Name: Olga Ramos

Title: President

Organisation: Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico

Olga is a transformative leader with a 30-year career spanning finance, business development, and general management across diverse industries and multinational companies. Currently, as President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico (BGCPR), she oversees a team of 400+ employees, transforming the organization into a socioeconomic development engine for communities. In her extensive career, Olga held leadership roles in multinational retail companies, culminating in leading a business with a $1.2 billion sales portfolio and a team of 3,000+.

Before retail, she worked in luxury hospitality and finance. Olga is dedicated to people development, earning recognition with the Hipolito Mejias Medal of Excellence in 2019. A mentor and sponsor, she holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Juris Doctor. She completed the Harvard Business School's Strategic Agility and Inclusive Leadership course in 2021, is certified as a Leadership Professional in Ethics and Compliance (LPEC), and serves on the National Workforce Development Board.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Olga's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

As a leader, one of the biggest challenges, yet one of the most rewarding aspects, is to be labeled a non traditional leader. Early in my career, this led me to believe that I had to prove myself to others even when I knew I was capable, trying to conform to their own norms of how a leader should be portrayed. Finding my own voice, owning my space and knowing what I bring to the table is powerful.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

In my recent book that I co-authored with another 20 latina trailblazers, I tell part of the story. Since I was a girl, I was exposed to experiences where I was in leadership positions. As I grew in my career, I was not afraid of taking the challenges that came my way, always with an open mind and knowing that I needed to put in work so I could be successful, never comparing myself to others and owning my journey.

During my second year of college my landlord offered me a job as an accountant. I jumped to the opportunity because I wanted to graduate with experience. She took the risk of hiring an unexperienced undergraduate student and I took the challenge to learn while doing and to build relationships that showed me the way.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

My day starts at 4 am. This is my 'me' time. I usually wake up, read, pray, meditate, do some exercise and get ready for the day. I do not like to leave the house in a rush. I take my daughter to school and then head to work. In the afternoon, I pick up my daughter from school and go home to have family time with my husband and daughter.

I use my breakfast/lunch time wisely and use these spaces to cultivate friendships, spend time with mentors, or meetings to advance the work of the organization. I do not believe in work/life balance. I am firm believer in work/life integration. I only keep one calendar, as I only have one life. If it is important, it goes in the calendar.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

You have to stay true to who you are, your core values as a person. It is important that your personal values align to your company's values, but you must be clear about what YOU stand for. As a leader you find yourself in positions where you have to choose to adjust and go with the flow or take a stand for what is right. You cannot be afraid to walk alone, when challenges call for it.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Early in my career, Steven Covey's "7 habits of highly effective people" had an impact. Most recently, I had the chance to read Brene Brown's "Dare to Lead" with my executive team and it was a great, reality-full book. In the challenging, volatile world we live in today, vulnerability is one of the key leadership traits to live by.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Please find a mentor early in your career. Build your personal advisory board with people that will give you the in-your-face answers and will ask the questions that may not be apparent for you. Build a relationship of trust so you can ask the many questions you will face. Value their experience and make a it a two-way street. They will learn a lot from your perspective, too.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

The time that I made a career change that took me to lead experts in their field. I will never forget the day I stand in front of them and said: "We all know that I am not an expert in this field, but what I bring to the table is something that will make your work easier and more effective. I am relying on you to do what you know to do best and I will do exactly the same. I assure you that WE will be successful."