Kathia Bustillos Iturralde doesn’t talk about leadership in abstract terms. She’s lived it, often in rooms where few women were invited and even fewer expected to lead. Kathia has never been one to shy away from challenges. As the first woman to lead a regional Televisa station, she quickly learned that leadership is not about being in the spotlight. Instead, it is about building trust, bringing people together, and making real changes, even when the odds are stacked against you. Such background has instilled in her a profound belief. She notes, “Creativity, adaptability, and a determination to succeed despite resistance can inspire new approaches to tackling the unique needs of the communities my Foundation serves.”
Now, as Board Chair and Interim Executive Director of the Foundation for the Children of the Californias, she brings that same clarity of purpose. The aim is to improve pediatric healthcare for underserved children in the San Diego-Tijuana region. The complexities of cross-border healthcare and the unique needs of these communities require more than just management skills. This demands a strong sense of responsibility, a deep understanding of cultural diversities, and a determination to make a difference. It’s a mission that calls on her to do more than solely keep things running, but to create systems that will stand the test of time and provide lasting benefits for the children and families in the region.
At the Foundation, Kathia is setting the stage for a new way of working together that unites the resources of Canada, the United States, and Mexico to tackle the region’s most pressing healthcare issues. Rather than focusing on immediate needs, she’s putting in place solutions that will continue to help children for many years to come. With every cross-national collaboration and every program, she champions, Kathia is showing that cooperation across borders can lead to real, meaningful progress for children and families across borders.
Her leadership is marked by her ability to motivate others, think outside the box, and unite people around a shared goal. She knows the road ahead won’t be easy, but it’s a challenge she’s ready to meet. For Kathia, this work is personal, ensuring every child has a chance at a healthy, happy life, no matter where they come from or what they have.
Bridging Borders, Healing Gaps
Ensuring equitable pediatric care across the San Diego–Tijuana corridor requires more than goodwill. What is that? It demands cross-border coordination, cultural fluency, and relentless resolve. Leading the FCC, Kathia confronts a series of entrenched barriers, from the complexity of maneuvering through three national healthcare systems to the constant demand for funding specialized care. Limited access to pediatric subspecialties and logistical hurdles in reaching underserved communities compound the challenge. Add in language differences and cultural nuances, the mission becomes even more layered.
But Kathia is no stranger to convoluted systems. Under her leadership, the Foundation has deepened its tri-national model, pulling together resources and partnerships from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada to support the Hospital Infantil de las Californias. Strategic outreach initiatives target underrepresented communities, while culturally responsive care models help close communication gaps. In the meantime, the organization’s embrace of telemedicine is also extending its reach to remote populations.
Volunteer networks and donor communities remain essential in scaling these efforts and sustaining them. For this sagacious female executive, success means building a borderless ecosystem of care that puts children first, regardless of the zip code they’re born into.
Crossing Borders, Building Equity
Kathia explains, “The USA-Mexico collaboration has the potential to evolve significantly in addressing children’s healthcare needs in the border region.” She observes that progress could be made and identifies four areas ready for such substantial transformation.
As binational healthcare conversations deepen, she highlights the promise of coordinated public health initiatives, many of which already show traction. Programs like The Border Health Consortium of the Californias offer a framework for aligning priorities addressing pediatric obesity, mental health, and broader health equity through joint training and shared strategies. Kathia views these as layouts for broader pediatric-focused efforts.
However, she believes systemic change requires more than programmatic alignment. Addressing structural inequities, from poverty to migration, demands integrated interventions that span clinical care, education, and community outreach. The push toward health equity calls for not only treatment access but also prevention tailored to the region’s realities.
She also advocates for deeper research collaboration. Shared data on rural populations, health outcomes for children, and access barriers can inform more precise, impactful policy and service delivery models.
Purpose in Practice
Kathia’s philanthropic drive is rooted in purpose. Recognized among ‘The 10 Most Visionary Leaders to Watch in 2025,’ she brings both structure and intentionality to her work with the Foundation for the Children of the Californias. Her commitment to public service reflects a sustained focus on advancing access to care for children facing systemic barriers across Baja California and California.
Her approach centers on addressing immediate needs while building long-term support systems. That includes improving access to essential services, strengthening partnerships, and supporting initiatives that enhance health outcomes and community resilience. Kathia’s role allows her to work across disciplines, aligning healthcare, education, and policy in ways that reflect the Foundation’s mission.
Her leadership is not anchored in charity alone but in a broader commitment to equity. What vision does this passion drive? Kathia explicates, “Sustainable partnerships and innovations that strengthen communities and inspire future generations to embrace compassion and service.”
A Proud Professional Milestone
For Kathia, one achievement that stands out is the tri-national collaboration that sustains The Hospital Infantil de las Californias. Through the united efforts of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, the hospital has opened its doors to thousands of underserved children in the San Diego–Tijuana region. They are receiving life-changing care for the first time, like pediatric specialty care, surgeries, and health education.
As for the impact on future generations, Kathia considers the FCC’s work a stepping stone for promoting cross-border cooperation and sustainable healthcare. It goes beyond improving the lives of children today; it is about creating a foundation for a healthier, more equitable future for the entire region.
Shaping Leadership Through Experience
Kathia’s leadership is firmly moored in a succession of multiple events that have molded her perspective. Overcoming major obstacles showed her how to turn failures into chances and motivated others to follow suit. Strong mentorship, both as a mentor and mentee, has been essential in forming her leadership approach. While hard, failures have increased her tenacity and humility. Leading teams to success has confirmed her conviction in the strength of cooperation. Her leadership is centered on fundamental principles of integrity, empathy, accountability, innovation, inclusivity, loyalty, perseverance, and resilience, which still motivate her efforts at the FCC.
Mantra for Work-Life Balance
Being in the industry for so long, Kathia has understood the importance of work-life balance. To avoid burnout, she focuses on strategies that align with her goals and values. Flexible scheduling is her primary key here. It allows her to blend work and personal commitments while clear boundaries protect her well-being. She prioritizes physical and mental self—care and maximizes quality time with family, friends, and hobbies. Technology helps Kathia streamline tasks, and regular reflection ensures her approach remains realistic and adaptable, creating consonance between work, health, and relationships.
Empowering Future Women Leaders
With her vast experience leading transformative projects, Kathia offers valuable insights for the next wave of women in non-profits and binational organizations. She believes that leadership isn’t about fitting a mold. It’s about embracing one’s unique style. “Cultivate confidence in your perspective and strengths,” she suggests. Kathia further urges these aspirants to lead with empathy, collaboration, and cultural sensitivity, especially in diverse settings.
For this seasoned executive, building strong networks is crucial. She advises young leaders to seek mentors to guide them and become part of women-centered leadership groups that amplify their voices. Kathia highlights the importance of community, noting that the power of such networks can be transformative for women in leadership roles.
But above all, Kathia emphasizes staying true to one’s mission. Non-profits often demand deep commitment to their cause. She advises the next generation of leaders, “Stay grounded in the ‘why’ behind your work to inspire yourself and your team.” Kathia is a leader who endorses purpose and progress with quiet conviction. She regards inclusivity not as a shibboleth but as a responsibility, often encouraging others to foster spaces where every voice, especially those on the margins, is heard and genuinely valued.
To her, when one takes charge to lead, it becomes a continual process of growth and reflection. It demands tenacity, empathy, and care. She encourages aspiring professionals to prioritize mental well-being and strive for a healthy balance that sustains both individual and team performance.
Operating in binational spaces, Kathia underscores the need to sharpen cross-border skills, encouraging budding leaders to invest time in understanding cultural dynamics, local regulations, and the subtle nuances of communication. Diplomatic fluency, she believes, is just as important as technical expertise. In her view, staying ahead of sector shifts is equally important. Kathia urges aspiring changemakers to remain curious, engaged, and open to learning through workshops, webinars, or courses. For her, leadership is not about having all the answers but about showing up prepared to learn, adapt, and uplift. Finally, she believes in the power of storytelling and advises, “Share the impact of your organization’s work passionately – it inspires others to rally around your cause.”
Connecting Cultures with Intent
In today’s interconnected world, where missions often transcend borders, Kathia has made cross-cultural communication an everyday discipline. Her approach is grounded in awareness and active engagement. She sees cultural fluency not as an added asset but as a core leadership skill, one that shapes how teams listen, connect, and collaborate.
For her, it starts with cultural awareness. Creating inclusive environments begins by first acknowledging the subtleties people bring to the table, from language and tradition to values and lived experiences. She leans into active listening, not just to hear but to understand. Next, she promotes clear communication, favoring language that travels well across cultural lines.
Kathia believes that establishing shared goals and values early on brings unity to the diversity in the room. Technology, too, is a silent ally in her leadership style. It is used not just for productivity but for connection, bridging all kinds of divides. However, perhaps her most defining practice is celebrating diversity. Kathia treats inclusivity not as a challenge to manage but as a strength to spotlight.
Reimagining Access for Every Child: FCC Innovative Initiatives
Under Kathia’s guidance, the FCC employs several strategies to enhance pediatric care access and quality, particularly for underserved children in the San Diego-Tijuana Megaregion.
It has transformed pediatric care into a tri-national collaboration — uniting Canada, the U.S., and Mexico in a shared mission. At the heart of this effort is The Hospital Infantil de las Californias, a pediatric specialty and education center that delivers a wide spectrum of services under one roof, ensuring every child, regardless of background, receives holistic care.
At FCC, the team knows care isn’t complete without proper financial assistance. Through the PAPI program, families unable to afford surgeries or specialized diagnostics find relief, not rejection. But the Foundation’s approach goes beyond hospital walls. Initiatives like A Moverte con el HIC bring nutrition and health education to elementary schools, equipping families with lifelong habits. Meanwhile, the Youth in Leadership Orphanage Program is preparing adolescent orphans to thrive beyond institutional care, building vocational, health, and leadership skills along the way. Kathia remarks, “These efforts collectively aim to provide equitable, high-quality pediatric care while addressing broader social determinants of health.”
Measuring Success at the FCC
Kathia deems success at the FCC to be about balancing palpable metrics with human impact. The Foundation tracks key figures such as the number of children receiving free or low-cost surgeries annually, volunteer hours, and funds allocated directly to medical services. Yet, Kathia highlights the importance of qualitative measures, including the powerful stories of children whose lives are transformed and feedback from families and communities.
Looking to the future, this prescient leader envisions expanding healthcare services to more underserved children while strengthening tri-national collaborations to secure sustainable resources. She also sees technology, like telemedicine and AI, as crucial tools to improve accessibility and enhance preventive healthcare education.
Kathia sees storytelling not just as a bridge. Drawing from her media background, she amplifies the FCC’s mission through powerful visuals, heartfelt personal stories, and community-driven engagements. Whether a social media campaign, impactful collaboration, compelling event, or successful fundraiser, every story she tells is crafted to educate, inspire, and draw others into a cause that overreaches borders.
Bridging Borders for Healthier Tomorrows
Kathia eloquently outlines her vision for pediatric healthcare in the San Diego-Tijuana region and the Foundation’s role. She conveys, “My vision is to create a seamless, cross-border system that ensures all children have access to high-quality medical care regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.”
She believes true transformation lies in cross-border collaboration from telemedicine programs and binational medical training to joint research and shared emergency response systems. Through the Foundation, she champions community health campaigns and unified resource-sharing models that move beyond aid, toward enduring, collective resilience.
