In her 35 years of public service, Alina Hudak made history again and again. She negotiated multi-million-dollar contracts, led countywide responses to hurricanes and the Zika virus, oversaw two successful presidential elections, and coordinated logistics for six Super Bowls. In 2011, she served as chief executive officer and county manager to Miami-Dade County. By 2021, she became the first woman to run the City of Miami Beach.
Hudak says the secret to making a difference in the community is taking “every challenge [as] an opportunity to do your best and stay true to yourself.”
Now, as she prepares for her next big challenge—representing Miami as one of the 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities—she wants to offer advice and encouragement to the next generation of changemakers.
MML: Tell me what it was like growing up in Miami.
AH: I’m as Miami as Miami gets. I came to South Florida as a 10-year-old. I’m Cuban, and my family has the typical Cuban immigrant story. I went to public schools, went to the University of Miami, undergrad and graduate school, as did my husband and my daughters.
Miami is such a young city. Other cities have families going back many generations, but South Florida doesn’t have that. There are a few very old Miami families, but mostly, it’s people who chose to come here and who are excited to be a part of Miami’s community.
MML: What attracted you to the University of Miami?
AH: I grew up in a very traditional Cuban family, and going away to college was not an option for me. I wanted a good education, and I very much wanted to go to the University of Miami, so my parents—with great sacrifice—sent me there. It was the best decision I ever made.
Then, thanks to a graduate assistantship I had working for Dr. Jonathan West, I was able to get my master’s in public administration from Miami Herbert. My public administration program gave me the opportunity to enter the world of public service and make a positive difference in my community.
MML: How did your experience as an immigrant to the United States shape your decision to go into public service?
AH: My family and I were very grateful for the opportunity that we were given to live in the United States. I grew up with a love and a passion for democracy, which is informed by my experience as a Cuban immigrant. My husband, for example, is from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He came to Miami to play football and never left. He is a great American, but he didn’t grow up with the same understanding and appreciation for democracy that I did.
My background and family history very much impacted my love for community, my love for this country, and my passion for service. I also think my family’s experience gave me an understanding of the real, day-to-day challenges of communities that don’t have as many resources as other communities have. My story is also very similar to the stories of many people here, which gave me a window into where the greatest need lies.
MML: How do you handle challenging situations, especially as a leader in the community?
AH: I’ve gone through extraordinarily challenging moments in my career—catastrophic hurricanes, periods where I had to work 24/7. I kept working with two young babies, and somewhere along the way, my parents were sick for several years.
In every instance, I did my best to break it down into tasks, organize my thinking, and choose my best approach. I also had to remind myself that I would do the best I could.
It’s important to remember that every challenge is an opportunity to do your best; if you stay true to that and to yourself, you will make a positive difference.
MML: Do you think leaders are born or made?
AH: I've worked with many, many brilliant people—people much smarter than me, and not everyone wants to be a leader, and not anybody has the qualifications to be a leader.
You need empathy and the ability to work alongside other people to understand the work.
You need to have the knowledge, because you can’t fake that. Maybe you can fake it for a little while, but not forever.
You need to have charisma and a personality that people can trust because people have to trust you and believe in you. If they don’t, then you’re not effective.
I think the best leaders are those who authentically embody these qualities.
MML: You’ve recently been named president and CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee. What does this opportunity mean to you as a Miamian?
AH: This is a legacy moment for us in South Florida, but this is also an opportunity for us all to be part of a historic moment for Miami. We are blessed to have a quarterfinal and the bronze match here. Still, not everyone can go to the matches, so the question became how do we make it so that everyone can participate in this experience and experience all that South Florida has to offer?
That’s a significant component of what we’re doing, trying to create a larger experience for people to feel like a part of all of it.
MML: What is your proudest moment yet?
AH: My proudest accomplishment is being the mom of two amazing women whom I adore beyond words. I am proud to be the mother of Jennifer and Kristina.
I was also proud to wear my University of Miami Mom hat when they chose to go to the University of Miami.
MML: Any advice for students looking to make a positive difference in their community?
AH: Understand the value of your network. The people you meet in class or on campus are going to shape the world. Stay connected.
MML: What would you say to those considering getting involved as alumni?
AH: For me, it’s about being a part of a community that I love. I’m 42-plus years out, and the University of Miami still means a lot to me. It means a lot to my family. We wish we could give back more financially, but my husband and I are public servants. Instead, I give my heart and time by participating in every way I can.
