Alicia Nogales
President, Santu Beauty
📍Troncones, Mexico and San Francisco, CA
Pledge 1% is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. What can companies do (or do more of) to have a positive social impact in the next 10 years?
Two things. I believe that companies should actively encourage their corporate families of people to love themselves as much as possible. Think of a parent who wants their own child to love and care for their own self as much as they love them. Love, unlike money, is a well spring available to all of us that never runs dry. That is amazing. Companies should want to create environments that genuinely care for and support their employees’ well-being. This is critical to the overall health of a company. Companies are made up of people who spend a great part of their lives working in their “house”. Why would we not want to have the healthiest and happiest home.
And the second part to a happy home is committing some of their financial success to a principle or purpose that is for the greatest good. I want to work for a company that is actively participating in making the world a better place. This has been a principle tenet of SANTU. And for companies that are financially successful I would be asking them the following. Give “X” what you wish you could do.
What’s the legacy you hope to leave for future generations?
I have three sons of this future generation. This is very much top of mind. My parents exemplified and taught me the importance of being of service whether it is one’s vocation or not. “For the greater Good” is always my north star. My mother retired as elementary Principal and devoted her life to education with an emphasis on teaching teachers and working with underrepresented populations. My father is Mexican American from a family of migrant workers. He was the “first” to do a lot of amazing things and had a successful career and also was instrumental in Mexican American civil rights.
I was fortunate enough to have the choice to spend time at home working as an active, “stay at home” parent. It was an honor. I’d grown up from a very young age volunteering in all kinds of ways and became a “professional” in adulthood where the goals for those task forces and organizations seemed to many as impossible or too hard. Whether its saving the trees, animals, people…whatever…whatever resonates with your higher self and that of the greater good, spend time on it. We would have a healthier and happier world if every person made consistent effort to think and do outside of one’s personal benefit.
If you could choose one word to define your leadership style, what would it be and why?
Collaborative. I work well in a team structure. I believe a strong leader entrusts a diversified group of people who have distinct strengths. No one person knows everything. A successful team thrives when each team member is encouraged to bring their talents and skillsets to the project(s) on hand and valued for their respective contributions and work as individuals and part of the group’s team effort.
If you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of women leaders, what would it be?
Always go for the adventure. You have to trust that where you are is exactly where you are supposed to be. Move from the heart and trust that there are no two life journeys that are the same. Accept you are the creator of your own path and it rarely is a straight line. And if you are at point A or F, you don’t need to know point X, Y, and Z. The real acceptance of this “not knowing” everything is truly liberating when you consistently practice moving from the heart because your human self will be guided to make clear and effective decisions over and over again. And find the joy in floating whether you are in calm or turbulent waters.
The real acceptance of this “not knowing” everything is truly liberating when you consistently practice moving from the heart because your human self will be guided to make clear and effective decisions over and over again.
Looking ahead, what are you most excited about—whether in your professional journey or personal life?
The past is history. The future is a mystery. Today is a present. That’s why it’s called a present. - Eleanor Roosevelt
And a wise woman with feet in the sand, walking thru warm ocean water at sunlight reminded me of this.
