Honor the Origins of Love and Leadership

Introducing Writer/Editor Michelle Peña

Picture a young married couple about to board the only ship that can take them, their infant son, and a second baby boy on the way to a life of freedom. They have just said goodbye to everyone they love and the only home they've ever known. The intuitive decision to sew their wedding rings into the lining of her bra the night before would become a tangible memory of that fearful moment when their suitcase, baby bag, and everything else they attempted to carry on was stripped away.

Those people are my parents, who immigrated to the United States from Cuba in 1963. And their journey from nearly 60 years ago is really where my story begins. Because without their selfless love and leadership, life as my two brothers and I know it today would have been vastly different. 

Their path to the United States was made possible through a ransom deal after the Bay of Pigs Invasion, a failed attack launched by the Central Intelligence Agency in 1961 to push Cuban leader Fidel Castro from power and halt the spread of communism throughout the world. Castro’s militia captured approximately 1,200 of the 1,500 freedom fighters—among them, my uncle. Two years later, he was returned to the United States, along with many other prisoners of war and family members, in exchange for $53 million in food and medical supplies, donated by companies all over the United States, as a condition for their release.

Hispanic Heritage Month

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this snippet of personal history and introduce myself to the wonderful community of Blogrige readers and countless Baldrige Program volunteers who are so essential in helping us do what we do. 

I joined the Baldrige team as a writer/editor in July. I also spent many years before that with a media and training company in Northern Virginia, where I wore a few hats (e.g., graphic designer, editor, and digital strategist). 

The Baldrige Program's Mission

One reason I’m so proud to work with the Baldrige Program is at the heart of its mission:

“To provide global leadership in the learning and sharing of successful strategies and performance practices, principles, and methodologies.”

For those who question the origins of such leadership, in the words of Baldrige Fellow Dr. Veronica Muzquiz Edwards, CEO of InGenesis and a Baldrige Alumni Fellow, “We’re all going to face challenges, and it’s how we deal with them that creates leadership.” 

I could not agree more, whether we’re striving to improve the quality of life for our customers, professional communities, or families. Experience has taught me that we must lead with courage to navigate the unknown, make sacrifices, reframe challenges as growth opportunities, and create a safe environment where everyone can succeed.