Staff Spotlight: Veronica

Meet Veronica Cueto, Associate Program Manager at Hudson Global Scholars, in this inspiring Staff Spotlight interview. Vero shares her journey from classroom teaching to global education, her passion for reading and running, and her commitment to making a difference in her community. She opens up about her favorite books, role models, and the life lessons that guide her work—and offers powerful advice for students: never stop dreaming.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Veronica Cueto, and I am an Associate Program Manager for Hudson Global Scholars. I’ve been working here for a year and a half. Something you need to know about me is that I’m passionate about education. Education has been my life for as long as I can remember—I honestly don’t recall what I was before being a teacher! This job gave me the opportunity to explore a different path in education. I used to work physically in schools teaching English as a second language or Spanish. But this role opened my eyes to a better and different world of how education can be conducted. I’m pretty happy about that.

What are your hobbies?

Yes! One of my favorite things in the world is reading. I love reading so much, and my favorite kind of book is one that has a lot of history in it. I really enjoy historical novels, and my favorite writer is an American author named Alison Richmond. I even have one of her books here with me—this is the Spanish version, but you can find it in English too. She’s one of the best writers in America, and I really like her work. Another thing I love is running. It’s one of my passions. Every single day, if I get the chance, I go for a walk, and then I run.

I’m also a mom! I have a baby boy—he’s five years old, his name is Nico, and he’s the best of the best. We have so much fun together. And I love animals. I’m a dog person, but recently, because of a book I read, we’re thinking about adopting a cat. So maybe later this month, we’ll have dogs and cats at home! Oh, and I love coffee. It’s not a hobby, but I can’t live without coffee!

What are three fictional characters you’d spend time with?

That’s a great question! First, Harry Potter. Everyone knows and loves Harry Potter. For me, he’s one of the most powerful characters in fiction because he taught me how to make the impossible possible. He didn’t have any chances, and he never gave up. He tried, and even though his parents weren’t around, he believed in family and friendship. For me, he’s one of the best of the best.

Second, Monica from Friends. Friends was a super famous series in the 90s. Monica was a chef, and I think she and I have a lot in common. She dreams a lot, she believes every single person in the world is good—and I have that too. I believe everyone has goodness in their heart, even if they don’t always show it. Monica also works so hard to accomplish her dreams, and that’s something I do every day—not only here at Hudson, where I work for all my students to feel seen, happy, and cared for, but also in real life when I’m not Teacher Vero but Coach Vero. I’m also a psychologist, so when I work with my patients, I help them build the best version of themselves. That’s one of the most important things in life: every single day, you need to improve. You can be better than the person you were yesterday. Sometimes it’s little details—like waking up in a bad mood but still doing something kind for someone else. Maybe you say hi in a nice way, maybe you listen. Those little things make a big change.

And third, Mario Benedetti, a Latin American writer. He was one of the most important writers in the 70s. When he was young, he fought for students to have free education in Uruguay during a dictatorship. He fought for workers, students, and people to have freedom and express their ideas without being killed. Because of that, he had to move from Uruguay to Mexico, then to Europe—he was running around the world because they were after him. From his story, I learned that we always have to fight for what we believe is right. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible. From “impossible” to “possible” is only two letters—and we can skip those two letters.

How are you involved in your community?

Before this job, I worked for a foundation that provided clean and safe water to communities in need. My role was teaching kids how to wash their hands properly and practice good hygiene. Thanks to that job, I traveled all over Mexico and to countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Bangladesh, India, Colombia, and Peru. I felt I was making a huge change in the world because something as simple as opening a tap and drinking safe water—something we take for granted—was life-changing for those kids. I eventually had to stop because of my baby boy, but I did it with all my heart.

Now, I run a local book club. People know they can come to me for books, and every Friday afternoon we meet to talk about stories. Most of the participants are kids. We read a story, discuss it, and then they write about what they learned and how they’ll use that learning during the week. The little ones draw instead of writing. I do this because in Mexico, we have a sad statistic: on average, Mexicans read only one book per year. I want to change that. Books can take you to different countries, teach you new things, and give you power through knowledge.

We also have a small group of adults who meet on Saturdays. Right now, we’re reading Frankenstein. Each week, we read a few chapters and then discuss what we learned.

What are your favorite memories from your work?

I love the interaction with students. I teach Spanish here at Hudson, and those conversations and connections make me feel great. You know you’re touching not only their minds but also their hearts. On the administrative side, I love seeing how all the little things I do keep the ball rolling. One memory that changed me was in Cambodia. I traveled four hours to reach a remote community. The kids didn’t speak English, and I didn’t speak their language, but we connected. At the end, they hugged me and asked me to stay as their teacher. That moment taught me that we don’t need to speak the same language or be from the same race or age. We are humans, and we are connected by energy. Those connections can change the world in a positive way.

Who is your role model?

Rosa Luxemburg. She fought for women’s rights and changed the world in a positive way. Most of the rights we have today—like voting and choosing our own paths—exist because of her. She dreamed big and gave us the power to decide over our bodies, minds, and souls. Her fight reminds us that women are powerful and smart, and we can change our reality by speaking up and being logical in what we do.

What advice would you give students who want to follow your profession?

If you want to become a teacher, be passionate. Passion turns an ordinary teacher into an extraordinary one. If you want to be a psychologist, understand that you are the most important person in your life. Mental health matters. Work, family, relationships—they’re important, but if you’re not okay, nothing else works. Love yourself first. Believe in yourself. Everything you need is inside you. The way you talk to yourself shapes your day. I wake up some days not wanting to do anything, but I look in the mirror and say: “You’re powerful. You’re beautiful. You’re loved. You can do this, girl.” And I do it. If you do the opposite—if you tell yourself negative things—your day will reflect that. So keep a strong mind. Believe good things about yourself.

Any final message for students?

Never stop dreaming. No matter how big your dream is, you can achieve it. It might take time and hard work, but if it’s in your heart and mind, it’s possible. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Keep reading, writing, painting—whatever makes you happy. We are here to be happy, to be loved, and to grow. Enjoy being yourself. Love yourself. Dream big. You will never be this person again, so enjoy this moment. And remember: what you have here and here—your mind and your heart—will make you successful.