Tanya Ramos, CEO of Pencils of Promise.
Tanya Ramos is both exactly where she’s meant to be and where she’s worked to be — serving as the CEO of a non-profit that reflects her values and gives her the room to grow.
“I have worked in domestic education for over 20 years and learned a great deal along the way in terms of program development, fundraising, marketing and building effective teams,” shares Ramos. “I knew that I was ready to expand my reach and I was excited about the possibility of expanding that reach globally. When the opportunity to be the CEO at one of the most innovative, sustainable, successful international education organizations presented itself, I threw my hat in the ring. I had extensive interviews with the Board, the team and our Founder, Adam Braun and they chose me, and I ultimately chose them.”
As the first woman of color to lead Pencils of Promise, Ramos is excited about how her role in shaping the next stage in its growth also builds upon her own personal call-to-action to put education first.
“As a child to two hard working parents, in the under resourced community of Washington Heights in New York City, I learned quite early that access to a quality education would enable me to have the life my parents did not have,” notes Ramos. “My parents made many sacrifices so that my brother and I could attend a private elementary as opposed to our local public school which was not producing high school ready children let alone students that were college bound. My parents wanted more for me, I wanted more for me.”
Over the trajectory of her career, Ramos’ career has taken her from TK to TK, but no matter where she decided to expand her skillset, she always knew one thing to be certain.
“I always knew that I wanted to be of service to others and work where I could have the greatest impact on those who needed it most,” explains Ramos. “My decision to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector was really motivated by my desire to ensure that kids that looked like me would have the same opportunities that were afforded me. I would not be where I am today if it were not for my pursuit of a quality education. I knew then, as I do now, that education is the great equalizer that makes all things possible.”
Below Ramos shares her biggest career lessons learned, what advice she would give to those who want to pursue social good as a career, and what’s next for Pencils of Promise.
Vivian Nunez: How did you identify and keep with the true north that’s helped guide your career?
Tanya Ramos: I kept true to my north star by being authentic and unapologetic for my life decisions, and personal and professional accomplishments. For some, the direction my life took seemed nearly impossible given my humble beginnings. I wasn’t supposed to be articulate, or accomplished, or graduate from a great university. I wasn’t supposed to build a blossoming career or buy my first home before 30 years old all the while being debt free. I wasn’t supposed to raise myself from poverty without a “handout” or without bending the “rules”. But yet I did, and I received support and encouragement from family, and mentors, along the way. It was all that support and encouragement that lead me down a path of success and purpose. I am proud of my accomplishments and the lives I have improved, including my own, along the way. I have worked tirelessly for the underserved; I have been an agent of change—positive change! Throughout this journey I have had my share of failure, disappointment and pain. I have embraced all those experiences as they are so much a part of who I am today. We all have to be comfortable in our own skin, and recognize that we all have a story to tell! I am proud of my story.
Nunez: How has your Latinidad inspired how you approach the work you do?
Ramos: I believe my Latino roots certainly provided me with a level of humility coupled with grit and resilience. I am hard working, and always have been, and because nothing I have achieved has come easy or was just handed me, I have a deep appreciation for who I am today and I can speak my truth, without hesitation and has inspired my approach to work and life.
Nunez: What advice do you have for the next generation of Latinas who want to combine their passion for doing good and building a successful career?
Ramos: There are so many opportunities to combine social good with a successful career. I live a life more fulfilling than I could have ever dreamt of and I am proud of being the first-ever Latina CEO of Pencils of Promise. As the daughter of a man who struggled with addiction and ultimately succumbed to his addiction and the first generation college graduate I am the “poster child” for what is possible when you invest in a child’s education. I sincerely believe there are a variety of ways that our next generations of Latinas can combine their passion for doing good while building a successful career. I chose to pursue the nonprofit sector, or the for-purpose sector to combine my passion for doing good while simultaneously building a successful career, however, that doesn’t have to be the path one takes. I believe one can pursue a for profit career and still address incorporate their passion for doing good through their volunteer work, or purchasing power ( purchasing from brands that have a social cause) as well as leveraging your power for change through your philanthropic dollars.
Nunez: What’s your hope with where you’d like to take PoP?
Ramos: We have successfully built over 500 schools over the past ten years—and every school is still fully operational and thriving. As we move into our next ten years, we are taking the organization “Beyond the Build: From Pencils to Promise.” As we can all agree on, children need a safe structure in which to learn. But once you’ve built that structure, what matters most is what goes on within those 4 walls. So we’re evolving to ensure all our schools have quality programming, teacher support, health and hygiene education, menstrual health education, social and emotional learning, and digital learning. I look forward to growing our footprint, in the countries we currently operate in as opposed to moving into a new landscape.
So my hope is that we can provide programming for at least 1,000 schools in the next 10 years and double the amount of students we serve. My immediate goal is to have the most successful and amazing gala ever [this November]. where we will honor Lil Jon, Trevor Noah and Karmagawa and most importantly, our life-changing work around the globe.
Nunez: What has been your biggest lesson learned in your career?
Ramos: That no dream is too big and anything is possible. I took the road less traveled and had many sleepless nights in order to “have it all” — I have a fulfilling career, a life of purpose, and balance and two amazing kids and one amazing husband!.And I firmly believe that all I have was made possible are a result of hard work, perseverance, grit and passion. And most importantly, I had folks who believed and invested in me, throughout my life, and that made all the difference in the world.
Nunez: How do you navigate impostor syndrome and taking up space in roles that are new to you/you haven’t seen other Latinxs in?
Ramos: I am proud to be the first Latina woman in my CEO seat and have never felt that I don’t belong or have not earned my rightful place. I worked damn hard to get here. That is the message I’d share with any women of color who has any doubt about whether they belong. My response— you do belong. Your journey to college or your professional pursuits may not have been easy, however, that doesn’t make it less deserved. Stereotypes and microaggressions may be something you will deal with, however, that has nothing to do with your abilities, goals or dreams. You are right where you are meant to be.
