Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Flores
Rebecca, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am from the Rio Grande Valley, specifically San Juan, Texas. Growing up in the Valley shaped so much of who I am today. It taught me the importance of community, hard work, and resilience. Being a first-generation student meant navigating uncharted territory, figuring things out on my own, and constantly proving to myself that I belonged in spaces that were not always built for people like me.
I attended the University of Houston for my undergraduate degree, where I worked hard to create opportunities for myself and set the foundation for my career. After graduating, I moved to Austin to work at the Texas House of Representatives. This was a pivotal experience that deepened my passion for client relations, advocacy, and leadership. From there, I continued building my career in client relations within law firms and the Travis County Courthouse. But I always knew I wanted more. I wanted to lead, build, and create something that would have a lasting impact.
That drive led me to pursue my MBA at UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business while working full-time. I did not just come for the degree. I immersed myself in the experience and took on leadership roles. I serve as the Professional and Student Affairs Chair for the Graduate Business Council, I am a member of the McCombs Ambassador Committee, and I am part of Graduate Women in Business. But one of my proudest accomplishments has been founding First Wave, a student organization dedicated to supporting first-generation MBA students. I wanted to create the kind of community and resources that I wish I had when I was figuring everything out.
Alongside all of this, I have been focused on transitioning into a career in customer success and client relations in the tech space. I know my strengths are in building relationships, problem-solving, and advocating for clients, and I am determined to land a role that aligns with my long-term vision. At the same time, I am exploring side hustles and business ideas because financial freedom and independence are just as important to me as career success.
Balancing a full-time job, an MBA, leadership roles, and career changes all at once is not easy. But I have never been someone who waits for opportunities. I create them. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that resilience, resourcefulness, and community will take you further than anything else.
I am still in the middle of my journey, but I know exactly where I am headed. And I hope that by sharing my story, other first-generation professionals and ambitious individuals see that they can break barriers too.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. Being the first in my family to navigate college and a professional career, I have had to navigate through a lot of spaces without a blueprint. There was no one to guide me through college applications, career decisions, or even basic things like networking and salary negotiations. I had to figure everything out on my own, and sometimes that meant learning through trial and error.
During my undergraduate degree, I had to navigate moving from a city of around 38,000 people to a city of around I believe 6M people now. This is nothing compared to moving from a country where you primarily spoke Spanish to a country that mostly speaks English. That’s something that a majority of my family had to do.
Currently I am pursuing my MBA at McCombs School of Business while working full time at the courthouse. There are days where I feel overwhelmed, running on little to no sleep, juggling deadlines, meetings, personal commitments, all at the same time. Even though sometimes I feel like giving up, I know why I am doing this and I understand that sometimes that means making sacrifices.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in client relations and problem-solving. My career has been focused on helping people navigate complex processes and ensuring they feel supported. I have worked in government, law firms, and the Travis County Courthouse, and now I am transitioning into customer success in tech.
What sets me apart is my drive and my ability to create opportunities. While working full-time, I pursued my MBA at UT Austin and took on leadership roles. I serve as the Professional and Student Affairs Chair for the Graduate Business Council, I am a McCombs Ambassador, and I am part of Graduate Women in Business. I am also the founder of First Wave, a student organization that supports first-generation MBA students.
I am most proud of the impact I have made by creating spaces for others to succeed. Whether it is through my work, my leadership, or my career transition, I am committed to growth, financial independence, and helping others break barriers.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I actually have a terrible memory, but one of my favorite memories would be taking swimming classes during the summer with my older sister. Recently, I put on sunscreen and it reminded me of doing that every summer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rebeccalflores.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalflores
