Distinguished Alumna: Monica C. Lozano ’74

READ MONICA’S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FOR THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD

I am honored to be with you today but also extremely humbled to be among the extraordinary women from the Class of ’74, who have each in their own ways led distinguished and exceptional lives. When Dr. Ostos called to invite me to receive this award, I admit I was completely taken aback and totally surprised. I couldn’t help but think, “Why me? I hadn’t stayed in touch; what would I say? I haven’t made it to a single reunion.” But then I paused, took a deep breath, and remembered how special my previous visit to Santa Catalina was.

The last time I was on this campus was in 2018, when I had been invited to give the Commencement address. It was the year my mom had passed, and my dad was deeply mourning her loss. Over lunch, when I told him I’d been asked to come back to Catalina to speak, he immediately brightened up and said, ‘Of course you have to accept, and I’ll be right there with you.’ And he was, sitting in the front row, beaming as I addressed the graduates of Santa Catalina, six years ago.

Well, Dad passed away just a few months ago at the glorious age of 97, and I am here to accept this award humbly and with deep gratitude in the memory of my mom and dad who made the decision to send me to Catalina—a decision that altered the course of my life for the better.

I remember so clearly being dropped off as a 16-year-old junior, one of the few transfer students in our class. It was a hard adjustment, but I was met by warmth and generosity. I experienced things I’d never imagined: picnics at Carmel Beach, pressing wildflowers from Carmel Valley, Mass in the Chapel, and the quiet songs of prayer at the Carmelite Monastery. Most importantly, I experienced deep connections and friendships that can only be forged in a community like Santa Catalina: spiritual soulmates who journeyed together toward adulthood.

As I reflect on those two short years at Santa Catalina, they were among the most transformative of my life. Here, I learned to be confident, to believe in myself, my talents, and the potential I didn’t know I had. The lessons I learned at Santa Catalina were foundational for my life’s journey: to proceed with confidence, to love learning, and to find the joy that comes from being exposed to ideas. I learned to adapt, to apply logic and reasoning, judgment and discernment, empathy and compassion. I learned to challenge ideas and to be challenged, to respectfully consider unique points of view, and to meet people where they are.

It is a privilege to attend a high school such as Santa Catalina. It is also very powerful. It became the foundation for my success and instilled in me a sense of responsibility to contribute to the betterment of society more broadly. That is what I hope has distinguished my career over the past 50 years. I have found motivation, meaning, and purpose in my professional life, and have been able to marry my passion with the fullness of purpose in my work.

Santa Catalina teaches young women to own their power. Women today are still underrepresented in many fields—in the C-suites in corporate America, in politics, in science and technology. I had to demonstrate my capacity, my capability, and my work ethic, over and over. My business career and journey into the C-suite and corporate boardrooms was anything but linear. Nor was it easy. I seized the opportunity when it came my way, even if it meant being lonely or uncomfortable at times. But I learned to convert those moments of challenge into opportunities for change—to find my voice and to exercise it—because having people in the room who look like you and me, in decision-making roles, makes a difference. And enlightened leaders know that.

I have been fortunate to be affiliated with some of America’s greatest companies and most iconic and successful business leaders—leaders who drive day-to-day performance while transforming for tomorrow. These leaders possess great strategic acumen and an impressive capacity to motivate, to attract and unleash the talent and creativity of others. Among their many impressive attributes is their fierce adherence to the core values of equity and inclusion.

I have learned much from my work experiences. Most importantly, I’ve learned what are the negotiables and non-negotiables. We must challenge ourselves to be unwavering—even under fire—to the conviction that by embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion we are paving the path to a more equitable world where everyone thrives.

Thanks to Santa Catalina, my life was changed forever. I learned courage, conviction, and compassion. I discovered the beauty of giving back. I experienced the love of friends who became like family. Here, my core values were forged.

I thank you all for this amazing recognition. I appreciate all of you and what this institution continues to mean in the lives of so many —before, now, and into the future. ”