Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Mendoza.
Hi Monique, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Early in my career as a psychologist, I made a deliberate choice: I’d work in the areas that scared me most, including suicide prevention. I began my career in San Diego at the University of California, San Diego, then moved to UC San Diego Health before leaving those roles to work as a corporate wellness director in a startup.
What I discovered in those high-pressure environments changed everything. When you value people as whole human beings and focus on dignity and respect, you’ll always have better long-term outcomes. Not just better safety metrics. Better people, better teams, better organizations.
That insight stuck with me, especially as I became a mother and now as I watch my daughter head into her pubilc school each morning. I couldn’t stand by as I watched schools and businesses being forced to adopt reactive responses to build safe environments. Many include fear-based approaches that treat employees and strangers as potential threats rather than valued team and community members.
So I founded MM Psychology and Solutions, Inc., to fundamentally change how organizations think about safety. As a licensed psychologist in a field dominated by former law enforcement, and as a female Latina business owner in a decidedly male-dominated industry, I bring a perspective that’s both different and desperately needed.
The support and encouragement of colleagues and friends pushed my to forge my own path and lean into my expertise. I thank them everyday for helping me find a role that I look forward to tackling every.single.day!
When I’m not working, I love being outside! You’ll find me enjoying anything San Diego has to offer with my daughter and friends, including paddleboarding on Mission Bay, taking my dog Luna on hikes, swimming, and gardening.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Earlier this year, family health concerns required me to split my time between San Diego and LA while my business was running full speed. That’s when I learned one of entrepreneurship’s hardest lessons: you can’t do it alone. Opening up to colleagues about what I was facing showed me that people genuinely want to see me succeed, and they offered their zones of genius to support me! Recognizing that my expertise is in psychology and workplace safety, not media or marketing, I sought out partners and collaborators who could shine in those areas while supporting my business goals.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
MM Psychology and Solutions partners with enterprise organizations have workplace safety become a strategic advantage. I offer core services: Strategic Consultation for customized and proactive workplace safety systems. Speaking and Training programs, and long-term partnerships to cement your sustained approach to safety.
MM Psych Solutions positions itself as a disruptive force in the workplace violence prevention industry, offering a psychologically-informed, trauma-sensitive approach that stands in contrast to the conventional fear-based, reactive tactics that dominate the field. When employees feel safe and valued, they also feel productive, engaged and loyal to their organizations. I specialize in proactive threat management and mass violence preparedness for high-consequence environments, particularly for organizations involved in high-profile events such as the Olympics and the World Cup.
What I am most proud of are the partnerships I have built with my clients, who continue to view safety as more than just a checkbox.
What matters most to you?
The relationships with family and friends. Generational Wealth. Creating a future that is safe and approachable for my daughter to expand her horizons and forge her own path. I’m building towards quality time with family and friends because it’s what nurtures, excites me, and replenishes me to continue to do the work I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mmpsychsolutions.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsdrmonique
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkplaceSafetyDrMonique
Image Credits
Monique Mendoza
Wholeheart Photography
Anna Manansala
