First Steps to Leadership Mastery: Reveal Your Unique Leadership Identity

Denice H.

Elevate Your Leadership | 25+ Years Coaching & Consulting | PhD & MCC

My journey from a wide-eyed child observing my parents' dedication to service to a seasoned nonprofit leader, consultant, and leadership coach has been shaped by a relentless commitment to paying forward the help I've received. Each step, guided by mentors, challenges, and chance encounters, has reinforced my belief in curiosity, continuous learning, collaboration, and, most importantly, leading with an inclusive, positive mindset. From an early age, deep empathy and a commitment to making a difference took root in me. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I first witnessed the transformative power of service through my father, a criminal defense attorney. He often took me to observe his work in the courtroom, where I saw firsthand his dedication to defending families facing unimaginable challenges. This experience sparked my initial dream of becoming a lawyer, which I carried until midway through college. Then, I discovered I could build a creative and impactful career in operating and leading mission-driven nonprofit organizations. My mother, who co-founded Pittsburgh's first nonprofit Meals on Wheels program in the early 1970s, further solidified my passion for service. At age 10, I accompanied her on a delivery route, where I encountered Abraham, a homebound senior living in a sea of newspapers. That stark reality of poverty left a profound impression on me, and I resolved to dedicate my life to reducing the struggles faced by people like him. In college, I sought opportunities to deepen my understanding of social issues. An internship with the Urban League of Harrisburg provided a firsthand look at the impact of poverty on families as I conducted door-to-door surveys in public housing communities. A semester in the Dominican Republic immersed me in a multi-generational household, where I studied how the marketplace fosters community. Later, I spent two months in Caracas, living with a Venezuelan family—an experience that shaped my worldview and allowed me to maintain conversational Spanish to this day. Another transformative moment came while waiting for a flight to New York. I spoke with a fellow traveler from India and shared my aspirations. As we deplaned, he handed me a handwritten poem on hotel stationery, expressing hope that his daughters would one day be like me. We never exchanged names, but his thoughtful gesture left an enduring impact. That poem, a reminder of the difference one person can make, still hangs on my office wall. After college, I moved to Miami to use my Spanish language skills and work with the Latino community. However, my first job at a real estate development company ended abruptly when the company went bankrupt. Determined to find stability, I took a temporary position in a university financial aid office and discovered a passion for helping others through volunteer work on a 24-hour crisis hotline. That experience led to a pivotal executive assistant role at Switchboard of Miami, where Executive Director Shirley Aron saw potential in me beyond my resume. Under her mentorship, I honed my skills in grant writing and helped secure funding to establish one of the nation's first transitional housing programs for young adults aging out of foster care. I explored different facets of nonprofit and public sector leadership in the following years. I served as Acting Executive Director of the City of Miami Commission on the Status of Women and later as Executive Director of Voice for Children, an organization dedicated to supporting youth in foster care. Additionally, I worked as an Assistant to the Director of the City of Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority, overseeing the development of a sports arena. A defining chapter in my career unfolded under the mentorship of Dr. Maxine Thurston-Fischer at Miami Bridge, an emergency shelter for runaway and homeless youth. Her leadership, rooted in respect, high standards, and appreciative inquiry, immersed me in social justice and inclusion. While at Miami Bridge, I helped raise over $3 million to build two new emergency shelters. Dr. Thurston encouraged me to seek broader experiences beyond Miami, advice that proved invaluable. Following her guidance, I leveraged the early days of the Internet to network for job opportunities in Baltimore. This led me to the national nonprofit Development Training Institute (DTI), which developed leaders in community development and affordable housing. Founded by former members of Jimmy Carter's presidential administration, DTI provided a dynamic environment for personal and professional growth. Baltimore also brought an unexpected twist to my journey. A personal ad in the Baltimore Jewish Times introduced me to Larry, a seasoned entrepreneur and lawyer. His vision and encouragement inspired me to take a leap of faith and start a consulting business with him—despite my family's initial concerns. For 25 years, our professional partnership has flourished alongside our 22-year marriage. We have worked with nearly 300 nonprofit organizations and hundreds of leaders to amplify their impact. Along the way, I co-authored a book on nonprofit organizational culture and self-published a collection of leadership development essays. Every step of my winding professional journey has been an exciting and expansive adventure. Today, as a coach, I draw on this deep well of experience to help my clients tap into their inner wisdom, grow in unexpected ways, and see more possibilities than they ever imagined.