Oscar’s Story
Oscar Gomez is an executive strategist, leadership advisor, and organizational wellness practitioner with more than 30 years of experience across the nonprofit, healthcare, and philanthropic sectors. Raised in a bilingual Spanish-English home by parents who immigrated from Mexico, Oscar grew up in Lynwood, California, in Southeast Los Angeles. He earned a B.A. in International Studies from Pepperdine University, with a focus on intercultural communication.
Oscar began his career in Washington, DC, when what was intended to be a one-year administrative assistant position became a 25-year career with Health Outreach Partners. He moved quickly into program and operational leadership and, at age 31, became Interim Executive Director before serving approximately 16 years as CEO. During his tenure, he led the organization’s transformation from a regional direct-service initiative into a national capacity-building and advocacy organization serving community health centers and other safety-net providers across the country.
That experience shaped Oscar’s approach to leadership and organizational strategy: practical, people-centered, and grounded in the realities leaders face when making difficult decisions, navigating change, and translating strategy into action. His work has included organizational transformation, executive and board leadership, governance, strategic planning, leadership development, health equity, and the development of practical tools that organizations can use in real time.
Oscar founded SoJoGo Impact in 2018. The name honors his parents, Socorro and Jose Gomez, and the values that shaped his approach to leadership, community, and social impact. Through SoJoGo, Oscar works with executives, leadership teams, boards, philanthropic foundations, community health organizations, and other mission-driven institutions on organizational strategy, leadership development, executive coaching, change management, governance, and Organizational Wellness.
From 2022 to 2023, Oscar also served as Interim Chief Operations Officer of the Castellano Family Foundation, where he provided operational leadership during the foundation’s final transition, maintained continuity for its grantees and partners, and helped design a legacy strategy that extended the foundation’s impact beyond its closure.
Oscar’s work today draws on decades of experience as both an executive and practitioner. He brings that perspective to engagements focused on:
• Strategic and operational planning
• Organizational Wellness and resilience
• Leadership development and executive coaching
• Change management and organizational transition
• Board governance and board-executive partnership
• Team alignment, shared purpose, and leadership capacity
• Strategic storytelling and stakeholder engagement
Oscar also holds a Healthcare Executive Certification from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Oscar moved to Mexico City in 2025 and continues to work with organizations across the United States. He remains an avid Bay Area sports fan, enjoys long walks with his dog, Iggy, and continues to expand his vinyl collection while making intermittent progress on learning the electric guitar.
He began his career in Washington, DC, where a one-year role as an administrative assistant at a small nonprofit turned into a transformative 25-year tenure in community and public health. Oscar ultimately served 16 years as CEO of Health Outreach Partners, a national organization dedicated to building the capacity of community health centers to serve underserved populations. Under his leadership, the organization became a leading voice in training, advocacy, and health equity.
In 2018, Oscar founded SoJoGo, a strategic communications and leadership development firm. The name pays tribute to his parents, Socorro y Joze Gomez, and their immigrant story. Oscar brings deep expertise in change and crisis management, strategic storytelling, organizational resilience, DEIB, board development, and senior talent recruitment.
His executive experience is further supported by a HealthCare Executive Certification from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and fellowships with The California Wellness Foundation and LeaderSpring for Executives of Color. Oscar applies his extensive professional experience and expertise in areas such as:
Change/Crisis Management: Contingency and Scenario Planning
Strategic Storytelling, Narrative Building, and Messaging
Organizational Culture of Self-Care and Resilience
Applied Executive/Leadership Coaching
Board Development and Governance Strategy
Senior Talent Recruitment and Learning Experiences
Oscar is also an avid sports fan of all Bay Area sports teams, his favorite time of day is taking his dog Iggy on his evening walks, and he continues to pursue his interests in expanding his vinyl album collection and learning to play the electric guitar.