“Un pie adelante”—one foot forward. A phrase that Felton Institute Board member and corporate leader at Compass International Holdings in Mergers & Acquisitions, Susan Calderon, remembers hearing often from her grandmother growing up. It’s a simple reminder to keep moving forward no matter the challenge.
Education was another message repeated throughout her childhood. “Education is the way forward,” her grandmother, mother, and the strong women in her family would often remind her. It was a belief that shaped how Ms. Calderon understood opportunity, independence, and possibility.
From her earliest memories, Susan Calderon’s life has been defined by perseverance and the example of strong women. From her great-grandmother’s sacrifices to her mother’s pursuit of education after moving to the United States, she saw firsthand how resilience and determination could open doors for future generations.
These values guided Ms. Calderon into a career shaped by curiosity and courage. Early in her professional life, she embraced opportunities that pushed her outside of her comfort zone, learning through experience and stepping into new challenges along the way. Mentorship played an important role during this time, helping open the door to the worlds of technology and consulting.
Working in spaces that were often male-dominated required Ms. Calderon to develop confidence and trust in her abilities. She recalls moments early in her career when she found herself as the only woman at the table, still building confidence in her skills.
“I would find myself in these meetings where I’m the only woman at the table and I didn’t have confidence yet in my skill set,” Ms. Calderon says. “I had to look around, observe how people were behaving, and shed away those masks of how I thought I had to show up.”
Alongside her corporate career, Ms. Calderon has remained deeply committed to supporting young women. That commitment led her to Oasis for Girls, a San Francisco nonprofit that empowers girls and young women of color ages 14–18. Drawn to the organization’s mission—and connected through her own experience growing up in the Mission District in San Francisco—Ms. Calderon joined the board and later became Board Chair after two years. “Oasis is about giving girls a space to explore who they are, to build confidence, and to have community,” she says. “It’s been super rewarding.”
Today, Susan Calderon also serves on the Board of Felton Institute, where she sees a chance to support women and girls across multiple stages of life. “Felton allows me to connect early childhood experiences to adolescence, education, workforce development, and beyond,” she explains. “It’s about understanding the whole journey and supporting women and girls at every stage.”
Looking ahead, Ms. Calderon seeks to provide leadership that continues to create a path for the next generation. “I want to amplify the stories of women who’ve overcome obstacles, who’ve pushed forward despite challenges,” she says.
For Ms. Calderon, Women’s History Month is both a celebration and a reminder that progress is built step by step. Her advice to girls and young women reflects the same message she grew up hearing: “Raise your hand. Take on the next challenge, even if you’re uncomfortable, and just learn from that. You never know where it will lead.”
And always remember: un pie adelante – one foot forward.
Felton Institute responds to the needs of our community by providing innovative, evidence-informed social services to transform lives. Our organization offers 50+ programs that address mental health, the unhoused, early care and education, those impacted by the justice system, transitional age youth, as well as aging adults. Our award-winning programs, which have been recognized as national models, combine the latest scientific research with cultural sensitivity and a deep commitment to supporting and reflecting the communities we serve.
Founded in 1889, Felton is the oldest secular non-profit social services provider in the City and County of San Francisco. We have expanded our services across most Bay Area counties and continue to be at the forefront of pioneering new approaches to meet the emerging needs of underserved populations.
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We foster impactful change by strengthening the community as a premier service provider. We also strengthen other service providers by supporting them in their fiscal, human resources, communications, IT and overall agency operations. With Felton’s support, they are able to focus on providing the best services to their clients, doing the work they were meant to do.
Felton empowers the community and ensures successful outcomes to all we engage with.
Felton Institute is a tax-exempt organization registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit under EIN 94-1156530.