Celeste Aldaba

I attribute my success to the strong foundation and encouragement instilled in me by my parents, who immigrated from Argentina and taught me the value of perseverance, humility, and hard work. Their sacrifices shaped my mindset early on and inspired me to pursue growth with purpose and gratitude.

Throughout my career, I have embraced every role as an opportunity to learn, develop, and refine my skills. My strong work ethic, combined with a genuine passion for developing people—not just managing operations—has allowed me to lead with intention and build teams that thrive. I believe true success is rooted in empowering others and creating environments where individuals feel supported and motivated to reach their potential.

I am also deeply grateful for the constant support and encouragement of my husband, whose belief in me has been a source of strength throughout my journey. I lead with empathy, respect, and consistency, values that guide both my professional decisions and the relationships I build along the way.

The most valuable career advice I’ve ever received is to avoid choosing a job solely based on salary. Instead, it’s crucial to seek out opportunities that resonate with my passions and align with my long-term aspirations. When your career is rooted in purpose and meaning, it not only brings fulfillment but also fosters a deeper sense of satisfaction and motivation. This alignment leads to more sustainable success; when you are genuinely passionate about your work, you are more likely to excel and make a meaningful impact over time. By focusing on work that inspires you, you can create a career that is not only rewarding financially but also enriches your life and the lives of others.

I would encourage young women to identify their passion early and be intentional about building a career around it. Don’t be afraid to grow into leadership roles—confidence is developed through experience, not perfection.

Seek out environments where you are supported, challenged, and given opportunities to learn and advance, rather than places where you are simply trying to survive. Most importantly, believe in your ability to lead, even in spaces where women are underrepresented. Your voice, perspective, and leadership are needed.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is maintaining consistency across multiple facilities, each with its own culture, personalities, and leadership styles. Another ongoing challenge is balancing clear professional boundaries while remaining approachable, supportive, and present for teams who rely on strong, steady leadership.

At the same time, there are powerful opportunities within healthcare today. Developing future leaders from within healthcare teams allows organizations to grow sustainably while preserving culture and values. There is also significant opportunity to expand home care services to meet the increasing needs of our communities, particularly as demand for personalized, in-home support continues to rise.

Finally, healthcare is at a pivotal moment to embrace people-centered leadership models that prioritize empathy, development, and accountability. When leaders invest in their people, it leads to stronger retention, better patient outcomes, and healthier organizations overall.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are respect for others, integrity, and fairness. I believe people perform and thrive best in environments where they feel valued, heard, and treated with honesty.

Open communication is essential to building trust and strong relationships, while a commitment to growth and development ensures continuous improvement for both individuals and organizations. Above all, I strive to lead by example, knowing that consistent actions—not titles—set the tone for meaningful and effective leadership.