As a teenager, Gabriellah Valdes became well-versed in running a business while helping manage her family’s beauty salon.
From creating the salon's brand identity to running inventory and assisting with financial operations, she did it all.
After her family experienced the incarceration of a loved one, Valdes and her family made it a practice to hire formerly incarcerated people reentering the workforce. She knew she would always want to create something that had real impact for causes near to her heart.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, half a million individuals are released from incarceration each year. Without employment opportunities, the likelihood of recidivism increases for these individuals.
Her hands-on experience building a business that gave back to her community led her to the University of Miami, where she wanted to continue expanding her skillset and knowledge.
"I had the passion, but I wanted the knowledge and experience to match it,” said Valdes. “I knew UM would give me the opportunities, connections, and community to grow both personally and professionally."
In 2026, Valdes earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication in advertising with a minor in public relations from the University of Miami School of Communication.
As an undergraduate Cane, Valdes focused on campaign-based coursework in advertising, strategy, branding, and crisis communication.
She also participated in the Global Communication and Social Media study abroad program in Barcelona, Spain.
"Studying abroad changed the way I think about people, culture, and communication,” said Valdes when recalling her time in Europe. “My experience reinforced that great marketing starts with understanding different perspectives and genuinely connecting with people."
After graduation, Valdes wanted to continue growing at the University of Miami. She knew her time on campus wasn’t over yet.
Now, Valdes is part of the inaugural cohort at the University of Miami Business School’s Master of Science in Marketing.
She will join a cohort of 26 students who want to lead in the fast-changing marketing environment by combining analytics, AI, and digital strategy with hands-on, real-world application.
“I could have stopped after my undergraduate degree, but I genuinely loved learning at UM, said Valdes. Staying for the Master of Science in Marketing program felt like the natural next step to keep challenging myself in a place that already feels like home.”
Valdes’ goal is to continue growing as a business professional and find her niche while continuing to make an impact through her work.
