Another inspiring Latina to acknowledge is Rear Admiral Raquel Cruz Bono, U.S. Navy, whom proudly shared the story of who she is and how she got to where she is today. “When I was younger, I had the opportunity to stay up and wait for my father after he worked long days at the hospital,” she continued. “My family is extremely important and that helped me define me. Family is so important and I would not be here if I had not been encouraged by my father whom instilled in me that I can do it. Being in the U.S. Navy has allowed me to advance and progressed because of my ability to show my skills. We all have a debt to serve a country, our family and to those behind us.

With enthusiasm, attendees welcomed the first panel entitled Nurturing Latina Success. This panel showcased the importance of leadership. Moderated by Betty Rengifo Uribe, president, Hispanic Outreach Taskforce, panelists included Rear Admiral (Select) Raquel C. Bono, U.S. Navy; Lieutenant Coronel Irene M. Zoppi, U.S. Army; Ms. Linda Jimenez, Chief Diversity Officer, WellPoint; Carla Grantham, U.S. Coast Guard.

“Leadership was something that wasn’t a conscious decision for me,” expressed Grantham when asked what leadership meant to her. “It became most obvious along the way as people would lift me up and put me into places and situations and in front of people and opportunities that I’d never thought of creating for my own. There must be something that I do, that I represent, that I believe therefore in that others are recognizing that want to nurture, to support, and advance so with that realization you gain understanding that you have a big responsibility to help meet the challenge.”