30 at 30: Ruben Hernandez

Executive MBA – Strategic Leadership Class of 1997

Former Vice President at Tennessee Valley Authority

A seasoned engineer, Ruben Hernandez held several positions at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). He served as vice president of engineering services, land management and resource stewardship, but even with this career progress, Hernandez was determined to further his professional growth and applied to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Executive MBA – Strategic Leadership (EMBA-SL) program.

Hernandez had proficiency in engineering-related work, but as he climbed the corporate ladder and moved into management positions, he felt a need to strengthen the interpersonal skills needed to engage with those he managed and colleagues. This realization led him to UT’s EMBA-SL program.

The Journey to Corporate Success

The child of Cuban refugees, Hernandez was raised in Cuba, coming to the United States in 1961. He attended the University of California in Los Angeles from 1964 to 1968 and earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Hernandez then studied at the University of Southern California from 1968 to 1972 – obtaining his Master of Science in Civil Engineering with a focus in structural engineering.

After receiving his master’s from USC, he and his wife relocated to Tennessee in 1972, and he began working as an engineer for TVA. From engineer to project manager and then vice president, Hernandez climbed the corporate ladder through the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s and found himself in management roles leading and supervising others. With his engineering background, Hernandez faced challenges in roles that required leading teams.

“Managing people and dealing with issues that are not of a technical engineering nature are critically important for any organization,” Hernandez explained. “The EMBA lessened my inhibition for speaking in public, and it helped me see the value of leadership throughout the organization.”

When considering a return to the classroom, Hernandez said he looked at this as an opportunity to broaden his horizons and add to his professional repertoire several business-oriented perspectives that might have been missing.

Beyond the MBA

While the EMBA program furthered his success at TVA, three years after his graduation, he embarked on a new career path working for the UnitedS tates Peace Corps as a country director. This experience broadened his horizons, taking him to multiple countries and offering an opportunity to stretch his EMBA skills and experience new cultures.

In this role, Hernandez led teams in Ecuador, Honduras and Mozambique. He was responsible for overseeing a $9 million budget and managing 30-person staffs that supported the technical, financial, administrative and health and safety needs of 500 volunteers engaged in international grassroots development activities.

“I was directing the activities of an in-country staff in each one of the countries that I served,” he explained. “We had to be on the lookout and train our teams to be sensitive to the different cultural issues that volunteers would experience in each country. That’s where the EMBA helped me significantly.”

After successfully spearheading several international teams, Hernandez was asked to take on a new role in Washington, D.C. There, he launched the Peace Corp’s Office of Strategic Information, Research, and Planning (OSIRP).

Structure of Program in Working Life

At the time of his MBA Program, Hernandez recalled how he navigated work and studies while he was in the EMBA program and was serving as TVA’s vice president of land management.

“The work was challenging, but it wasn’t difficult,” he said. “I could maintain family life and activities.”

Studying alongside others adept in the world of business showed Hernandez that it takes more than technical skills and savvy to be a successful manager.

“Working with people who were not in government but in business was educational,” he said. “They really shone a light on what it takes to function in any organization, not just at TVA, and that’s the perspective that I got. The nontechnical aspects of work become more important as you progress in management.”

EMBA Words of Wisdom

Hernandez recommended prospective students consider what they want out of an EMBA.

“It’s going to be challenging,” he said. “If you’re not challenged, then you’re not really getting your money’s worth. You have to look at your situation holistically and decide what you’re looking for in a program. Then, give it your best.”

Now retired, Hernandez encourages up-and-coming executives to consider an EMBA from the University of Tennessee. For him, the learning experience was key to opening doors to new opportunities, and to learning skills that would serve him for life.

Hernandez concluded, “It’s one of the best decisions I ever made.”