Melissa Botello has spent over 25 years in the medical device industry, fourteen of which have been with Dexcom–a company that “set the standard in glucose biosensing.” Because diabetes runs in her family, Melissa is “super passionate” about her life’s work. At the core of her leadership philosophy is a deep commitment to service and advocacy.
Melissa is married with three children and her family means everything. She grew up with Italian-Mexican roots, living in an underserved area. What her family lacked financially, was made up with an abundance of love and connection. Melissa’s parents instilled in her the value in paying it forward, taking care of others, and building community, which is what drew her to Leap to Success. After attending a Circle of Hope event, Melissa raised her hand and said, “I am here to help!” And we took her up on it!
As a new board member, we asked Melissa how confidence has played a role in her life and how it helps shape a woman’s story. She said, “There have been more times than I can count when I felt less than confident, including a recent scenario that left me feeling unseen. I wrote it down in my journal that day; the headline read: “I Felt Invisible.” A group of people, mostly men, walked into a conference room. The leader addressed everyone but didn’t even say hello to me. My confidence plummeted. I went home that night feeling horrible. I had to remind myself of all the things that I have done that make me successful so that in the next meeting with this particular leader, I can assert myself.
Having confidence is important because it means being seen and having opportunities. In the workplace and within communities, I have seen when two people are equally educated and experienced, but the one who stands out and gets the job is the one who walks in with an aura of ‘I can do this, and I’m going to tell you why!’
It’s not always easy, but I think if you can effectively articulate your value and contribution in a clear, concise, and memorable way, people will naturally gravitate towards you. I believe when a woman anchors on what makes her unique and special, and she leans into her confidence, she has the power to change the world!”
