The Latina Oprah

Nancy A. Ruffin is a leadership strategist, executive coach, award-winning author, and speaker with more than 25 years of experience spanning healthcare leadership, organizational development, and personal growth. She is known for her ability to help individuals and organizations move from competence to excellence by cultivating clarity, confidence, and purpose-driven leadership.

A four-time award-winning author, Nancy has published four books and contributed essays and articles to a range of print and digital publications. Her work has been recognized for its depth, authenticity, and practical insight. In 2018, Latina Magazine highlighted her strategic visioning workshops, acknowledging her impact in the areas of leadership development and professional growth.

Nancy’s contributions to leadership and service have earned her numerous honors, including recognition at the 2020 Spring SOMOS Conference by the New York State Assembly Puerto Rican-Hispanic Task Force for her commitment to advancing the Puerto Rican and Hispanic community through leadership, philanthropy, and advocacy.

Throughout her career, Nancy has served in senior healthcare leadership roles, where she has led large teams, driven operational excellence, and navigated complex organizational change. This experience grounds her work as a coach and consultant, where her mission is to bridge the gap between good managers and exceptional leaders. Her speaking and facilitation engagements span corporate, nonprofit, and public-sector audiences, including organizations such as the FBI, VOYA Financial, UBS, WNET Thirteen, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Nancy has also partnered with organizations including Google, LinkedIn, and PBS/WNET to facilitate workshops, panels, and leadership conversations. She is the creator and host of The Woman of Faith Podcast, where she explores the intersection of faith, leadership, purpose, and personal growth.

She holds a B.A. in Accounting from Bernard Baruch College and an MBA in Healthcare Management. Nancy is both an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation. She currently serves as the 2nd Vice President on the National Board of Directors of 100 Hispanic Women National, Inc., where she supports initiatives focused on leadership, equity, and advancement for Latinas.

In 2014, Nancy founded The Fierce Woman™, an organization committed to developing women leaders and amplifying their voices. Through its leadership development arm, Next Level Leadership, she delivers coaching, training, and programs designed to support middle managers, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders as they grow into greater responsibility and impact.

A VONA Voices writing fellow, Nancy has studied under acclaimed literary voices and participated in writing residencies at UC Berkeley, the University of Miami, and the University of Pennsylvania—experiences that continue to shape her approach to storytelling and leadership communication.

Above all, Nancy values family. She has been married to her husband for over two decades and is the proud mother of two daughters. She and her family reside in New Jersey, where faith, service, and intentional living remain central to her work and life.

DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE AND COMMIT EVERY DAY TO FULFILLING IT.

WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, PEOPLE WON'T REMEMBER YOUR RESUME. THEY'LL REMEMBER HOW MUCH OF YOURSELF YOU GAVE TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.

NANCY A. RUFFIN

PARTNER WITH NANCY

A celebrated collaborator, Nancy welcomes the opportunity to join forces with corporations, brands, organizations, and universities that are looking to empower women and girls. Known for being an energizing speaker, she has presented on topics ranging from cultural pride and diversity, personal development, branding, entrepreneurship, girl power, to what it's like being a working mom and managing a successful home/family life.

WAYS TO PARTNER

KEY NOTE SPEAKER

EVENT HOST

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

BRAND AMBASSADOR

SOCIAL MEDIA + INFLUENCER ENGAGEMENT

BRANDED CONTENT INTEGRATION

SPEAKING RESUME, ACCOMPLISHMENTS & RECOGNITION

2025 MC and Keynote Speaker for the 3rd Annual Latina Voices at Dominican University, October 2025
2025 Received the 100 Hispanic Women of NJ Mujer de Impacto Award, October 2025
2025 Interviewed acclaimed journalist, Maria Hinojosa, as part of the 100 Hispanic Women's Instagram Live Series, August 2025
2025 MC and Host for the 100 Hispanic Women 21st Annual Mind, Body, Spirit Conference, March 2025
2025 Strategic Visioning Facilitator for the Boys to Leaders Foundation Annual Board Retreat, February 2025
2024 Moderated the Support Her: Men Advocating for Women's Success Panel at the 6th Annual Powher Experience, November 2024
2024 Served as emcee for the 100 Hispanic Women's 20th Annual Mind, Body, Spirt Conference, March 2024
2024 Keynote Speaker and Panel Moderator at the annual 100 Hispanic Women Rockland Chapter's Hispanic Heritage Month Panel, Sept 2024
2023 Participated as a panelist on the Four Steps to Launching Your Business panel at the 5th annual Pow(H)er Conference in NYC, November 2023
2023 Contracted by Emblem Health to lead a series of personal branding workshops for their employees, October 2023
2023 Moderated Panel Discussion for PBS /WNET Hay Dinero Web series Launch, October 2023
2023 Served as emcee for the 100 Hispanic Women's 19th Annual Mind, Body, Spirt Conference, March 2023
2022 Key Note Speaker for Elevate NY, April 2022
2022 Key Note Speaker for Voya Financial, March 2022
2022 Key Note Moderator for 100 Hispanic Women Latina Pay Equity Conference, March 2022
2021 Key Note Moderator for the 2nd Annual Westchester's Women's Summit, Interviewed Legendary Actress Chita Rivera, November 2021
2020 Key Note Speaker for the 100 Hispanic Women Annual Gala, October 2020
2020 Key Note Speaker for The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Suffrage Conference. March 2020
2020 Selected as an Entre Nosotras Honoree by Somos New York. March 2020
2020 Selected as a Mujer Imparable (Unstoppable Woman) by Telemundo.
2019 Key Note Speaker for the FBI's Hispanic Heritage Month Brunch. October 2019
2019 Key Note Speaker for The Cedarmore Corporation's Lifting As We Climb Annual Fundraiser. April 2019
Partnered with Prospanica to raise funds for the annual college scholarship fundraiser. April 2019
Partnered with Hostos Community College to bring her successful and highly requested strategic planning and goal setting workshop to the school. Fall 2018 & Spring 2019.
Was invited to share her work at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 2018.
Partnered with Foster Care Unplugged and PCNY to raise funds for the 2018 10K Back Pack Drive. Collectively we raised over $60,000 & gave away 10,000 backpacks filled with back to school supplies.
Featured in Latina Magazine, March 2017
Awarded the 2017 International Latino Book Award for Best Self Help Book for her book Live On Purpose.
Awarded the Blogher 2017 Voices of the Year Award.
Awarded the Blogher 2016 Voices of the Year Award.
Selected to participate in the Summer 2017 and 2016 Voices of Our Nations Arts (VONA) one week writing residency at the University of Miami.
Selected to be a Huffington Post Blog content creator.
Content creator for Medium.com
Launched The Empowerment Hour podcast. Now known as The Nancy Ruffin Show
Selected to be the keynote Speaker for Union Bank of Switzerland’s (UBS) 2014 Hispanic Heritage Celebration.
Nancy’s sophomore book, Letters To My Daughter, was a 2014 Finalist for Latino Literacy’s Now, International Latino Book Award for Best Poetry Book -English.
CEO and founder of The F.I.E.R.C.E Woman Foundation, an organization committed to uplifting, supporting, & empowering women.
Successfully created and launched the Power of the F.I.E.R.C.E Woman campaign. A campaign designed to recognize outstanding women committed to the evolution and empowerment of themselves and their fellow women.
Worked with the students of Christ the King Elementary School in the Bronx and was integral in publishing a book of poetry written by the fourth grade class.
Was the primary source responsible for raising money to fund the equipment, resources, and supplies necessary for a new computer lab at Christ the King Elementary School.
2014 Voices of Our Nations Arts (VONA) Alumn
Selected by Latino Literacy Now to be a 2014 NAHP José MartÍ Award judge.

EDUCATION

Professional Certified Coach, ICF 2022
Associate Certified Coach, ICF 2014
Gold Level Lean Certification (Lean Process Improvement Methodology), 2012 Simpler Education
Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma, 2010 Breakthrough Management Group
MBA, Master of Business Administration, 2008 University of Phoenix.
B.A., Bachelor of Arts, 2004, Baruch College.