Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez grew up in Tucson, AZ, a city that is only an hour away from the U.S. Mexico Border. When she was fifteen, complications with their legal status forced her parents to return to Mexico. When this happened, Elizabeth stayed behind in the United States in order to pursue her education. Despite these tumultuous events, Elizabeth was eventually accepted to multiple Ivy League Universities after graduating from High School at the top of her class. In 2018, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, & Economics.
While studying at Penn, Elizabeth appeared on NPR’s Latino USA and The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) named her as the Scholar of the year in 2017. Elizabeth was also the recipient of multiple awards and fellowships including the U.S. Department of State Gilman Scholarship Program. She was selected to document her experience abroad in the U.K. as a blogger and video correspondent. Also, both Harvard and Stanford’s Business Schools selected Elizabeth to participate in their competitive business programs.
2021 to Today
From 2018 to May of 2021, Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez worked as a Corporate and Investment Banking Analyst at Wells Fargo. In February 2020, out of 1000 Wells Fargo applicants, she secured a spot in the Wells Fargo Ignite program, a Wells Fargo and TED Institute partnership.
Her TED Talk, recounts her story of finding opportunity and stability in the United States. She also examines flaws in narratives that simplify and idealize the immigrant experience. Within a month, her talk reached over a million views and led to a major book deal with St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of Macmillan. In June of 2021, Elizabeth took on a new role in tech as a Rotational Product Manager at Facebook where she hopes to use her background and knowledge to empower communities.
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 Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez reveals her experience as the U.S. born daughter of immigrants and what happened when, at fifteen, her parents were forced back to Mexico in this galvanizing yet tender memoir.
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Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez’s memoir is listed on PEOPLE magazine’s “PEOPLE’s Best Books to Read in February 2024” and in the February 19th print edition.
My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez receives double coverage in the New York Times Book Review!
— Anonymous Essex Associate, Essex Property Trust, Inc.
“You are so inspiring and your story is so motivational and driven!! Thank you for sharing!”
— Anonymous Essex Associate, Essex Property Trust, Inc.
Praise for My Side of the River "Gutierrez's narration is both lyrical and unapologetically real. Her story touches on the complex emotions of her experiences, and she never shies away from Spanish phrases or the occasional swear word. The result is an intelligent, powerful performance that leaves the listener feeling sympathetic and hopeful for Gutierrez's success."
— AudioFile on My Side of the River Audiobook
“[A] powerful, often heartbreaking story … Sharp, incisive, and often wryly funny, Gutierrez’s memoir is a necessary addition to the complex conversation around immigration in the U.S.”
— Shelf Awareness
“Captivating … This is an inspirational example of dedication, devotion, and triumph over multiple oppressive juggernauts.”
— Booklist
“Written in an immersive and easy-to-read style, the book shows readers what it was like for Gutierrez throughout those difficult times before she achieved an impressive level of success.”
— Library Journal
“[A] testament to the abiding allure—and often daunting reality—of the American dream.”
— New York Times Book Review
“[M]oving, timely memoir.”
— New York Times Book Review, Editor's Choice
“Camarillo Gutierrez sustains a sense of urgency to her writing … and creates an involving, inspirational portrait of personal resilience and firm family bonds. It’s galvanizing stuff.”
— Publishers Weekly