International Women’s Day 2026 profiles: Maia Sanchez

Ask Maia how she introduces herself, and you won’t hear a list of credentials. You’ll simply hear: “Hi, I'm Maia. How can I help?” For her, the portfolio isn’t as important as the person she’s speaking to. It’s just Maia — approachable, present, and ready to support.

At JIBC, Maia serves as a Primary Care Paramedic Lead Instructor, drawn to the institute because of its long-standing history in public safety education. That sense of legacy matters to her. She’s not just teaching skills; she’s helping shape the next generation of paramedics.

The best days, she says, are the “aha!” moments — when something clicks and a student understands it in a way they’ll carry into their work.

When asked about myths surrounding women and leadership, Maia offers a thoughtful perspective. She wishes the world would stop saying, “You’re a strong woman.” As she explains, she’s not strong because of a label — she’s strong because she had no other choice. For her, strength comes from failure and perseverance — and from doing what had to be done. As she humbly puts it, she is just as strong as any person in the same position, given the same choices.

What keeps her motivated is simple but powerful: learning more allows her to teach more. She truly believes education is the pathway from darkness to light. That belief fuels her commitment to her students and to the profession.

For those early in their career journey, Maia’s advice is simple: Do it all. If you want to be a police officer, firefighter, serve in the military, become a nurse or a medic — do them all. That’s advice she received from her grandfather that she has carried with her ever since. And in true Maia fashion, she pairs big ambition with practical wisdom: bring fresh socks, don’t talk about politics at work, wash your coffee cup, and wear sunscreen.

For this Women’s Day, we celebrate Maia Sanchez for the way she leads — with humility, honesty, and an unwavering belief in the power of education.