Message from NHLI's Acting President
Barbara J. DesMarteau
 It is an honor for me to be able to step in and lead NHLI during this time.I have enjoyed being a part of this great institution since 1994 when I was an NHLI Executive Leadership Program Fellow - an experience that changed my professional career and introduced me to women who are now my dear lifelong friends. As a result, I have stayed committed to NHLI and the NHLI familia.
My journey with NHLI began seventeen years ago, when I was looking for training that would prepare me for senior level positions in government. I learned of NHLI through an article in a local newsletter and although I immediately applied, I did not immediately get accepted. The following year, I received notification of the open application period with a handwritten note from a member of the NHLI staff. It said, The sign of a good leader is persistence. This simple note has stayed with me all these years and I continue to follow that advice. The following year, I applied again and was selected with no idea of how I would pay the fee. At that time my boss’ boss’ boss was an NHLI alumna so I went to her office to ask for support. Recognizing the value of NHLI, she approved it right away.
In less than 6 months of graduating from the program, I landed my first senior-level job as Executive Director of a nonprofit organization. From there, I built my career portfolio, leading bigger and bigger organizations with more staff and larger budgets. Most recently, I held a top job in the federal government overseeing a $10 billion budget.
Needless to say, I have grown up with NHLI and NHLI has grown with me. Over the years, I recruited Latina leaders, wrote numerous letters of recommendation and attended as many NHLI conferences as I could, watching the organization expand to a nationally-recognized leadership institute. A couple of years ago, I was overjoyed to become a member of the NHLI Board of Directors, but I never thought I would one day act as President of NHLI. Next year as we celebrate our 25thanniversary, I have to marvel how the years have flown by for me and NHLI.
As with age, each year we change, gain wisdom, discover strengths and enlarge our networks. The NHLI sisterhood is real and positive and lasts for a lifetime. No other organization can provide these benefits to its members.
As I take the helm of NHLI, I promise continuous improvements, consistency, quality and the good energy that has supported us ambitious Latinas throughout our careers. Many of us are now executives and NHLI is still here providing us with a sisterhood we can find nowhere else. We have raised the bar for NHLI and we do not know limitations, we only know that being on the NHLI journey is the path that will open doors, or at a minimum, teach us how to open a window.
Sincerely,
Barbara J. DesMarteau
Acting President
National Hispana Leadership Institute
P.S. I am looking forward to meeting you in Los Angeles during NHLI’s Executive Leadership Conference and Mujer Awards on November 3 and 4.
In closing …
Thank you for starting 2011 with NHLI. We look forward to keeping you engaged throughout the year. Questions, Comments: nhli@nhli.org
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