As an Afro-Latina woman raised by immigrant parents, the pursuit of the American dream and becoming a professional was deeply ingrained in me from an early age. This drive led me to the career center at my community college, where I discovered an internship at the Nathan Cummings Foundation (NCF). At the time, I didn’t know what the foundation did or what philanthropy was, but the opportunity felt promising. After researching the foundation and preparing thoroughly for the interview, I was offered the position. That moment in 2007 marked the beginning of a transformative journey within NCF, where I’ve worked to redefine how grants management is seen, utilized, and valued. For my internship, I was a receptionist and quickly started cultivating relationships both inside and outside of the organization. I prioritized consistently delivering high-quality work and excellent customer service, earning the trust of my supervisors and colleagues along the way.