person,” he said.
That relationship helped him embrace his identity with confidence and envision new possibilities.
Today, Marco steps into mentorship with a full heart—carrying forward the compassion and belief that once lifted him.
As a board member of the USC LGBTQ Alumni Association and a leader in organizations like the Latino Equality Alliance, Marco demonstrates that mentorship isn't just a role but a core value that drives real change in his community, profession, and overall life.
“For me, service and guidance… It’s a part of who I am,” he shared. “It’s something I want to continue for the rest of my life.”
Whether mentoring college students or Rainbow Labs youth, Marco pours his heart into mentorship, seeing it as a calling and striving to leave a lasting impact.
At Rainbow Labs, Marco is passionate about helping youth see beyond their current circumstances.
“I want to inspire them to think about other spaces that they can be in… that they belong,” he said.
For many participants, Leadership Lab is a "third space"—a sanctuary where they can finally be their true selves, sometimes for the very first time. Marco deeply values this kind of environment, remembering how vital such spaces were to him as a young person.
Now, he helps create that space for others.
And in return, he finds inspiration in the young people he works with.
“The intelligence that comes out of them, I'm so impressed,” he shared. “And I love the confidence that they have within themselves.”
Marco’s journey, overcoming barriers and building a career, is a testament to what’s possible when opportunity meets determination.
