What motivates me to do my best work even on difficult days?

I look at our work as a ripple effect. When you help an individual, you also help a team, and subsequently you help a company. Being an immigrant, I recognize that in other places, not everyone has the opportunities we have here in America. I want to give people a path to a fulfilling life. It’s why I am so passionate about building individual, organizational, and community capacity. Our company’s mission is built on this premise. I’m constantly asking myself how I can help my clients toward their mission. At the end of the day, what greater joy is there? Uplifting communities and making a difference in the world pushes me to continue persevering.

What is my philosophy on good leadership?

  1. Transparency. This is critically important, even in hard times. People need to know where they stand; it’s this kind of honesty that fosters trust and makes people feel safe.
  2. Optimism. I want my staff to know I will work tirelessly to figure things out. We’ll work together to strategize and collaborate and find solutions.
  3. A growth mindset. This shows resilience, encourages innovation, and fosters openness to change—three beliefs that create a healthy company.

A favorite hobby:

I love to be in my garden and I love to cook. And I especially love cooking with the vegetables from my own garden. I’ve experimented with every recipe you can think of that involves squash, cucumber, and tomatoes. I find joy in sharing my abundant harvest, so all of my neighbors have received vegetables from my garden. My husband says I get a glimmer in my eye when I’m asking people if they’d like some tomatoes. Sharing and giving to others is a core part of who I am.