Executive Women’s Council - Ivette Fernandez

EYES ON YOU

Ivette Fernandez

Vice President of Government Relations for Endeavor

My name is Ivette Fernandez, and I am the Vice President of Government Relations for Endeavor. Endeavor is a global leader in sports, entertainment, fashion and talentmanagement operating in more than 30 countries. It is the parent of numerous brands, including UFC®, New York Fashion Week, Miss Universe, Professional Bull Riders, William Morris Endeavor and IMG. Endeavor is based in Beverly Hills, CA, but I am based at UFC headquarters in Las Vegas.

Q: Tell us about yourself

I moved to Las Vegas 4 years ago from Washington, DC to help my father with my mother, who has late stages of Alzheimer’s. I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, and I have 25 years of experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

I worked for President George W. Bush at The White House and in the U.S. Senate for two of Alaska’s senators. I participated in a cultural study abroad to Argentina in college and was selected to be a Rotary Foreign Exchange Student to Sweden in high school. I have traveled to over 30 countries and 35 states in the U.S. and speak three languages.

In 2000, I won the title of Miss Alaska USA and Miss Congeniality and competed in the 2001 Miss USA Pageant. In 2006, I was a semi-finalist for the reality TV show “Survivor.” I was honored with the United Way of NYC’s 2012 Women’s Leadership Council “Woman of Distinction Award,” and featured in New York Post’s “Page 6,” as well as selected one of PODER Magazine’s 2013 “20 under 40: Latinos Going Places.” I serve as a Commissioner on the Nevada Equal Rights Commission; as a Board Member of the Women in Sports & Events Las Vegas chapter; as a Member of the Las Vegas Mayor’s Fund Advisory Committee, Nevada State College President’s Advisory Council, Girls Scouts of Southern Nevada’s Development Committee, Hispanic Scholarship Fund Las Vegas Advisory Council and Junior League of Las Vegas.

Q: What inspires you?

My faith in God, as well as my family, friends and that we each have a purpose while we are on earth. I aspire to leave the world a better place than I entered it, and to be a better person tomorrow than today.

Q: What are your favorite books and are there any you recommend EWC members read?

1. “Attached” by Amir Levine, Rachel Heller 2. “Boundary Boss” by Terri Cole 3. “What Happened to You?” by Oprah Winfrey, Bruce D. Perry 4. “The Four Agreements” by don Miguel Ruiz 5. “Braving the Wilderness” by Brene Brown 6. “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg 7. “The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy 8. “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman 9. “Calling In ‘The One’” by Katherine Woodward Thomas 10. “How to Get a Date Worth Keeping” by Henry Cloud