Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sofia Adrogué immigrated to the United States at the age of eight arriving in Boston at Logan Airport with her family and 14 suitcases, speaking little to no English. Funded by a $5,100 grant from the World Health Organization, in pursuit of the American Dream, her parents raised all five children to follow the family’s tradition of post-graduate careers in either medicine or law—all five are doctors or lawyers. Her recipe and road to success professionally are the education she attained in the United States and the commensurate opportunities provided.
Today, Sofia is a seasoned trial partner with Diamond McCarthy LLP, a 10-year Texas Super Lawyer & Latino Leaders “25 Most Influential Hispanic Lawyers” & “Most Powerful Women in Law.” She has been historically one of the few Hispanic female professionals—currently, Latinas comprise 2% of all lawyers although they represent nearly one in five women in the United States.
She is privileged and proud to be a Hispanic lawyer in Texas and, having been armed with credentials, has had a litany of positive opportunities. She believes it can create a position of differentiation and “uniqueness” where, with competitive qualifications (all else being equal), it may be an added “plus.”
She is a graduate of Harvard Business School Owner/President Management Program, an alumna of HBS (U.S. Keynote Graduation Speaker for HBS OPM 37, ostensibly the first woman, & U.S. Class Representative), and a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, magna cum laude, & Rice University, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, both on full academic scholarships.
She has received over 40 awards, including the 2021 World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Global Leader of Influence; 2020 Comcast Hispanic Heroes Award; a Greater Houston Women’s Chamber “Hall of Fame” Inductee; a Houston Chronicle Channel 11 “Texas Legend” & 10 “Extraordinary Latinos” (Inaugural List); a UH Law Center Immigration Clinic Arrival Award as well as a Houston Jaycees “Outstanding Houstonian”; a Texas Jaycees “Outstanding Texan”; and a U.S. Jaycees “Outstanding Young American”; among other recognitions.
Although 5,000 miles away from her place of birth, she is undoubtedly a Houstonian. Sofia is inordinately proud of the endless possibilities of our City. As Co-Host & Co-Producer of Latina Voices—Smart Talk, she advocates that Houston is the land of opportunity where meritocracy—with a little luck and lots of grit and grind—prevails.
Listed in America’s Best Cities, Houston is described as “educated, diverse and hard-working, Houston is America’s stealthy powerhouse on the rise.” As Rice’s Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg has defined, Houston is the nation’s demographic future. It is a prophetic city, egalitarian, with an entrepreneur can do and will do spirit. Mayor Sylvester Turner states: “Diversity is descriptive. Inclusion is intentional.” Houston exudes intentionality with more than 145 different languages spoken and ¼ residents born outside the country.
Selections of Sofia’s trajectory have been captured in these remarks:
My story is a story of intense work, passion and, truly, a little luck. As an immigrant from Argentina, I have sought to return in multiples all the opportunities the United States has provided me—whether through my professional or my community endeavors.
Throughout my life, I have crossed cultural lines to inspire and mentor. I have sought to serve as a role model, not only as a woman, but also as a mother, and, of course, as a lawyer. It is about the relentless pursuit, seeking to empower others and pursuing a legacy of excellence and public service as the labyrinth of life continues.
Particularly in the last 25 plus years, I have sought to express in a tangible manner my sincere devotion to not only my professional endeavors, but also to community service, believing in the Jaycees motto that “service to humanity is the best work of life.”
My goal has been to ‘walk the talk,’ from my commitment to the highest standards of the legal profession through hard work, to connecting with all people for the greater good of our diverse community.
In a time of social and economic crisis, we have to pivot, putting people first and there is truly a premium on bold, authentic, empathetic leadership and decisive, bold orchestrated actions. Times of crisis are the most profound occasions for leadership.
‘We must shun the incremental and go for the transformative.’ ‘Never forget who you are, and where you came from, and find your passion, then pursue it with preparation, perspiration, persistence, and panache.’