David De La Rosa shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi David, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Spending time with my family is always the best part of my day. My two boys, Gavin and Troy, can be a handful, but the love they show me and the joy they bring make every moment worth it. Sharing these precious times with my wonderful wife Jackie adds even more warmth to our days. Whenever I get the chance to see my daughter Sadie, who lives in Texas, it becomes an extra special occasion filled with cherished memories.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi everyone, I’m David De La Rosa. I currently lead Training Operations for Boost Mobile as their department Head of where I focus on building impactful learning experiences that empower our employees and partners to succeed. What makes my work unique is the chance to blend strategy, creativity, and real-world field insight to drive performance at scale. I’m passionate about developing people, elevating training standards, and creating programs that truly move the business forward. I’m excited about the initiatives we’re building and the growth we’re driving across the organization.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was just a kid trying to carry more weight than any child should. I came from a broken home, never knew my father, had no love from my mother, and felt a kind of loneliness that settled into your bones. But underneath all that hurt, there was a part of me that still hoped, still believed that life could be different. That version of me was fragile, but he was also brave. He kept showing up, even when it felt like no one was showing up for him. And today, whenever I doubt myself, I remember him. I owe everything to that little kid who refused to give up, bruises faded, and I overcame it.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were definitely moments I felt close to giving up, not because I was weak, but because life was heavy. Growing up in a broken home, never meeting my dad, and feeling alone taught me how to survive before I even understood what thriving meant. But even in those hardest moments, something in me refused to stay down. I realized I could let my circumstances define me, or I could use them to build me. And every time I wanted to quit, that inner strength, the part of me that knew I was meant for more, pulled me forward. Looking back now, I’m grateful I never gave up, because everything I have today came from choosing to keep going. I owe a lot to my wife Jackie; she always believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that what really matters to me is loyalty, growth, and showing up for the people I care about. Because I didn’t have much stability growing up, I’ve learned to value the relationships that feel real and solid. They’d tell you I care deeply about being present, being supportive, and being someone others can depend on, the kind of person I wish I had when I was younger. And they’d probably say that I’m driven… not just to succeed, but to become the best version of myself for my kids, my team, and the people who believe in me.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I was someone who broke cycles. Someone who came from a broken home, who grew up without a father and with a lot of loneliness, but refused to let that be the end of the story. I want people to say I showed up with heart, that I lifted others, that I created the kind of stability and love I never had. I hope they say I was a present father, a great husband, and a leader who genuinely cared about people. And more than anything, I want people to say I didn’t just survive my past, I transformed it into something that no matter how much my past stopped me from doing, I became who my past thought I couldn’t become.
