Faces of Global: Norberto Orellana

Orellana saw the opportunity to further his education not as an obligation, but an opportunity to pursue something he was passionate about.

“That is the mindset that drove my decision to pursue my MHA,” he stated. “I saw it as something that could benefit me and something I wanted to learn more about. I love the healthcare industry, it impacted me personally, and I saw the degree as being useful to what I wanted to do and achieve.”

When looking into universities to attend, Orellana knew being able to dedicate time to other things in life while going back to school was critical for him. “In my case, already having a family, it would’ve been difficult to put everything on pause and go back to school full-time in a traditional class environment,” he stated. Knowing that CSU Global would afford him the flexibility to attend school while fulfilling his professional and family obligations helped make his decision.

Orellana mentioned going to a university with CSU’s affiliation was also a draw. “I’m proud to say I went to a school that was part of the CSU System,” he said.

As Orellana began his CSU Global courses, he realized the flexibility suited his lifestyle well and decided to take a slightly heavier courseload. “I really liked having that opportunity, and it allowed me to finish my degree quicker than anticipated,” he shared.

Orellana graduated on June 9, 2024. “I remember it was the 9th specifically because eight years prior to that exact date was when I graduated high school,” he explained. “It was kind of full circle for me because when I graduated high school, I had overcome homelessness, had an associate’s degree, and set myself up on a path for a brighter future. To see that exactly eight years later I had finished my MHA degree was a really cool coincidence.”

“I grew up in a very impoverished background as a result of generational poverty. I spent a considerable amount of time in high school being chronically homeless. We would end up homeless, then in a temporary housing situation, and then homeless again. That cycle would repeat over and over.”

In addition to these challenges, Orellana also grew up navigating a form of cerebral palsy that affects the right side of his body. Due to this, he had several surgeries growing up.

Orellana explained that he never saw anything particularly special about his journey; he was just rolling with the punches. However, when he saw others in similar situations who were having different outcomes, he was inspired to help people overcome adversity in their own lives.

“The first public speaking event I ever did was actually a TEDx talk in downtown Miami,” he shared. “I was homeless at the time but able to be up on this stage sharing my story. I spoke about how even though I experienced difficult things, I wouldn’t change any of it, because I wouldn’t be who I am today if I hadn’t gone through those things.”

After completing his CSU Global degree, Orellana went on to found two companies. He started his own organization focused on motivational speaking, coaching and sharing his message. Additionally, he co-founded and currently serves as the COO and CFO of a healthcare management company dedicated to helping rural ambulatory surgery centers.

Orellana is passionate about sharing with others that they have the same potential to overcome hard circumstances. “There was nothing special about me other than realizing what we can all do when we apply ourselves, when we dare to dream and chase after those dreams. Others have that potential deep inside them too; even if they haven’t recognized it yet, it’s there.”

We love hearing from our students and learning more about their personal CSU Global experiences. We hope they inspire you as much as they inspire us!