While still in her early 20s, Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez exploded onto the national stage with her Ted Talk about the complicated relationship that America has with immigrants – frequently celebrating one type of immigrant while villainizing others.
In that talk, and in her subsequent powerful and acclaimed memoir, My Side of the River, Gutierrez, now 29, tackles key issues missing from the traditional narrative about the American immigrant experience. The questions she raised and her raw and inspiring first-hand account of her journey from adversity to achievement are both timely and critically important as the immigration debate rages in Washington, D.C. and around the country.
Born and raised near the U.S.- Mexico border in Tucson, Gutierrez’s upbringing was marked by resilience and determination. At 15, when her parents were forced to return to Mexico due to issues with their immigration status, she chose to remain in the U.S., navigating homelessness while fiercely pursuing her education. Her graduation as valedictorian is a testament to her unwavering resolve, as was the continuation of her studies at an Ivy League university.
Gutierrez earned a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from U. Penn in 2018. During her time there, she was selected as The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) Scholar of the Year, as a U.S. Department of State Gilman Scholar, and as part of competitive business programs at both Harvard and Stanford.
Upon graduating, Gutierrez worked in finance as one of the few latinas on the trading floor in Wells Fargo’s Markets division, all while juggling the responsibilities of single-handedly raising her younger brother. In 2020, she was selected to give a TED Talk, recounting her story of finding opportunity and stability in the U.S. while examining flaws in narratives that simplify and idealize the immigrant experience. The talk went viral, with more than 2 million views to date. In 2021, Gutierrez joined Meta as a product manager, where she hopes to continue to use her background and knowledge to empower communities.
Gutierrez has been interviewed by NPR, and her book praised as a New York Times Editor’s Pick, People Magazine Best Book to Read in February, and as one of Goodreads Most Anticipated Books of 2024.
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