For award-winning journalist Lisa Gonzales, success is inseparable from the generations who helped make it possible. A Sacramento native and the first in her family to graduate from college, Lisa has built a more than 20-year career in television journalism while remaining deeply connected to her family, heritage, and hometown.

“I feel proud every day of my mixed culture & heritage,” Lisa shares. “I’m inspired when I think about the journey my grandparents made from Mexico and the extremely hard work they did to build successful lives in California.”

Lisa identifies as predominantly Mexican and Native American, with German and Norwegian heritage as well. Her paternal grandparents were born in Mexico, and members of her Gonzales family served the United States in every branch of the military.

“All of their sacrifices are why I get to live my dreams in America,” she says.

Lisa began building those dreams at the University of California, Berkeley. She joined INROADS as a freshman in 1994 and completed three summer internships with Procter & Gamble in 1995, 1996, and 1997. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 1998 with a degree in Rhetoric with an emphasis in journalism.

Her professional biography adds another glimpse into her early interest in media: while at Berkeley, Lisa helped start Caltv, the university’s first undergraduate television station. Her studies also included business, Chicano/Latino studies, and ethnic studies.

Through INROADS and Procter & Gamble, Lisa gained professional training and life skills that would help prepare her for both graduation and the career ahead.

“The training & life skills I learned from INROADS and P&G helped me graduate from one of the best public Universities in the world & become the first in my family to graduate from college,” she shares.

After graduating, Lisa accepted a full-time Account Manager position with Procter & Gamble. She spent two years in Corporate America before deciding to pursue the field that had long interested her: journalism.

The transition took her into television news, where she worked as an anchor, reporter, and producer at stations in Redding, Fresno, and Sacramento. Before joining KCRA 3, she spent seven years anchoring morning and noon newscasts at KOVR/CBS 13 in Sacramento.

For Lisa, the skills developed through INROADS remained valuable even as her career moved from business into broadcasting.

“I would not be where I am today, without INROADS,” Lisa says. “The program taught me priceless lessons that set me up for success not only in Corporate America, but also tv broadcasting.”

Today, Lisa is an Anchor, Journalist, and Reporter for Hearst at KCRA 3, the NBC affiliate in Sacramento. In her INROADS submission, Lisa shared that she anchors the Noon, 4 p.m., and 5 p.m. newscasts Monday through Friday. She has spent 21 years working in the Sacramento market, building her career in the same community where she was born and raised.

Her work has earned significant recognition. Lisa has won 14 Emmy Awards as well as Edward R. Murrow awards for journalism, investigative reporting, breaking news, and anchoring. Her news team has also received numerous national broadcasting honors.

Yet after accomplishing many of the professional goals she once set for herself, Lisa is increasingly focused on helping others pursue theirs.

“I’ve more than achieved all of my dreams and goals, now I’m focused on helping my kids achieve theirs & other youth,” she says.

Lisa volunteers at a local high school, where she teaches media and videography. Her professional biography also notes her passion for supporting domestic violence victims, homeless women and children, and at-risk youth.
Her commitment to encouraging young people is particularly meaningful given one of the fears Lisa had to overcome on her own path.

“Don’t be afraid to set big goals that frighten you,” she says. “I used to be terrified of public speaking, but now I speak to thousands LIVE every day.”

For today’s students and emerging professionals, Lisa’s advice is simple and practical:

• Be willing to set ambitious goals, even when they feel intimidating.
• Stay humble and continue learning throughout your career.
• Ask thoughtful questions and remain curious.
• Listen closely to the people around you and learn from their experiences.

From her INROADS internships at Procter & Gamble to a celebrated career in television journalism, Lisa Gonzales has built on the sacrifices and opportunities that came before her. Today, she is using her experience not only to inform her community, but also to prepare another generation to find its voice.

Her journey is a reflection of the legacy she carries forward—one shaped by family, heritage, hard work, and the belief that the opportunities one generation creates can help the next dream even bigger.