-Leadership in Cross-Functional Teams and Strategic Planning: As the lead communications counsel, writer, senior strategist, and public relations liaison for two flagship quantum information science programs funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, I spearhead cross-functional teams to drive strategic planning and execution. For special campaigns, I frequently collaborate with the White House Office of Science and Technology, national labs, government agencies, and industry partners, ensuring cohesive and impactful plans-Developed award-winning messaging and communication strategies that reached millions, effectively engaging both technical and non-technical audiences. This broad reach significantly enhanced Berkeley Lab's visibility and reputation.-Improved Online Presence and Media Coverage: Achieved a 102% increase in combined website traffic compared to the previous benchmark period, with news sections achieving top rankings in total page views. Earned media mentions surged by 700%, and social media following grew by 40.4%, with engagement rates averaging between 3-10%. -Operational Efficiency: Led the development and launch of the historic One-Stop Quantum Shop web portal for the national quantum information science and technology community. Successfully utilized open-source technologies to deliver the project under budget and on time within three months, reducing overhead costs by 30-50%.-Under my leadership, strategic communications significantly contributed to securing a five-year renewal of the AQT program, amounting to $33 million in 2023, with annual funding increases. Additionally, my efforts played a crucial role in the positive mid-term review and subsequent renewal of the QSA program, which is funded at $115 million. These achievements underscore the pivotal role of effective communication in sustaining and expanding critical research initiatives at Berkeley Lab.

The Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA) is a U.S. National Quantum Information Science Research Center established in August 2020 and funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. QSA comprises 15 partner institutions – universities and national laboratories – bringing together pioneers of many of today’s unique quantum information science (QIS) and engineering capabilities. Led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and with Sandia National Laboratories as the lead partner, 250+ QSA researchers are catalyzing U.S. leadership in a fast-growing field that seeks solutions to the Nation’s and the world’s most pressing problems by harnessing the laws of quantum mechanics.

MONI-07B (https://moni-07b.space/) is an independent blog featuring original insights, commentary, and research about biotechnology, genetics, synthetic biology, and the space industry, among various disciplines and included the perspectives of industry experts, scientists, engineers, artists, etc.

-Strategic Communications and Project Management: Provided comprehensive writing, production, editing, and public affairs expertise as an international project manager, assisting small to medium-sized sci-tech business owners in the United States and across Latin America. Helped space companies, startups, and research institutions establish effective communications plans to manage company messaging.-Cross-Functional Team Collaboration: Collaborated with cross-functional teams for product launches, developing successful marketing strategies and globally-sensitive communications materials and strategic plans.-Digital Asset Management and Social Media: Managed digital assets and created social media content and collaterals to increase business visibility and market reach using effective sales copy.-International Content Production: Hired by a Poland-based space company to produce long-format content and collaborate with interdisciplinary science and engineering teams for their AI software and autonomous space systems portfolio.-Innovative Content Creation: Developed new digital assets and generated compelling social media content to increase blog and business visibility, employing effective visuals and persuasive copy.-Creative Project Conceptualization: Produced and conceptualized a free browser-based video game on the indie platform Itch.io, inspired by robotics and space debris: “Spacing out with R-Capek” -Key Impact: Integrated new approaches to maximize the use of open source technology and data, demonstrating the power of strategic communications to meet business objectives. Led innovations that scaled effective communications protocols for new customers and team leadership, optimizing customer communications to drive greater engagement using performance data.

Contributing writer to recognized community-driven tech publication with an average readership of 4+million. Joined by 12K+ writers across the globe, I focus on advanced research topics about to the global space economy. A majority of my articles have reached the front page on the first day.

Columnist at award-winning, independent, and Spanish-speaking digital newspaper in Costa Rica. Joined by leaders and experts across disciplines, I focus on topics related to space, emerging technologies, software development, and futuristic thinking in Costa Rica and Latin America

Contributed to a brand new publication focused on the development of technologies requiring significant R&D and $investments. The DeepTech Insider is a subsidiary of The Quantum Insider.

As a contributing writer, I focused on quantum advances for space applications. The Quantum Insider is a leading online resource for everything related to quantum computing and quantum technologies.

-Leadership and Team Development: Served as the integrated Digital Communications Manager and Marketing Planner for Microsoft Education. Acted as a tech and digital evangelist for agency-wide transformation initiatives and internal communications engagement strategies, including the use of Microsoft Office 365 Suite tools and cybersecurity.-Content and Campaign Execution: Implemented high-quality, creative, and editorial content in a fast-paced and technical context. Utilized project management tools for overall campaign execution across digital and social ecosystems.Collaborative Partnerships: Partnered with developers and designers to create landing pages promoting Microsoft Education tools.-Strategic Planning and Execution: Achieved monthly, quarterly, and annual action plans and business objectives, surpassing identified revenue and growth targets. Employed consultative skills to identify opportunities and build relationships.-Market Research and Insights: Planned, coordinated, and managed market research projects, disseminating actionable insights to support brand health and customer experience improvements, integrating them into customer journey initiatives.-Social Media Growth: Maximized social media followers through results-driven strategies and effective marketing campaigns.-Key Operations Impact: Developed, directed, and mentored a high-performing team to manage all aspects of online marketing operations, connecting account operations and growth. Successfully improved underperforming programs and expanded marketing campaigns.

-Innovation and Strategy Development: Integrated Senior Account Digital Communications Manager and Planner for the Cloud and Enterprise Area for Microsoft LATAM, with a specialized focus on generating new ideas and thought leadership about open source tools and trends for Developers and Pro Developers, Data & Artificial Intelligence. Implemented cutting-edge research on market trends in digital media and media habits for robust sci-tech communications.-Digital Media Planning and Cross-Functional Collaboration: Led the creation of digital media plans and editorial calendars for eight major social platforms, managing a team of two junior copywriters. Collaborated with 8-15 cross-functional professionals, external vendors, and specialists across various media, including audio, eBooks, mobile apps, social media, television, video, AR/VR, and web.-Event Supervision and Real-Time Coverage: Supervised real-time social media coverage and on-site presence at highly-matrixed regional events such as the Microsoft AI Tour (across eight countries), Microsoft Build (Seattle, USA), and Microsoft Ignite (Mexico City), reaching millions of attendees.-Developer Engagement and Livestreaming: Worked with developers and Microsoft Tech Influencers (MVPs) from Azure’s biggest markets. During Microsoft Ignite The Tour in Mexico, coordinated a Twitter livestreaming event with a budget of under $10K, reaching over 500K developers across the region in a single day. Key performance indicators and feedback surpassed expectations.-Customer-Facing Business Management: Managed customer service, digital marketing, and partner and affiliate programs, ensuring alignment with business objectives and customer satisfaction.-Key Operations Impact: Contributed to the generation of new influencer and events strategies to optimize work processes and increase revenues for industry stakeholders.

-Leadership in Business Communication Initiatives: Recruited by NASA astronaut, Dr. Franklin Chang-Díaz, to lead the design and execution of major business communication initiatives. Responsibilities included developing messaging, internal and external communication strategies, training programs, social media engagement, and influencer and brand management. Successfully secured new media relationships through these efforts.-Strategic Communication of Technical Achievements: Translated technical and scientific information about milestones achieved under the NASA NextSTEP Program on advanced in-space electric propulsion into strategic communication themes and public information messages.-Content Creation and Social Media Management: Curated compelling story ideas and editorial content across six social media channels with active social monitoring and listening. Achieved a 30% increase in online following and a 200% increase in social media engagement across all channels.-Event and Program Management: Managed and supported digital events and speaking programs, providing live coverage on several digital platforms outside standard business hours and across different geographic locations. Notably supported the production of the CEO’s Congressional testimony and live coverage of the Congressional Hearing for In-Space Transportation on June 29, 2017.-Media Relations and Press Events: Planned and executed press events related to company news, building and maintaining relationships with over 50 professional media outlets.-Executive Media Training and Thought Leadership: Provided media training for senior scientists, VPs, and the CEO for earned digital and print media and thought leadership engagements. -Key Operations Impact: Worked in tandem with NASA Johnson Space Center, NASA Headquarters, AIR LIQUIDE, and Cummins, Inc. for major sci-tech communications campaigns and project milestones

📌 Fully remote - distance learning instructor for undergraduate courses in LATAM history.WHAT STUDENTS SAY:✏️ "Prof. Hernandez is great! She is clear in her speeches and doesn't use any notes and she is always on point. Uses a lot of PowerPoint along with the textbook. Very helpful and keeps the class interesting with day to day topics. I would definitely recommend her. I should also mention she does give a lot of work but I you are paying attention and following the chapters then you have no problem!" ~

📌 Instructed and coached every semester both small and large groups of students in international relations, political & social science courses, with an emphasis on looking at the primary sources of IR theory. 📌 Informed students regularly about their progress through monthly meetings and bi-monthly progress reports, especially for underrepresented communities of immigrant and veteran students.WHAT STUDENTS SAY:✏️ "Monica Hernandez is well-versed in her field. She's young but she has traveled extensively, she has an impressive resume, and she has great contacts from previous employers and education. You have a couple of in-class assignments and a group project at the end but they are not super difficult. Monica makes the information simple and interesting!" ~

📌 Led after school enrichment classes with MindLab© methodology to foster critical thinking and strengthen academic areas. 📌 Taught classes in small groups of 6-16 students to address learning gaps due to attention deficits disorders and/or minor learning disabilities.🚀 Key Impact: Some of the schools include but are not limited to, South Point Elementary School, Temple Beth Sholom, St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School, and Carollton School of the Sacred Heart

📌 Supported new product launches. 📌 Formed part of the crisis-response team and the PR efforts for high-stakes issues and events that escalated quickly i.e. advising Airbus PR Crisis Team through periods of tragedy (disappearance of Air France Flight 447). 📌 Main first writer for press releases and communications newsletters. 📌 Monitoring of competitors' news and relevant company developments. 📌 Served as client liaison to meet the client’s needs for information, support, assistance & reports. 🚀 Key Impact: Marketing and corporate communications for transnational corporate clients with business hubs in Latin America in aerospace, consumer technology, logistics, and transportation i.e. Airbus, Ryder & Sony Ericsson.

📌 Conducted in-depth fieldwork and ethnographic research for international Bank-financed projects involving indigenous peoples 2006-2008.🚀 Key Impact: Team member of the Quality Assurance and Compliance Unit of the Operations Policy and Country Services, Vice Presidency.

📌 Implemented project management tools for overall in-person and digital conference execution across digital ecosystem.🚀 Key Impact: Supported and integrated the logistics and communications efforts for a powerful corporate network of Latin American CEOs, Group of Fifty.

📌 Planned, coordinated and administered market research projects, including the dissemination of actionable insights to support improvements in event experience, and embedded them in student journey initiatives.📌 Research, logistics, and event support for faculty and international studies center. 🚀 Key Impact: Inaugurated the first Model United Nations in Doha, Qatar.