Yesterday, April 22, would have been my mother, Agatha’s 99th birthday. I’ve been thinking about her a lot this week, especially some notable, early achievements that happened before I was born.
She broke through a lot of barriers as a young adult. Although she majored in sociology in college, she also completed the requirements of a biology major, a field her Catholic college didn’t consider “appropriate” for young women.
After graduation, she worked as a biologist and was later accepted to medical school at The University of Pittsburgh. In those days, the rare acceptance of a woman was contingent on being single. So, upon her engagement to my father, she relinquished her spot.
She then spent her life as a stay-at-home mom. My brothers and I may not have seen her as a working professional, but she profoundly shaped our values: pursue education, take pride in your heritage, be a good person and do the right thing.
Today we see many people who self-describe as influencers, but in truth, being a successful influencer means walking the talk, not selling a persona.
In a world obsessed with follower counts and flashy posts, Agatha’s influence was quieter but deeper. Leaders can learn a lot from this. She didn’t teach by announcing lessons — she lived them: being a voracious reader, keeping promises, asking curious questions. Those small, consistent acts shaped how I move through the world.
Viral creators can grab attention, but do they earn the kind of trust my mother modeled? Real credibility comes from showing up, persisting through setbacks, and treating others with decency — things algorithms can’t measure, but people remember.
Leaders influence. Remember that your actions reflect who you are and what you believe. I’m grateful for my mother’s quiet influence – to this day it still shapes me.
“Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
– Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Header image by Alleksana Photography/Pexels.
