Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Ramocan.
Hi Sandra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, and I often say that my journey has not necessarily been a straight line, but every experience has prepared me for the work I am doing today.
For more than 20 years, I have had the privilege of working with children, families, and survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, and other forms of trauma. I have also worked extensively in education, training, workforce development, and organizational leadership. Before coming to Alternatives For Girls, I served as the Director of Training and Professional Development for the largest Head Start program in Michigan.
Today, I serve as a Director at Alternatives For Girls, where I have the opportunity to lead programs, develop people, build partnerships, and help move our organization forward in becoming increasingly trauma-informed. I also serve as the organization’s Civil Rights Officer.
When I think about how I got here, I think it really comes down to being willing to grow, learn, and sometimes step into spaces that were uncomfortable because I knew there was purpose on the other side. I have learned from the good experiences and certainly from some difficult ones, but all of them have shaped the leader I am today.
For me, leadership has never just been about having a title. It is about impact. It is about opening doors, creating opportunities, seeing something in people that they may not yet see in themselves, and leaving things a little better than I found them.
And even with everything I have accomplished, I still believe I am becoming. There is still more for me to learn, more people to impact, and definitely more work to do.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not! 😊 My journey has had its share of bumps, detours, disappointments, and some lessons I probably would not have signed up for voluntarily.
There have been times when I have had to work twice as hard to be seen, heard, or taken seriously. I have experienced doors closing, difficult professional spaces, and moments when I questioned whether the fight was worth it. But every challenge taught me something about myself, like when to speak up, when to be still, when to pivot, and most importantly, when to keep going.
I do not believe the struggles diminished me, I know that they developed me. And I am still growing, still learning, and still becoming.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a Director my work is really about people, purpose, and impact. I specialize in trauma-informed leadership, human services, workforce development, and supporting survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other forms of trauma.
I think I am most known for seeing possibilities, whether that is in a person, a program, or even an organization, and then figuring out how we get there. I build programs, develop people, strengthen systems, and I am not afraid to challenge the way we have always done something if I believe we can do it better.
What I am most proud of is not a title or an award (although I have them), it is knowing that somewhere along the way, I helped open a door, create an opportunity, or helped someone recognize what was already inside of them.
What sets me apart? I lead with both my head and my heart, and I am unapologetic about bringing both to the table.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice is to be intentional, but also be genuine. I have never believed in networking just to collect names or business cards, I believe in building relationships.
Some of my greatest mentors have come naturally through relationships with people I respected, learned from, and trusted enough to ask questions. Mentorship does not always have to be formal. Sometimes the right person may mentor you without either of you ever calling it that.
What has worked for me is showing up, being myself, staying connected, and being willing to pour into others just as much as I am willing to receive. Relationships should never only be about what someone can do for you.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Sandra Ramocan
