A Love Letter to Betty and Robyn

As Black History Month comes to a close, I find myself recalling the most important mentors in my career and I want to thank them for how they profoundly shaped my life, values, and the leader I am today.?

Nearly 30 years ago, as a wide-eyed 27-year-old with limited perspective and experience, I found myself leaving Chicago for Connecticut. I had accepted a role supporting national workplace diversity efforts at a major professional services firm. At the time, corporate diversity initiatives were still in their early stages. This firm had already garnered recognition for its work in advancing women, but broader workplace diversity was just beginning to take shape. I stepped into this role without fully grasping its historical context or significance.?

Until then, I had had limited exposure to the Black experience in America. I took the job because I believed that talent was equally distributed across race and ethnicity. I naively subscribed to the idea of meritocracy—the belief that hard work alone ensures success. I had been taught that justice and fairness would always prevail. But then I met Betty and Robyn, and my education truly began.?

These two extraordinary Black women—trailblazers in both their professional and personal lives—invested in me. They took a chance on a young, inexperienced Latina, guiding me in ways that would fundamentally shape my leadership and ultimately inspire the founding of Latinos for Education. Their mentorship was transformative. Through them, I became proximate to the lived realities of Black Americans – an experience that forever changed how I understood the world.?

From Betty and Robyn, I learned what it meant to fear for your Black children, especially Black boys. I learned that even after "making it"—earning a degree and securing senior roles—you still had to fight for credibility. I learned about quiet strength, resilience, and the unyielding commitment to making the path a little easier for those who follow. They exemplified Black pride and Black excellence, and they set the standard for the kind of leader I aspired to become.?

They gave me opportunities to fail safely, to learn, and to grow. Thanks to them, I sat at tables I never imagined I’d have access to. They taught me the unspoken rules of success while also ensuring I gained invaluable professional skills. Perhaps most importantly, it was in their presence that I began to explore my own identity more deeply.?

Until then, I had navigated the world as a White-presenting Latina, suppressing parts of myself to fit in—something that, while offering certain privileges, also came at a profound personal cost. Working with Betty and Robyn made me confront that reality. I started embracing my Latinidad with greater confidence. I engaged more with my community, and in doing so, became more whole.?

Through this experience, I learned that mentorship is one of the most powerful ways that leaders of color can pay it forward and it is something that I believe all leaders must incorporate into their professional life. The barriers we face are often systemic, requiring not only individual excellence but also the support of those who have walked the path before us. Mentorship is more than just professional guidance—it is an act of service, a commitment to opening doors that might otherwise remain closed. Leaders like Betty and Robyn understood that lifting as you climb is not just a philosophy but a necessity, ensuring that the next generation is equipped to lead with confidence and purpose. If we are serious about building equitable workplaces and communities, then mentorship must be an intentional part of how we lead.?

Since my time working with Betty and Robyn, I have been fortunate to work alongside and learn from so many extraordinary Black women—leaders, mentors, friends—who embody the same strength, wisdom, and grace as Betty and Robyn. The collective force of Black women is immeasurable. Our country and our world would be profoundly better if we truly centered, valued, and uplifted them.?

Betty and Robyn, thank you. Your investment in me shaped the leader I am today, and I am forever grateful. Your legacy lives on in my work, the communities I serve, and the generation of leaders I strive to uplift—just as you once did for me.?