"My husband Victor surprised me on Valentine’s Day with a pair of Manolo Blahniks that he picked out himself," says Mercedes LaPorta, President of Mercedes Electric Supply, an over $25 million dollar a year company with more than 48 employees. Mercedes is the guest for this w2wlink.com Spotlight Interview with the Editor because not only is she an outstandingly successful woman leader, she has managed to have a long-term marriage that’s still romantic, and a happy family.

She and her husband built the company together from $15,000 in 1979, own and run the company together and remain a happily married couple, who’ve had and raised two successful daughters, 22 and 27 years old.  She speaks with the compassion and excitement of a successful woman who truly commits herself to whatever she's focused on.

W2wlink Question from the Editor, Jean Lewis: Mercedes, many women in leadership look like they have to choose between a happy marriage and family life and their leadership position. You haven’t had to do that. What do you think is the main reason?

Mercedes LaPorta: Very strong, sincere mutual respect. We have mutual respect and have had mutual respect from the beginning. Mutual respect is very important. I respect him for his strengths and who he is, and he respects me the same way.

w2wlink Question: Can you expand on that a little? Are your strengths complementary?

Mercedes LaPorta: Yes, we have complementary interests. I am very good with people so I manage the employees and make the hiring and firing decisions. His strengths are in leading the processes of the company as well as in technology. He is also a good golfer and uses this to entertain our customers.

Our business, and our relationship, are based on mutual respect. It is a core value for us and how we run the company. Many leaders make the mistake of not wanting the people below them to be stronger in their areas. Women especially tend to not delegate; we want to nurture everybody and do everything. Having stronger, smarter people in their areas, with mutual respect for each other is key to this kind of success.

w2wlink Question: All women, all people, feel insecure compared to others at some point.  How have you managed this within yourself, as well as among women you lead, especially working in the same company as your husband?

Mercedes LaPorta: Self-confidence to rise above that comes from my feeling neither superior nor inferior to people and  from my knowing where I’m going in life both personally and professionally. It’s kind of like a growing process within. We can’t all be super models, but we can be the best we can be. When I’m mentoring my daughters I focus on that quite a bit. I tell them, "This is normal, but you’ve got to get over this because it will make you come to a stop both personally and professionally."

w2wlink Question: Is there anything else you and your family do to maintain the work life balance that has proven itself to be so successful?

Mercedes LaPorta: Yes, we spend time alone, together as a couple and together as a family. We take at least one vacation by ourselves or with friends, at least one vacation together, and one with our daughters.

We are also committed. And I am also very lucky.

Mercedes is active in the Miami business community, belonging to several women's business organizations such as Women’s Business Enterprise National Council  (WBENC)www.wbenc.org, Women Presidents' Organization  (WPO)www.womenpresidentsorg.com, Zenith Group, and National Minority Supplier Development Corporation (NMSDC)www.nmsdconline.com. She is also a member of several industry groups such as IMARK group, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Independent Electrical Contractors Association (IEC), National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and Mercedes is also a member of the US Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Mercedes serves on the Enterprising Woman National Advisory Board.