Executive Moms

A conversation on female leadership as professionals in different industries and as mothers

Legal PM Partners, on Wednesday, May 3, as part of its social commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, created a space where outstanding professional mothers from different industries could share their experiences as executive mothers. Our founder and president, attorney Carmen Cortés, moderated the conversation, which included attorney Ataveyra Medina Hernández, CEO of Microjuris; Amarilis Goitía, CPA, vice president and general manager of Droguería Betances; Lourdes M. Aponte Rodríguez, owner and president of ECC and president-elect of Centro Unido de Detallistas; and Ninotchka Rojas Marrero, administrative and project manager of Legal PM Partners.

Through their dialogue, the panelists used the Mother’s Day holiday, May 8, 2022, to support the development of professional mothers and to carry a message of empowerment to other women, with the goal of recognizing and making visible their contributions.

“I am now occupying a different role. After 10 years of legal practice, I began this new role leading a Puerto Rican company: Microjuris, which has subsidiaries in Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela. So we have an international operation, and I am at the head, leading work teams and implementing many of the skills I learned in my career and in the legal profession. This entire professional journey has helped me validate the career I chose. I have grown within it, and it has also grown within me,” attorney Medina Hernández shared with those present.

As part of their experiences, the panelists shared how they combine their role as mothers with their professional role and how they have been able to evolve in their respective industries.

“I have had the privilege of starting in accounting, and I liked other areas and was able to share that knowledge. I was given the opportunity to work in other business areas, and that is why I now work for Droguería Betances as General Manager, not necessarily as an accountant, although I always carry it in my blood. So I always sneak the numbers in at some point. But I love leading, doing new things, and learning. Thank God, I have been given the opportunity to combine, above all, work with family, the children... it has been a combination that, to this day, has been excellent. Although my children are already quite grown, as everyone knows: ‘Mom is for life,’” shared Amarilis Goitía.

The moderators also had the opportunity to discuss how they combine their lives with the challenge of managing their own companies while also serving as leaders in government organizations.

“I gained all these experiences and entered the business field by establishing my own company. Because I had a woman by my side who truly taught me and guided my steps, and that was my mother. She is no longer on this plane, but she was the best teacher, not only a teacher by profession but the teacher in my life, and she fostered everything I have been able to achieve today. So I established myself within an industry dominated by men, the technology industry, but I focused on the administrative side, which is my area. I have developed in different areas where what began in the School of Public Communication, in my area of specialty, public relations, allowed me to turn things around and develop professionally. Until I arrived, with great honor, to become the third woman to lead Centro Unido de Detallistas,” said Lourdes Aponte.

This activity provided a space of solidarity and empathy where other women could feel identified and empowered to fight for their dreams. It also encouraged organizations and leaders from other industries to believe in supporting those who want to grow and evolve but do not have the help or mentorship needed to take action.

“When I entered the UPR, I stayed in the Business Administration area, not only to reinforce what I had already learned, but also to contribute. I always said: ‘I am going to work at the UPR’ – and at some point it happened. So when I said, ‘This is my area.’ ‘I like to lead, create processes, innovate...’ that is what led me to form a leadership profession. Being at the UPR gave me great opportunities and experiences in both the private sector and nonprofit organizations. This has given me a different experience, and I have been able to apply everything I have learned in a different way. That has helped me keep creating, forming new processes,” expressed Ninotchka Rojas. “I did things as a lawyer, as an engineer, as many things, and I decided: ‘Since this does not exist, I am going to create it.’ That is how I decided to create Legal PM Partners, where I can combine all my professions, my passions – I also teach, so we provide training at Legal PM Partners – while having the possibility of being with my family. Although before I thought I did not want to have children, and those who know me from that stage say: ‘Wow! How are you now the super mom?’ Well, that happens. I did not know what it was until I had them. So I identify with everything they are experiencing,” was the anecdote shared by Carmen Cortés, who led the activity and thanked those present.