His View - Taking Risks, A Lesson from My Father
By Alejandro "Alex" Huerta
Principal Project Manager, DFS Integration team, Capital One
“Alex! ¡Ya es hora, métete a la casa!”
“Alex, it’s time, go inside the house!”
That’s what I would hear my mom say every night after a great time playing soccer with my friends in la calle. Those moments in Chihuahua, Mexico, were simple, joyful, and safe. But life has a way of pushing us into the unknown.
Everything changed when my dad made the bold decision to migrate to Chicago, Illinois. He had no money, he didn’t know the language, but he had a mission: to give my sister and me a better life.
My family worked hard to stay together, and eventually, not only my dad, but also my mom, my sister, and I started a new life in the United States. I was only 12 years old. The world around me felt overwhelming, but watching my father work tirelessly day after day kept me going. It was through him that I learned the true meaning of perseverance and hard work.
He often reminded me: “Tu trabajo es la escuela!” (“Your job is school!”). I took those words to heart. I remained focused, studied relentlessly, and became the first in my family to attend college. I graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree and even earned my private pilot license.
That was my first big risk. I left home to move to a new city where I knew no one, chasing an education and a dream.
After college, reality set in. Finding a job back home in Chicago was much harder than I expected. Rejection after rejection tested my confidence. But then, an opportunity appeared at Capital One for a bilingual customer service agent. I didn’t know anything about credit cards, yet I said yes. That decision became another defining moment of my life.
The bilingual department soon became my second family. Serving our Hispanic community in Spanish, listening to their stories, understanding their concerns, and providing solutions filled me with pride. I realized that every risk I had taken, from leaving my hometown to stepping into roles I wasn’t fully prepared for, was building a foundation for something greater.
New opportunities came my way, and I had one thing in mind: help more people. Within my career at Capital One, I took a new challenge and relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, as a people leader. I kept in mind that leading a team is not about being in charge; it’s about taking care of those in our charge.
By applying the lessons from my dad, hard work, perseverance, and humility, another opportunity came my way. It pivoted my career toward possibilities I had never imagined. I accepted a new role in Northern Virginia, stepping once again into a new challenge, a new job, in a new city.
With over a decade of experience at Capital One, Alejandro "Alex" Huerta is a Principal Project Manager in the DFS Integration team. He is also a dedicated leader within the company, serving as Chief of Staff for the McLean Chapter of the HOLA Business Resource Group.
This role gave me the opportunity to help establish the first Capital One office in Mexico City, a memory I will never forget. It also allowed me to partner with leaders in India and Canada. And recently, I took yet another risk and accepted a new role. Today, I continue to grow as a project manager, involved in exciting initiatives shaping the future of Capital One and Discover.
Beyond my day-to-day role, I proudly serve as Chief of Staff of our McLean Capital One HOLA Business Resource Group (BRG). I am passionate about bringing people together, and through HOLA we’ve created signature events such as Cantina Night and Café con Pan, spaces that celebrate culture and build community.
Every step of the way, I carry my father’s lesson with me: taking risks is not about leaving something behind, it is about opening the door to something greater. When in doubt, believe in yourself and take the risk—because in the end, it will be worth it.