Today’s interview with Lourdes G. Zuniga, the award-winning leader and Executive Director of Financial Health Pathways, is a masterclass in authentic leadership.

As an introvert, a woman of color, and an immigrant, Lourdes has had to deconstruct the narrative of leadership as “in-your-face, white male, and non-accent” and reconstruct it to make space for herself in rooms where others don’t feel she belongs.

Helpful takeaways from today’s episode, include:

• Not needing to fill your predecessor’s shoes
• Finding your own path and taking your own journey to success
• Being brave enough to start the succession plan conversation with your board
• Taking inventory of the strengths and weaknesses you bring to your organization
• Letting the organization grow if you no longer add value to it
• Not making the organization “so you” that without you, it doesn’t succeed
• Understanding the strength of your unique voice
• Honing your confidence to enter and speak up in rooms where you’re not welcome
• Educating your funders for the greater good of the entire sector, not just your organization: “If it’s not brought up by us who are in the trenches, who’s going to tell them?”

Listen now and share your thoughts!

Connect with Lourdes

LinkedIn

Financial Health Pathways Website

About Lourdes

Lourdes G. Zuniga - Executive Director at the Financial Health Pathways

Lourdes G. Zuñiga is an award winning social impact leader, who recently has been named Presidential Leadership Scholar. A journalist from Lima Peru, Lourdes, from a very young age, has always been involved in philanthropy and social causes, particularly advocating for Hispanics, immigration issues, health and education. Through the work she leads in her non profit she aims to improve our systems and create economic opportunity for all. Lourdes has been recognized as one of the most influential women in Central Texas by the Austin Business Journal and she received the President's Volunteer Service gold medal award, the Founder's award by The Austin Area Urban League and various other accolades. She is also a proud alumna from the LBJ Women Campaign School's inaugural class, where she was selected because of her work as an influential leader and strategist, and the American Express Leadership Academy.