Stepping Forward: Lessons from the Women and Leadership Conference

This week, I had the privilege of participating in the Andrus Center for Public Policy’s Women and Leadership Conference, held September 23–24, 2025, at Boise State University. I am deeply grateful to the American Association of University Women for their support, which made it possible for me to attend, engage, and grow.

Women and Leadership Conference 2025 Booklet

At the networking hour at Boise State University overlooking the city and BSU campus

Bronco Bus Stop

Reminiscing of the Puerto Rican parrots wings have mostly green feathers with a few blue

At the Stueckle Sky Center for the first time overlooking the city

Detour

After a decade within the largest health system, I have embarked on the bold and often daunting journey of building a solo private practice—Libélula Primary Care. Doing this alone has felt, at times, like stepping off a cliff into the unknown. The abyss can be terrifying. But this conference reminded me: I am not alone in this leap.

I gained tools that align with my values—frameworks for evaluating and ethically integrating AI, branding strategies that affirmed choices I have already made, and actionable insights tailored for small business owners. One session on “everyday influence” surprised me most—it taught me how to shift energy intentionally, a skill I will carry into both clinical care and community leadership.I attended a session on starting a business and was genuinely surprised by how far I've come in my own journey. It was empowering to share insights with others—offering guidance drawn from my experience—and to connect with fellow participants afterward. The conversations were rich, and the networking felt like a meaningful exchange of purpose and possibility.

Brave stories of hope from agents of change

Every keynote speaker left a mark. Their stories taught me that leadership is not about perfection, it is about rising through failure, evolving because of it, not despite it. I have always been a leader. Outgoing enough to be brave but now equipped with the deeper skill of making decisions rooted in my core values. That is what makes us bold enough to lead.

As women, we pave the way for those who come after us—facilitating access to education, equity, and empowerment from the fields to the professions, all woven together by dignity, fairness, and justice. But leadership does not happen in isolation. Sometimes, it takes a male ally to hold space for women to gather resources, mentor teams, and lead global efforts—like rescuing endangered species from extinction.

As a Puerto Rican, I was moved to learn about the 19 surviving Puerto Rican parrots (cotorras puertorriqueñas) after Hurricane María have increased in numbers but still less than 40. The devastation was immense, but their survival is a symbol of resilience. I discovered that donations to The Peregrine Fund can be earmarked specifically for these parrots—just add a note in the comments. I encourage my Puerto Rican family—biological and chosen (prim@s, ti@s)—to consider supporting this cause.

One of the most profound lessons I took away was this: when we lead through the lens of sustainability and shared values, we transcend party lines. We become our own heroes—because no one else is coming to save us.

Like many leadership skills, learning to fly

As I reflect on the conversations and experiences from this week, I feel energized. The barriers I face in delivering compassionate, timely, dignified, inclusive, evidence-based care are mine to solve. And I will. Beyond the abyss, I now see blue skies, soft winds, and gentle sunshine. I am moving forward—more determined than ever to lead through Libélula Primary Care.

Thank you to Keynote speaker: Rashmi Airan, Mary Bicknell, María González Cárdenas, Heather Meuleman, and Mary Peltola. Thank you to the skill builders of the session I attended: Anca Platon Trefan, Rhea Allen, Eren Barker, and Noelle Neal.