Lessons from the Frontline: How Mentors, Mistakes, and a Master's Degree Shaped Me

Written by Moises Arjona Jr. Writing about oneself can be challenging but sharing my journey and the lessons I've learned are important.   My story began in 1993 at Valley Baptist Medical Center – Harlingen (VBMC). At 23, I was simply looking for a job to pay the bills, never imagining that VBMC would open a world of opportunities for me.  I had the pleasure of working with incredible women who unknowingly became my mentors. I absorbed their knowledge and wisdom like a sponge. Working at VBMC pushed me to continue my education, as changing job descriptions increasingly required a college degree rather than just experience or a high school diploma. In order to maintain my current role at that time, I needed a degree.  So off, I went to get one; I completed my associate degree at South Texas College and then pursued my bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Texas Pan-American (UTRGV). It was a long journey, balancing full-time work and full-time college, but I persevered.  I must mention a few of the most impactful women who have shaped my career and leadership style: Anna Rodriguez, Beatriz Trejo, Andrea Chavez, Danille Webb, Leslie Bingham, Colleen Reinert, Deliana Garcia, Amy Liebman, Marisol Resendez, Alexis De Sela, and countless others. Each of these great leaders, full of wisdom, have inspired me to become a better leader myself.

I did work under a certain leader (who shall remain unnamed) from whom I did learn valuable lessons. However, her leadership style was toxic, characterized by fear, scare tactics, and fostering internal strife among the staff. Sometimes, we stay in an organization for the wrong reasons, such as a good salary or fear of not finding another job. Eventually, I dreaded going to work and realized I had become part of the problem; I was toxic and mimicking the same negative behavior towards my own staff. Ultimately, I was terminated, and I must admit, it was the best thing that could have happened to me.

One crucial lesson I've learned is that you cannot compromise your morals and ethics and still maintain integrity. It's essential to speak up against the "group think" mentality, even if it means being singled out as not a team player. I should have spoken up a lot more, but I decided not to challenge the rest of the leadership team for fear of the repercussions. 

My leadership philosophy is to inspire those around me to become better versions of themselves, allowing them to grow and become leaders in their own right. To be an amazing leader, you need to be vulnerable. I don't have all the answers, and I don't know everything. Without your team, you're on an island by yourself. It's important to recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and many leaders struggle to admit their vulnerabilities.  Micromanaging is counterproductive. Instead, provide your team with freedom, constructive feedback, and be available to answer any questions. Restricting your team creates an unwelcoming work environment. Let's learn and grow together to become amazing leaders.

Over the past few years, local grant makers have been offering leadership courses to non-profit leaders, which has been a real eye-opener for me. I've realized that I'm not alone in my efforts; we are all striving towards similar goals. One constant in our journey is the continuous pursuit of improving our leadership skills. I will add that communication is key; we tend to be running from one task to another.  We never stop to listen to others, and we need to take a step back and be active listener’s and be able to communicate with our team; it helps to keep the framework solid. We are determined to become better leaders, and most importantly, we are learning from each other. Moises Arjona Jr., MS

Collective Impact Director

Unidos Contra La Diabetes