My Journey to America

I was bawling my eyes out. It was bedtime in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and my mom was 1,500 miles away...and she wasn’t coming back anytime soon.?

My parents divorced, and my mother and I left our poor village near Haiti to live in the big city, Santo Domingo, when I was five. My two brothers moved in with my grandfather, still in the village.?

My mom and I were a team. We were lucky to have each other and I supported her and she supported me.??

Which was why it was so heartbreaking when “being a team” meant I had to stay behind while she left for America.?

My mom had it tough. She was a teacher, working two jobs. But she always struggled making ends meet. When I was 12, she went to New York City where her mother lived. I stayed in Santo Domingo with Nuni, who was our 82-year-old landlord.?

I didn’t see it as my mother abandoning me; we were a team. She told me she was going to America for us to create a better life. Her job in the team was to earn enough money so we could have a decent life and a brighter future; my job was to go to school, get good grades and stay out of trouble.

While I did not feel abandoned by my mother, I still cried every night when I went to bed. I missed my mother terribly.?

Nuni was a kind, generous woman who took care of me. I was responsible for my laundry, ironing my school clothes and not causing any problems–being a good girl. I stayed with Nuni for one year, then went to live with my aunt Norma and my cousin for another year.?

After two years, my mother received my visa and brought me to America.

A new journey had begun!

My Mother Did Her Job. I’d Like to Think I Did Mine

My mother got me to America at age 14. Now it was my turn to do my “job.”?

Over the next four years of high school, I learned English, got good grades and was accepted at Rutgers.?

I graduated from Rutgers College (first in my family to graduate college) and earned? three graduate degrees while working full-time. I built a 25-year career and became a leader in technology and financial services. Sure my childhood years were tough, and they are the reason I am so grateful for what I have accomplished in my life.???

It’s now my desire to pass on to other women and leaders what I’ve learned!?

So where do we start??

Women in Leadership Roles is Good for Business and Gender Equity in the Workplace

Diversity is a “hot topic” but is it a winnable one??

Gender diversity in senior positions in any organization is a key component of the success of that organization.

For instance, a company culture that values gender diversity in leadership will likely also see competitive and financial rewards. Gender diversity in C-suites and boardrooms is associated with higher returns on equity, better stock price performance, and greater organizational effectiveness.

Elevating talented women in leadership roles helps companies promote innovation and problem-solving, and enhance employee performance . In fact, with women in leadership positions, more diverse ideas and solutions are on the table, and creates a culture of inclusion and belonging, increasing employee engagement and job satisfaction.?

In addition, female leaders excel at collaboration and putting successful teams together.?

Lastly, companies with gender diversity in senior leadership roles can use that diversity as a competitive edge to attract and retain new customers, investors, and more highly qualified and diverse employees.?

All this, and more, is discussed in my white paper.

“The highest good includes yourself and the good of others.”?

About Dr. Ginny A. Baro:

After 25 years of a successful career in corporate America, Dr. Ginny Baro realized she needed a change–a change from a four-hour round-trip commute to more freedom and flexibility to be accessible for her family and the ability to really explore her full potential.??

She created ExecutiveBound, an innovative leadership development and career advancement company in northern New Jersey.??

She became a Certified Professional Coach and started coaching leaders. As a transformational speaker, leadership coach, career strategist, and #1 bestselling author of Healing Leadership and Fearless Women at Work, she advocates for women and leaders to grow and advance.?

The word is out, and now she has a full calendar of clients and organizations who seek her insights, wisdom, and guidance.

In January 2020, she launched the Women's Fearless Leadership Mastermind, which helps talented female leaders of all backgrounds gain critical leadership skills to advance into senior leadership positions.

To explore how your organization can leverage ExecutiveBound and Dr. Baro’s expertise to develop high-potential, talented leaders, please email [email protected], call 201-388-6318, or schedule to connect with her here.?