From medicine to business leadership and the real estate market, three Latinas have forged their path in Pittsburgh with determination, preparation, and a deep connection to their roots. They have done it in another language, within a different culture, and in highly demanding environments. Their journeys speak not only of professional success but also of identity, community, and purpose.
In this edition, Pittsburgh Latino Magazine presents the stories of Dr. Johanna Vidal-Phelan, executive and leadership coach Nayli Russo, and real estate agent Ella Serrato. Three distinct paths that converge on one idea: Latino talent not only adapts, but also leads and transforms.
Medical Leadership with a Human Touch
Johanna Vidal-Phelan MD, MBA, FAAP, CHIE
Johanna Vidal-Phelan MD, MBA, FAAP, CHIE
When asked who she is, Dr. Johanna Vidal-Phelan does not start by talking about positions or titles. She starts with the essentials:
“I am the mother of two boys and they are my pride.” That personal experience, she assures, has made her a better pediatrician and a better leader.
Today, she leads The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh, an institution with over a hundred years of history dedicated to specialized pediatric care. From there, she participates in strategic decisions that impact thousands of families, without losing touch with the daily reality of patients and healthcare professionals.
Born and raised in Carolina, Puerto Rico, she knew since she was 13 that she wanted to be a pediatrician. The inspiration came from her own doctor, who saw in her a talent that deserved to be nurtured. Decades later, she acknowledges that her achievement is also the result of the efforts of previous generations. She is the first doctor in her maternal family and carries with her the teachings of her grandmother about self-respect and determination.
Her transition from clinical practice to leadership was not coincidental. After years of attending to families in difficult times, she felt the need to influence decisions that went beyond the consultation. She studied health administration and began to occupy spaces where, many times, she was the only Latina woman at the table.
“My perspective as a pediatrician, as a Puerto Rican, and as a woman is an important voice,” she affirms. Her leadership is also marked by her experience as the mother of a young man with autism, an experience that, she says, transforms her way of making decisions and understanding the needs of other families.
Despite her institutional responsibilities, she insists on staying approachable. “When I leave the office, I’m at the supermarket like everyone else.” It’s her way of staying connected with the community she serves.
Finding Home in Another Language
Ella Serrato, Agente inmobiliaria / Realtor
Ella Serrato’s trajectory reflects the experience of many migrant women who redefine their professional path based on family needs. She arrived from Bogotá with a background in systems engineering and experience in technology, but it was the search for a balance between work and motherhood that led her to the real estate sector.
With two young daughters, she needed a flexible career that would allow her to generate income without sacrificing her presence at home. The real estate market offered her that possibility, although it was not without challenges. The language was one of the main obstacles. Speaking and negotiating in a second language requires courage and perseverance.
She remembers a comment that questioned her way of expressing herself in English. It hurt, but it didn’t stop her. On the contrary, it drove her to prepare even more. Over time, her perseverance paid off. Today, as a RE/MAX Select Realty (Fox Chapel Office) agent, she has been recognized among the leading Hispanic agents in the country.
However, what she values most are not the awards, but the human impact. “There’s nothing more gratifying than handing the keys to a family,” she states. For her, each client represents a story and an opportunity to accompany dreams.
From her experience, she shares a clear conviction: you don’t need to wait for the perfect moment to get started. Preparation, discipline, and confidence in one’s own story are enough to move forward.
Strategy, Visibility, and Conscious Leadership
Nayli Russo, Coach de Liderazgo / Leadership Coach
Nayli Russo’s story is marked by reinvention. Venezuelan, based in Pittsburgh for almost two decades, she arrived in the United States as a pharmacist but had to start from scratch. She worked as an au pair while validating her studies, a process that led her to discover a new vocation: organizational leadership.
During her master’s in business, she found her true passion. “I fell in love with leadership,” she recalls. Later, she joined the Pittsburgh Pirates, where her rise was swift, eventually becoming vice president with strategic and human resources responsibilities.
In an environment historically dominated by men, she learned that talent also needs visibility. She clearly remembers an episode in which she was excluded from a strategic meeting composed solely of men. Instead of doubting her ability, she asked to be included. And she succeeded.
That experience shaped her professional approach and gave rise to her program “Undeniable Latinas,” aimed at women who seek to advance in structures that were not always designed with them in mind.
For Russo, leadership is not a title, but a responsibility that demands preparation, courage, and authenticity. Through her company Russo Leadership, her mission is to strengthen organizational performance through the development of leaders who can think clearly, act decisively, and lead with integrity under pressure.
On a personal level, she emphasizes the importance of family support. She acknowledges that balancing motherhood and career requires a solid support network. “It’s impossible to do it alone,” she states honestly.
Her message is direct: “Do not allow others to define your own boundaries. Trust,” she asserts, “is a tool that is also built.”
Three distinct paths, one common message: Latino talent in Pittsburgh not only builds successful careers but also community, opportunities, and future.
