WHO’S THE BOSS?
Armed with social conscience and professional savvy, these six Philadelphia women are redefining success by taking others along for the ride.
First job: “As a high-school student, I worked sampling products in supermarkets.” Greatest accomplishment: “I am incredibly proud of the work I did as executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs under Mayor Michael Nutter. I see today how the policies, regulations, and programs which we implemented have prepared Philly to manage the uncertainty and fear surrounding new immigration laws under the Trump administration.” Words to live by: “In God we trust; all others must show proof!” Role models: “I am inspired by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Her story is one I can relate to: From a working-class family, finds herself in elite institutions, surrounded by highly accomplished individuals of a certain class and pedigree. She could have succumbed to self-doubt but did not.” Hidden talent: “I can make my own clothes. As a young girl living in Puerto Rico, we did not have much money. I even sewed my prom dress!” Day in the life: “The Chamber focuses on demographics and entrepreneurship for Latinos. This is the fastest-growing group in the nation, and we are two times more likely to start a business than the national average. There are 8,000 Latino-owned businesses in Philly and 18,000 in the region. That’s powerful.” Overcoming challenges: “What I find is that Latinos are in many ways still a mystery, and largely unknown or misunderstood. My goal is to help debunk assumptions and misconceptions about our diverse community, because it is indeed very diverse.” Me in three words: “WYSIWYG. Determined. Interested.” Get social: @GPHCC