Some people talk the talk, but walking the walk is something entirely different. I never got into public service for recognition or a paycheck. I chose this path because I was raised in the South Bronx during a time when the borough was suffering. Poverty and despair touched every block. But in the midst of it all, I was raised by parents who, though not financially wealthy, were deeply rich in values, culture, and love.
They taught me that family, friends, and community mean everything. That we are part of something greater than ourselves. That we rise together or fall together. They instilled in us a sense of collective responsibility, and they modeled what it meant to serve with humility and heart. These early lessons shaped who I am and how I lead today.
Leadership rooted in humanity cannot be faked. Your values and authenticity reveal themselves, especially to those who are most vulnerable. During my work as a primary therapist in substance use recovery centers, my patients would often say, “We can always tell who is real.” That simple truth holds for anyone in a leadership role. You cannot fake care. You cannot fake listening. You cannot fake presence. And people always know the difference.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” That question remains the guiding compass for all who lead with purpose.
Despite the privileges I have earned through education and opportunity, I have consistently chosen the path of community. I started holiday service projects to local soup kitchens as a teenager. I volunteered at afterschool programs for students in Poughkeepsie. In my first professional role, I designed programs to support students of color because I saw the barriers they were facing and knew someone had to act.
But the most powerful acts of leadership are the quiet ones. They do not always happen in meetings or at the podium. They happen in silence. They happen when no one is watching. Helping someone who is food insecure without telling a soul. Opening your home to someone who has nowhere to go. Giving a second chance to someone the world has given up on. These are not stories for resumes or press releases. They are the moments that define who we are.
Here are a few leadership lessons I have learned:
- Authenticity is not optional. People know when you are not being genuine. Leaders must lead with integrity, humility, and truth.
- Purpose must guide your work. The best leaders are grounded in a clear sense of public purpose. They are not chasing titles. They are answering a calling.
- What you do in private matters most. Leadership is revealed in the decisions you make when no one is watching. Character is built in the quiet.
- Center people, not just performance. Metrics and achievements matter, but the heart of leadership is about people. It is about showing up with compassion, empathy, and a deep respect for others.
As Nelson Mandela reminded us, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
I carry with me the values instilled by my family, my community, and the Marist Brothers tradition. Leadership is not about being the most visible. It is about being the most grounded. It is about living your purpose, centering humanity, and staying committed to the common good, no matter the cost.
In a world where performance often takes precedence over principle, may we return to a leadership that is rooted in service, shaped by humility, and guided by love for others. Rosa Parks, whose quiet courage helped spark a movement, reminded us that leadership often begins with a simple act of conviction: “Each person must live their life as a model for others.”
