veracious heart consulting

Raq Gonzalez (they/them) is an award-winning leadership development, civic engagement, and public administration expert, with an academic background that centers people, relationships, and ethics. As a first-generation college graduate from a low-income family, Raq chose a public sector career to advocate for underserved communities through training, mentorship, and inclusive policy making. Now, Raq has 20 years of experience directing strategy, culture, operations, and outreach – in government, political campaigns, and nonprofits. They are in demand presenter on a variety of professional development and public policy/administration topics, such as effective writing for government, navigating the executive branch, and campaign volunteer management.

As founder and CEO of Veracious Heart Consulting, Raq helps social impact organizations develop purpose-driven and equity-focused leaders who are well-trained and well-resourced. Raq has designed executive education programs for The Obama Foundation, New Leaders Council, and state government fellowships through the New York State Academy for Public Administration and Govern for America. 

As a femme, queer, Latine person, Raq particularly supports leadership development for women and Latine communities. They previously served as a mentor for the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s “Latinos on the Fast Track” program, as a member of the National Women’s Political Caucus, and on the boards of directors for Latinos44 and the Alliance for Latino Leadership and Policy. In 2022, the Public Leadership Education Network named Raq its “Community Mentor” awardee, for dedication to preparing women and other marginalized gender groups for public policy leadership.

Prior to starting a small business, Raq worked nearly 8 years in state and federal government, where they operated as an in-house consultant, moving around executive agencies as needed to launch new projects, optimize systems and processes, and manage teams through leadership transition. Earning a reputation for quickly improving operations and culture in New York State agencies, Raq was promoted several times, and ultimately led internal management, policy, and diversity and inclusion initiatives for teams with up to 1,300 people and budgets up to $423 million. Before that, Raq served as a presidential appointee during both terms of Barack Obama’s Administration – at four federal agencies and The White House – where they recruited senior candidates for Senate-confirmed positions and advised agency leadership on workforce development, retention, and succession planning. They also have volunteer management and community organizing experience from working on political campaigns at all levels of government (starting in high school) and a presidential inaugural committee.

Raq has repeatedly been honored for their meaningful contributions to leadership development, civic engagement, and democratic governance. In 2024, they earned the Truman Center for National Policy’s “EverTru: Unite” award for fostering collaboration, inclusion, & belonging in national security. In 2022, Raq was selected as George Mason University’s “Graduate of the Last Decade,” for significant contributions to their career field and community. In 2018, Raq was named one of New York’s “40 Under 40 Rising Latino Stars.” In 2017, NY FFA gave Raq an honorary Empire Degree for exemplary support of K-12 agricultural education and school food programs.

Raq holds a B.A. in Community Studies, an M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, and certificates in Positive Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, and COSO Internal Controls. Their master’s thesis, Community Organizing Practice and Negotiation: Shared Principles and Methods, analyzed the role that persuasive storytelling plays in building trusting relationships. Raq has also studied coaching for equity and managing for change, through the National Equity Project and The Management Center.