As a Latina in leadership, I’ve lived between two worlds—fitting in and standing out. I learned to prove my worth twice as hard. But true leadership is not about proving. It’s about embodying.
For years, I thought success meant performing perfectly in both languages, cultures, and systems—never too much, never too little. That constant negotiation shaped me, but it also exhausted me. The real breakthrough came when I discovered that leadership isn’t about shrinking or proving—it’s about standing rooted in who you are, leading with clarity, and aligning with your purpose.
Purpose as Compass
In Breaking Through Coaching and Leadership Workhops, I teach that purpose is your compass. It is not another title, role, or task on your to-do list—it’s the anchor that helps you realign when you feel stretched between identities, expectations, or demands.
When clients rediscover their purpose, they often say it feels like breathing again. They no longer lead from pressure; they lead from presence. They realize purpose is not about pleasing others—it’s about living and leading from inner truth.
Viktor Frankl’s Reminder
Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl described this so beautifully in Man’s Search for Meaning. Amid unthinkable suffering, he observed that those who survived were not the strongest, but those who held onto a sense of purpose—something beyond themselves that gave meaning to their suffering and direction to their lives (Frankl, 1946/2006).
He wrote: “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how.’”
Frankl’s story reminds us: purpose is not a luxury. It’s a lifeline. And as Latinas and leaders navigating multiple worlds, holding onto purpose allows us to embody—not perform—our leadership.
Reflection for You
This Hispanic Heritage Month, I invite you to pause and reflect:
- Where in your leadership do you feel you’re proving instead of embodying?
- What part of your identity have you hidden—or overworked—just to belong?
- If you could lead from your why, what would shift in your career, your relationships, or your well-being?
Take a moment to journal your answers. This is not about fixing yourself. It’s about remembering who you already are.
Closing
Leadership begins when you stop proving and start embodying your light. This month, may you honor both your roots and your wings. May you stand in the fullness of your dual identity—not as a weight, but as a source of wisdom and strength.
And if you’re ready to explore your purpose more deeply, I’d love to walk with you. In our coaching journey, we use tools and reflections to help you reset, realign, and reignite the clarity you already carry.
Because when you lead with purpose, you don’t just lead for yourself—you light the way for others.
If you or your team are ready to break through burnout and lead with clarity, let’s connect. Together, we can reignite leadership that’s rooted in humanity, purpose, and lasting impact.