Arriving in a new country with barely 300 dollars, a suitcase, and an adverse health diagnosis seems like an insurmountable situation, but for Shirley Segovia, it was the starting point of a transformative journey. After facing poverty, discrimination, and overcoming skin cancer at an early age, she managed to turn every challenge into a life mission dedicated to community health and well-being.
Shirley Segovia is an Ecuadorian-born executive at MetroPlusHealth and a community leader who, through her projects, promotes representation for the Latino community and fosters women’s participation in leadership roles, inspiring generations.
Shirley, how do you remember your early years in Ecuador?
I had a childhood filled with love. I was raised by my maternal grandparents while my mother worked to offer us a better future. I grew up surrounded by affection and strong values, never imagining that life would lead us to start over in another country.
What was your first impression upon arriving in New York and facing that new reality?
My mother told us we were going on vacation, but when we arrived, I understood that a new life was beginning. Everything changed. We went through difficult times while she worked long hours to get ahead. We learned to start from scratch.
Shortly after, you received very difficult news. How did you live through that moment?
During the medical exam required to enroll in school, I was diagnosed with skin cancer. We didn’t have health insurance, and they told us they couldn’t operate on me. It was one of the hardest moments for my family. But that very same day, a person appeared who helped us get medical coverage. Thanks to that help, I was able to undergo the surgeries that saved my life.
Years later, you decided to return to the United States alone. What motivated you to take that step?
Yes. I returned with barely 300 dollars, a suitcase, and many dreams. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I felt that God had a purpose for my life and that one day I would be able to help others.
What was the hardest part of that adaptation process on your own?
There were days when I barely had enough to eat a piece of bread. I lived alone, felt afraid, and often cried in silence. I also faced discrimination and harassment. However, I never lost hope.
On several occasions, you talk about the «angels» you met along the way. Who were those people to you?
They are people God placed in my life when I needed them most. A Dominican lady opened the doors of her home to me when I had nowhere to go. A boss believed in me and helped me finish my studies. They taught me that kindness can change a life.
Today you have been working in the healthcare sector for more than twenty years. What does that work represent to you?
It is my way of giving back what I received. The first person who helped me secured health insurance for me; years later, I ended up working precisely to help other families access those same services. I understood that everything had a purpose.
What would you say to those who arrive in the United States today seeking a better future?
Never stop believing in yourselves. Learn, study, work honestly, and help those who come behind you. No hardship lasts forever. When you maintain faith, work with discipline, and serve others, dreams begin to come true.
In addition to your career, you dedicate time to supporting people through difficult moments. How do you summarize the lesson of your story?
I arrived in New York with 300 dollars and many fears, but I discovered that when faith, education, and service walk together, no dream is too big.
In the face of the difficult circumstances you have been through, what is the main conviction that guides your daily work?
The conviction that circumstances do not determine one’s destiny and that every act of solidarity can transform a life, proving that through gratitude, perseverance, and the desire to lend a hand, any adversity can be overcome.
The interview explores the story of Shirley Segovia, an Ecuadorian executive in the healthcare sector and community leader in New York. In it, she relates how she overcame poverty, discrimination, and skin cancer during her childhood, converting those challenges into a life mission dedicated to serving others, faith, and the empowerment of the Latino community.
