“Trauma can be a Really Great Teacher, and for Those That Have Invested in Learning the Lessons and Applying Those Lessons to Their Personal Evolution, it can set Them Apart as the Greatest Leaders”: Testimonios of the Professional and Leadership Experiences of Latina Executive Leaders With a History of Trauma

Abstract

Traumatic events and experiences can have lasting impacts on one’s physical and cognitive well-being (American Psychological Association, 2017; The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2020; van der Kolk, 2014). However, very few studies have examined how personal trauma informs the leadership identity, development, and professional experiences of Latina executive leaders in higher education (Arnold et al., 2018; Breisch & Lexmond, 2013; Kramer & Allen, 2018; Popper & Mayseless, 2007; Tcholakian et al., 2019; Wolf Williams & Allen, 2015). The studies on trauma and leadership have mainly focused on Black females (Arnold et al., 2018; Chance, 2021) or have included participants from diverse ethnic and professional backgrounds (Breisch & Lexmond, 2013; Wolf Williams & Allen, 2015). Utilizing testimonios as the research design, a tenet of narrative inquiry, this qualitative study explored how trauma has informed the leadership identity, experiences, and overall development of five Latinas (Creswell, 2007; Delgado Bernal et al., 2012). One of the five participants identified as being Latina and Jewish, which she referred to as “Jewtina.” The theoretical framework that guided this study comprised of four separate components (i.e., attention and self-awareness, self-compassion, self-regulation, and relationship skills) from the Social, Emotional, Ethical (SEE) Learning program developed by the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics (CCSCBE) (2019) at Emory University. Three major themes emerged from the data, which helped address the first research question: (1) Power, Control, and Conflict, (2) Shattering Oppressive Systems and Norms, and (3) The Side Effects of Survival Skills. The fourth theme, Words of Wisdom for Future Latina Leaders with Trauma, addresses the second research question and includes coping strategies and advice for aspiring Latina leaders who have also experienced trauma. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications for practice and recommendations for future research.