Few people can say that they started a company, created a new product or solidified a leadership role in an emerging sector.
An even smaller group can say they did any of those things by the time they hit their mid-20s. When you find those young innovative trailblazers, they should be celebrated. And that is exactly what we are doing via our inaugural Inno Under 25 honorees.
You might have noticed the recent launch of New Mexico Inno, a platform dedicated to covering local innovation. Inno Under 25 is simply one of the many ways we plan to highlight the talent and entrepreneurial work happening right here in the Land of Enchantment.
So, how did we pick our first group of Inno Under 25 honorees? Inno reporter Collin Krabbe did what any good reporter does — his research. He contacted the local universities and leaders in the startup sector and asked about emerging talent. He then whittled down the recommendations and conducted an interview with each honoree.
This week, you will be able to read about each honoree online and in the Sept. 17 edition of the print publication. After you read about these innovators, you are likely to be left with one major takeaway: The future certainly looks bright for New Mexico.
-Meagan Nichols
For many young professionals, their careers don’t take the path that was initially plotted.
That was the case for Arial DeHerrera, who is the operations manager for NewSpace New Mexico, a consortium of aerospace companies and professionals working to grow the industry in the state.
DeHerrera is pursing a master of business administration from the University of New Mexico (UNM) and, in addition, works at NewSpace. In that role, DeHerrera said she runs events, puts together marketing plans and helps develop project proposals. She works alongside NewSpace founder Casey DeRaad.
Her job sits at the center of the state’s ongoing effort to grow the aerospace industry, which received more backing earlier this year with an $11 million federal grant to NewSpace, which works with private and public institutions. DeHerrera helps manage the money, a process she said is “kind of scary, but also, it’s something I’ve found so interesting.”
“I [will always] remember Casey’s call saying we had a chance to get this [grant] money,” she said of the years-long effort.
While managing money is a challenge, her experience at NewSpace has allowed her to apply what she has learned in business school to on-the-job scenarios, DeHerrera said.
Over the summer, NewSpace threw a “state of the space industrial base” event for industry stakeholders. And the organization has also partnered with the UNM Anderson School of Management in an effort to bring industry professionals back to the state after leaving.
As someone who began as a pre-med student, DeHerrera said she didn’t plan to work in aerospace. But since starting, DeHerrera said she has learned about a variety of positions in what seems to be a sea of “endless” job opportunities in aerospace.
The aerospace industry is one of eight sectors the New Mexico Economic Development Department has identified as “key industries,” along with bioscience, cybersecurity, film and television, global trade, intelligent manufacturing, sustainable and green energy and sustainable agriculture.
“New Mexico’s always been in the space race,” DeHerrera said. “I’m someone that doesn’t come from [an] aerospace background … and I had no idea about it.”
