Honoring the Roots That Ground Us

This photo sits on my desk. It’s my Abuela, Isabel, on the day she landed in New York City with $20 in her pocket and the courage to start over. At 35, she left the Dominican Republic single and alone, carrying only an address for a boarding house and the determination to build a better life.

She spent long hours sewing in a clothing factory, saved every dollar, and eventually bought her first house in Brooklyn, New York. Only then could she send for her three children and siblings, reuniting the family she had sacrificed years apart to support.

Her grit and perseverance opened doors for me that she could never have imagined.

I share this during Hispanic Heritage Month not because I’m Latina only in September or October.

I’m Latina every single day.

But I do believe this month offers a chance to pause and honor the people whose strength and sacrifice became the roots that ground us.

For me, that begins with Abuela Isabel. She passed away just before Thanksgiving last year, at nearly 96 years old. Even in her absence, she continues to guide me.

She showed me that women could do anything. She built a home, raised a family, and carried the weight of others on her shoulders, all while teaching us to lead with courage and heart.

Her story reminds me that resilience is not about pushing through alone. It’s about creating pathways for those who come after us.

In the work I do now, it also means celebrating the Latino tech organizations carrying this same spirit forward today:

• Techqueria
• Latinas In Tech
• SOMOS.tech
• Latinos In Tech
• TechLatino
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

These communities are making space for leaders to rise, thrive, and support one another. Just like my Abuela did. And just like the many family and friends who came before us.

This month, I honor her and all the Latino and Latina leaders whose lives and legacies remind us what’s possible when we lead with strength, perseverance, and love.

Denise Musselwhite is an unshakable optimist who believes in a future where leaders thrive authentically and courageously. She is dedicated to empowering diverse professionals to reclaim their power, harness their strengths, and break through the barriers—both systemic and self-imposed—that hold them back.

As a visionary executive coach, speaker, and strategist, Denise founded Tech & Thrive to bridge the gap between ambition and achievement, particularly for women and people of color in tech leadership. Her T.H.R.I.V.E. Operating System™ is more than a framework—it’s a movement designed to help leaders rise with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Denise’s mission is clear: to help high-achieving professionals show up fully as themselves, lead with purpose, and build careers and workplaces that honor their unique strengths, whether that’s through her leadership coaching or her partnerships with AIIR Consulting, Mission and Data, and Shore Coaching to deliver exceptional, data-informed leadership and team development rooted in authenticity. Because when we lead from a place of authenticity, we don’t just succeed—we thrive.