Inspiring Profiles & Success Stories

Category: Profiles

For Gen Z, By Gen Z: How Life2Launch Institute Empowers Young People to Lead Our Tomorrow

In today’s rapidly evolving world, young individuals often find themselves at a crossroads, seeking direction amid a plethora of choices.

Enter Life2Launch Institute, a beacon for Gen Z and dedicated to providing holistic life and career-launching tools.

Life2Launch participated in the Launch Mid-Valley Startup Bootcamp Weekend last January 31 to February 2, 2025, at Linfield University’s W.M. Keck Science Complex.

Competing against 20 other innovative startups, the team secured second place among the top ten teams, underscoring their commitment to empowering youth.

A vision rooted in community

Life2Launch isn’t just another organization. It’s a collaboration led by Gen Z for Gen Z.

Recognizing the unique challenges their peers face, the institute works with youth, parents, educators, workforce leaders, and community stakeholders. Together, they design, test, and innovate solutions that build confidence, provide direction, and create accessible resources for the next generation.

Life2Launch was formed in response to Oregon’s new diploma requirements for 2027, which emphasize higher education, career path skills, and personal finance education. Its main focus is expediting the development of a holistic life and career navigation platform.

This tool aims to resonate with the realities and aspirations of today’s youth, bridging the gap between education and the workforce. By empowering young individuals to actively shape their educational and career pathways, Life2Launch is setting a new standard for learner-centered, real-world applicable education.

Led by Denise Ker Waldron, Ben Franson, and Henry Ker, Life2Launch is dedicated to guiding young individuals toward successful futures, fostering a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and empowerment.

Building bridges within the community

Life2Launch’s impact extends beyond individual development. By collaborating with various community stakeholders, it guarantees that the tools and resources they create are comprehensive and inclusive.

This collective approach not only benefits the young people they serve but also strengthens community ties, fostering a supportive environment where the next generation can thrive.

Life2Launch Institute stands at the forefront of youth empowerment, blending innovation with community collaboration. Its determination to guide Gen Z through the complexities of modern life ensures a brighter, more directed future for all.

Are you a small business owner in Marion, Polk, or Yamhill? Grow your business with Launch Mid-Valley. We’ve got tools and resources to help you grow and scale up your business. Just fill out this form to get started >>> https://tinyurl.com/mid-valley-innovation.

Launch Mid-Valley, the Mid-Willamette Valley Innovation Hub, with funding from Business Oregon, fosters an innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem where local businesses can connect with investors, mentors, and industry leaders in the counties of Marion, Polk, and Yamhill.

Jamie Akers of Local Flow Health Bar in McMinnville, OR

Blending Passion and Purpose: How Jamie Akers and Local Flow Health Bar Are Nourishing McMinnville

In the heart of McMinnville, OR, where community and wellness intersect, Local Flow Health Bar stands as a beacon of nourishment and connection.

At the center of it all is Jamie Akers, a passionate entrepreneur whose journey is as vibrant as the smoothies she serves. Jamie and her team recently made waves by winning first place at the Launch Mid-Valley Startup Bootcamp Weekend, held from January 31 to February 2, 2025, at Linfield University’s W.M. Keck Science Complex.

But her impact extends far beyond the competition stage. She’s helping to redefine what it means to run a community-driven business.

A passion for health and community

When Jamie and her family acquired Local Flow Health Bar in December 2022, they didn’t just take over a business. They embraced a mission.

Local Flow had already established itself as a go-to destination for fresh-pressed juices, vitality shots, and nutritious smoothies. Jamie saw an opportunity to expand on that vision, adding her own creative touch with a menu that now features savory and sweet crepes, alongside wholesome lunch bowls.

Her philosophy is simple yet powerful: food should fuel not just the body but also the spirit. Every item served at Local Flow is carefully crafted to nourish and energize, whether it’s an antioxidant-packed acai bowl or a protein-rich smoothie designed to keep locals going through their busy days.

But Jamie’s vision extends beyond what’s on the plate. She wants Local Flow to be a place where people come together, where conversations flow as freely as the freshly squeezed juice.

Jamie’s Launch Mid-Valley journey

Jamie’s entrepreneurial drive recently earned her and her team the top spot at the Launch Mid-Valley Startup Bootcamp Weekend. The event brought together local business owners, innovators, and mentors for an intensive weekend of learning, pitching, and collaboration.

Competing against a field of ambitious startups, Jamie’s pitch stood out. The first-place win not only validated her vision but also provided her with valuable resources and mentorship to continue growing Local Flow in new and exciting ways.

A health bar and a community hub

For Jamie, Local Flow Health Bar is more than just a business. It’s a hub for the McMinnville community.

She has worked hard to cultivate an inviting space where people can relax, connect, and prioritize their well-being. Whether it’s supporting other small businesses or simply providing a friendly smile along with a nutritious meal, Jamie aims to make her impact felt throughout the community.

Her approach to business is a refreshing reminder that success isn’t just about profit. It’s about people.

It’s about making sure that every customer walks away not only satisfied but also inspired to embrace a healthier, more connected lifestyle.

As Local Flow Health Bar continues to thrive under Jamie’s leadership, one thing is clear. She’s not just serving smoothies; she’s serving up a vision for a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant McMinnville.

Want to be part of the Launch Mid-Valley vibe? We’ve got tools and resources to help you grow and scale up your business. Just fill out this form to get started >>> https://tinyurl.com/mid-valley-innovation.

Building Community One T-Shirt at a Time: Roanna Gingrich and CreativiTEE’s Story

In today’s fast-paced, technology-dependent world, taking the time to put down our phones, slow down, and bond with loved ones through creative activities sounds like a luxury.

But that’s exactly the kind of luxury that CreativiTEE in Downtown Salem, OR, offers.

Founded by Roanna Gingrich, CreativiTEE is a store where you can design your own T-shirts using professional materials. But it’s more than just a T-shirt store.

It’s where stories are shared, bonds are forged, and imagination takes center stage.

Step inside, and you’ll quickly see that CreativiTEE is a safe and inspiring space for building community.

Telling Stories through T-Shirts

The process of designing your own T-shirts at CreativiTEE is simple, fun, and unique.

First, you pick out your canvas – a T-shirt in your favorite color or style.

Then comes the exciting part: designing. With a wide array of materials at your fingertips, you can let your imagination run wild. Whether a bold statement, a delicate pattern, or a fun doodle, your design is your T-shirt’s centerpiece.

Once your design is ready, the friendly CreativiTEE staff brings it to life using professional screen printing.

Finally, you’ll don your custom creation, strike a pose, and capture the moment as a memory in ink and fabric.

Where Creativity Meets Community

CreativiTEE founder Roanna Gingrich has envisioned her store as a space that inspires connection.

Roanna’s dedication to community shines through in every aspect of her work. She’s a proud Latina with roots that span from Portland to Peru. Sharing her heritage is essential to her mission, reminding us of the importance of getting to know each other beyond surface impressions.

Above all, Roanna has made CreativiTEE a safe space for the community. Everyone is welcome here, no matter who they are, whether they’ve come to buy or design a shirt, attend an event, or simply stop by for a chat.

She especially loves seeing families gathering at her store to create and bond together in ways that can’t be replicated with mobile devices or computer screens. In a world where technology often pulls us apart, CreativiTEE strives to bring us back together.

CreativiTEE is also becoming a hub for Downtown Salem’s artistic and entrepreneurial spirit. Roanna hosts an array of events that spark inspiration and foster community building. From yoga sessions followed by tank top designing to art classes and informal forums, there’s always happening at the store.

One standout event that Roanna hosts is Launch Mid Valley’s Women/BIPOC Coffee Club for Startups and Entrepreneurs, where diverse entrepreneurial voices come together to share ideas, build networks, and uplift one another.

Empowering Women One Design at a Time

Aside from building community, Roanna has also made it her mission to empower women through her space and designs.

Through events like CreativiTEE’s First Friday Art Walk, she provides a platform for women artists to showcase their work.

Through events like the aforementioned Women/BIPOC Coffee Club for Startups and Entrepreneurs, she gives women and BIPOC women business owners a place to connect with peers and share ideas and resources.

One such event inspired her to create a special line of T-shirts with uplifting messages, celebrating the strength and wisdom of women. These designs include feminine nouns in Spanish, such as “la femenina” or the feminine, “la diosa” or the goddess, and “la sabia” or the wise woman. Roanna comes up with a new design each month to add to her inspiring collection.

The Value of Presence

Despite the technological advances allowing us to communicate with anyone anywhere in the world in real time, technology has made interpersonal connections a bit of a challenge.

But Roanna hopes CreativiTEE can be a place where people slow down and truly connect. Whether it’s families creating T-shirts together, friends attending a yoga session, or entrepreneurs brainstorming over coffee, the store is a reminder of the value of presence.

For Roanna, it’s all about hanging out and creating together. And she’s right – there’s magic in the simple act of making something with your own hands with people who matter to you.

Ready to experience the inspiring community of CreativiTEE for yourself? Stop by the studio in Downtown Salem.

And if you’re a small business owner in Salem, check out the next schedule for the Women/BIPOC Coffee Club for Startups and Entrepreneurs. Join us for coffee and conversation, and walk away with the spark for your next big idea.

Championing Change: Bob Dalton Is on a Mission to Inspire Generosity and Local Action

Bob Dalton’s Journey: Turning Compassion into Action

In 2013, when Bob Dalton’s mother faced the challenge of homelessness, it sparked in him a determination to make a difference.

Bob started by making phone calls to local homeless shelters, asking them what they needed most.

The answer he got became a movement that now spans communities across the nation.

The answer was simple: blankets.

That’s how Sackcloth & Ashes was born – a company founded on a simple yet powerful idea.

For every blanket sold, another is donated to a local homeless shelter.

But Bob’s story doesn’t stop there.

Turning blankets into a bold statement

Bob did more than just build a company. He built a mission.

Sackcloth & Ashes’ blankets deliver both warmth and dignity to people living in homeless shelters, making them feel seen and valued as human beings.

The blankets are also a statement of sustainability.

Through its innovative production process, each Sackcloth & Ashes blanket is made using 100% recycled materials. They’re carded, woven, and finished without the use of water, chemicals, or even dye.

Through this process, Bob emphasizes that businesses can be purposeful, sustainable, and at the same time, profitable.

Championing change from the grassroots

Bob Dalton’s passion for local impact extends beyond Sackcloth & Ashes.

He founded Love Your City (LYC), a platform designed to elevate nonprofits doing meaningful work at the community level.

Through LYC, users can explore local organizations, volunteering opportunities, and multimedia stories of changemakers operating at grassroots levels.

Bob also hosts the Love Your City Podcast, where he sits down with leaders who are driving solutions to local issues.

These candid conversations reveal what it means to build a better world from the ground up.

They’re a powerful reminder that anyone, everywhere, can be a force for good.

Bob’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

In 2024, CNN named him one of its Champions for Change, recognizing his leadership in social innovation.

Bob also strongly believes that human beings are designed for communities.

He is working hard to transform the local digital landscape into a space where people can connect meaningfully and feel like they truly belong.

See Bob Dalton at the LMV Startup Bootcamp Weekend

Bob Dalton will bring his insights and energy to the Launch Mid Valley Startup Bootcamp Weekend, happening from January 31 to February 2, 2025, at Linfield University’s W.M. Keck Science Complex.

As the keynote speaker and a member of the judging panel, Bob will share his entrepreneurial journey, offering valuable lessons on building mission-driven businesses.

This three-day event is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, changemakers, and anyone eager to turn ideas into action.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration, mentorship, or collaboration, the LMV Startup Bootcamp Weekend is the perfect place to ignite your entrepreneurial spirit.

Learn more and register here.

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Coretta Scott King: Civil Rights Warrior

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members, a heart of grace, and a soul generated by love,”

– Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King was an activist and leader during the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement. She was also the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King. Although her name is forever linked to Dr. King, Mrs. King was also an activist and pioneer in her own right. After his death, she continued his work for African-American rights. She also became a leader in women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and the anti-apartheid movement.

King was born in 1927 in Marion, Alabama. Her parents were entrepreneurs, and she inherited her mother’s musical talent. She quickly excelled in this area and became the lead in the school choir in grade school. Mrs. King graduated as valedictorian in high school before heading to Antioch College in Ohio. Here, she received her BA in Music.

Soon after, she received a scholarship to the New England Conservatory in Boston. There, she met doctoral student Martin Luther King Jr. They married in 1953. A year later, she graduated from the Conservatory and moved to Montgomery, Alabama. There, Martin became the pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, which later became a center for the Civil Rights Movement.

Due to Dr. King’s active participation in the Civil Rights Movement, the couple was a frequent target of white supremacist groups. Throughout this time, King stayed by her husband’s side and raised their four children together. When he was traveling, she often stayed behind to manage their home.

When Dr. King was tragically assassinated on April 4, 1968, Mrs. King continued to support the causes he passionately fought for and advocated. She showed strength and resilience when she marched on a labor strike days after her husband’s funeral. Mrs. King also supported women’s rights and openly spoke against the Vietnam War.

That same year, King established the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, also known as The King Center. It is both a memorial and a nonprofit focused on protecting and advancing her husband’s legacy. She envisioned it as “no dead monument, but a living memorial filled with all the vitality that was his, a center of human endeavor, committed to the causes for which he lived and died.” The center was active in carrying out educational and community programs until King retired in the 1990s. Today, the King Center is being revitalized to become a more engaged educational and social change institution.

King became well-known worldwide, and she spent time traveling, speaking about racism and economic issues. She also became an author and wrote her memoir, “My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr.” King received over 60 honorary doctorates from various colleges and universities. She also helped found numerous organizations, including the Black Leadership Forum and the Black Leadership Roundtable.

Mrs. King was an exceptional leader and one of the most influential African-American figures of her time. In 2006, she passed away from complications from ovarian cancer. She was the first woman and first African-American woman to lie in state at the Georgia Capitol. Her funeral drew several presidents and other heads of state. King lived her life as an example of a woman who stood by her husband, then stood on her own, and continued with his work after he died.

Coretta Scott King was at the forefront of peace, love, and social change. Her legacy lives on and will be continued well into the future.

Sacred Fire Creative honors women who positively impacted their communities through our #WomenWhoMatter series. Do you want to be a woman business owner who wants to make a difference in your space? Work with us today.

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Carina Dayondon: First Filipina Mountaineer to Reach the Seven Summits

“What’s more important for me is we showed the Filipinas, the young ones, there’s nothing impossible if you’re determined, focused, and if you believe in your dreams. It’s okay to get a record, but does it have a point? Did you inspire anyone? Did you touch anyone’s heart, inspire them to do something like that? That’s what’s important to us. The message is there, to inspire the kids and the Filipinos,” – Carina Dayondon

Carina Dayondon is a Filipina mountaineer, Philippine Coast Guard officer, and adventurer. She is also the first Filipina to climb and reach the Seven Summits, the seven tallest mountains of each continent. She accomplished this feat in December 2018, when she successfully ascended Vinson Massif in Antarctica.

Her journey towards this amazing accomplishment began in 2006 when she reached the top of Mount Denali in Alaska. The following year, she climbed Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, with fellow female mountaineers Noelle Wenceslao and Janet Belarmino. She is officially the second Filipina to get to the summit, ten minutes after Wenceslao. They ascended Mt. Everest via the northern route in Tibet and descended through the southern route in Nepal.

Between 2006 and 2018, she climbed the other five highest mountains worldwide. It goes without saying that planning and preparing for these climbs was not easy. Dayondon spent most of her time training for these climbs and overcoming the challenges.

For example, when preparing for her final peak in 2017, she experienced problems with her eye. A doctor told her that she would go blind, but Dayondon continued to pursue her dreams. She trained and tested her body, including her eye, and decided that she could continue her climb. Fortunately, she achieved her goal without losing her eyesight and became the first Filipina to summit the world’s tallest peaks.

Dayondon was raised in the Philippine province of Bukidnon, the fourth of 15 children. She came from humble beginnings and enjoyed the outdoors even as a child. She was a member of the Girl Scouts in her elementary school years. When she entered college, she became a member of her university’s mountaineering society. It took her nine years to complete college because she participated in various adventure racing sports to earn money and help support her siblings. Dayondon also supported herself by working part-time jobs such as climbing instructor, salesperson, and babysitter.

Her challenging upbringing gave her the strength and resilience she needed to get to where she is now. Today, she works as a Coast Guard officer and is taking time off from climbing, although she keeps the door open to future endeavors. Of course, even while she is not actively climbing, she serves as an inspiration to Filipinos everywhere.

Despite coming from a family with limited financial means and needing to take loans out for her climbs, she remained steadfast in working towards her goals. Her story is one of grace, teamwork, and support. Dayondon shows us the importance of lifting each other up and supporting women in our society so they can go beyond what is expected and, in turn, inspire others as well.

Maya Angelou: The Power of Words

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou hardly needs an introduction. She is a beloved American author, civil rights activist, screenwriter, dancer, and poet. She is best known for her acclaimed 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the first installment of her seven-volume autobiography. For this work, she made history when it became the first non-fiction bestseller by an African-American woman.

Angelou was born as Marguerite Johnson in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. She and her brother moved to Arkansas to live with her grandmother when she was three. When she was eight years old, she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend. When Angelou told her uncles about what happened, they attacked and kicked the perpetrator until he died.

This incident made Angelou realize the power of words and how her speaking out about the crime brought about death. For the next five years, she stopped speaking. Her autobiography recounted, “I thought, my voice killed him; I killed that man, because I told his name. And then I thought I would never speak again, because my voice would kill anyone.”

Civil Rights Activist

After a few years, Angelou moved to San Francisco with her brother and mother. At 16, she gave birth to a son and did odd jobs to support him. Among these jobs was dancing at a nightclub. A theater group discovered her through her dancing and cast her in her first play, Porgy and Bess. This casting changed her life. She toured Europe as part of the cast, recorded her first album, and sang in an off-Broadway review.

In the late 1950s, Angelou became active in the civil rights movement. She worked with Dr. Martin Luther King as a fundraiser and organizer. In the early 60s, she moved with her son and then-partner to Africa to focus on family. There, she met and became close friends with Malcolm X.

Malcolm X convinced her to return to the US and help him with his own civil rights organization. After his and Dr. King’s later assassination, she decided to devote her energy to writing. This led to the publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which brought her international fame.

Literary Powerhouse

Angelou also went on to become a renowned poet, screenwriter, and composer. One of her most famous poems is “Still I Rise,” which is about the resilience of Black people. Her screenplay for the movie Georgia, Georgia became the first produced screenplay by a Black woman. She acted on film and TV, directed theater, and wrote prolifically.

In the 1980s, She became a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina and continued being an influential literary powerhouse. At President Bill Clinton’s first inauguration in 1993, Angelou recited her poem, “On the Pulse of Morning.”

Throughout her life, she received several honors. In 2005 and 2008, she received NAACP Image Awards in the outstanding literary work category. She also won three Grammy Awards in the Spoken Word Album category in the 90s. Until her death, Angelou was closely associated with celebrity talk show host and publisher Oprah Winfrey. Through Oprah’s shows, they brought Angelou’s work to millions of people. Oprah considered her “my mentor, mother/sister, and friend since my 20s.”

In 2014, Maya Angelou passed away at 86 years old. She remains a beautiful inspiration and role model to women worldwide for her resilience, grace, and calm confidence. While she was not a loud or showy character, her mere presence brought unspoken strength that we can all emulate. As Oprah said, the greatest lesson that Angelou taught her was, “You are enough!” These are wise words that all women from all walks of life can live by and put into action in our lives.

Sacred Fire Creative honors women who worked to influence significant change in their world in this #WomenWhoMatter series. Do you want to be a woman who affects positive change in your community? Let’s help you make this change.

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Lizzo: Award-Winning Pop Star, Body Positivity Champion

“My movement is for everybody. My movement celebrates diversity. It’s all about inclusion. It’s all about getting our flowers and giving each person their own space to be an individual and speak up for that individuality.” – Lizzo

You have to be living under a rock if you haven’t heard of Lizzo. She shot to fame in 2019 with the release of her third studio album, Cuz I Love You. While “Juice” from this album instantly became a hit, her previous songs “Truth Hurts” and “Good as Hell” quickly followed suit and counted among her most popular songs.

That same year, Time Magazine named the singer, dancer, and classically trained flutist “Entertainer of the Year.” And in 2020, Lizzo received eight nominations at the 62nd Grammy Awards and officially added three-time Grammy winner to her list of titles.

Hard work paid off for Lizzo.

It may seem like Lizzo skyrocketed to fame. But before her 2019 breakthrough, she spent years working her way to the top. She began rapping and performing in shows while studying flute on a music performance scholarship at the University of Houston. In her junior year, she left university to focus on her music career.

It took her ten years. She went on tours as part of a rock band and performed with girl groups. She released her debut album Lizzobangers in 2013, though it didn’t gain traction. Eventually, she got noticed by rock icon Prince. The late legend encouraged Lizzo, featured her on his Plectrumelectrum album in 2014, and helped her get exposure by asking her to perform at his parties. The rest is history.

Lizzo has become a role model for hard work and not giving up on your dreams. Her long journey showed that there’s no recipe for instant success. In 2019, she shared, “I’ve done so many tours, but nobody knows who I am until this year. But would I have been able to maintain this type of mainstream success ten years ago? Hell to the nah! I needed these ten years. I feel like a master.”

A vocal champion and critic of body positivity

Beyond her music, Lizzo is a well-known champion for body positivity. As a plus-sized woman, she continues to endure criticism for how she looks. But it doesn’t stop her from pushing the message that the body is to be celebrated regardless of its size.

For example, after facing criticism for wearing a thong dress to a Lakers game in December 2019, she took to Instagram to spread this message of self-acceptance: “Who I am, and the essence of me, and the things that I choose to do as a grown-ass woman, and the things I choose to do as a grown-ass woman, can inspire you to do the same. They don’t have to be like me – you need to be like you, and never ever let somebody stop or shame you from being yourself.”

At the same time, Lizzo doesn’t hesitate to call out the body positivity movement when she feels the need. In 2020, she made headlines for saying that body positivity has become too mainstream and co-opted by smaller-sized influencers and businesses. She claimed that this development is leaving behind the fat, Black, and queer people who began the movement in the first place but are still facing ridicule. Lizzo called for people to return to the roots of body positivity, support the people who started it, and stop discriminating against them.

Lizzo is an excellent example of what hard work, dedication, and focus can achieve. She could have given up on music in the decade it took her to get to the top. But she took her time and didn’t stop. And thanks to her message of body positivity, more young women worldwide are encouraged to become more confident in their own bodies and showcase what makes them unique.

Sacred Fire Creative honors women who are making a difference in our world. Are you an entrepreneur who wants to make a difference in your own community? Work with us, and we can help you achieve it.

Miriam Defensor-Santiago: The Iron Lady of Asia

“What is the meaning of life? This meaning is not for you to find, but for you to define. The meaning of life is found in the purposes that we pursue as we grow older.” — Miriam Defensor-Santiago

Miriam Defensor-Santiago is well-known in Philippine politics for her intelligence, courage, and memorable quotes. While she ran twice for president and never won, she remained a consistent and active figure in politics who made a lasting mark on the Filipino people’s hearts and minds. She passed away in September 2016 from lung cancer, months after a second bid for the Philippine presidency.

Defensor-Santiago was born in 1945, the eldest of seven children of a local judge and college dean in Iloilo City, Philippines. Her parents’ occupations were a precursor to what Santiago would become later on in her accomplished life. From an early age, her parents instilled the value of education. She later said that she and her siblings were raised to be “very bright people and it’s a great disappointment to all our ancestors if we did not live up to the family standards.”

After finishing high school and college as valedictorian in Iloilo City, she continued her stellar educational performance at the University of the Philippines College of Law in Manila. She continued showcasing her intelligence and wit by winning debates and oratorical contests. Defensor-Santiago was also the first female editor of the college newspaper.

Upon completing her law degree, she pursued her Masters of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science from the University of Michigan, which is considered one of the best law schools in the United States. Defensor-Santiago also finished a Master of Arts in Religious Studies at the Maryhill School of Theology. Aside from this, she also studied at Oxford and Harvard law schools. Her impressive educational background served as further evidence of her brilliant mind. She made the most of her education when she entered the world of Philippine politics.

From lawyer to judge to Senator, Defensor-Santiago worked in all three branches of the Philippine government – judicial, executive, and legislative. She served as a judge at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, an immigration commissioner and cabinet member, and a three-term senator. She was a popular mainstay in Philippine politics, especially when she spoke openly about corruption, injustice, and inefficiencies she saw around her.

More than just a powerhouse politician, Defensor-Santiago was also a wife, mother, and grandmother. Her biggest personal heartbreak came when one of her two sons took his own life in 2003. While she never got over his death, she continued her work in politics and law. In 2012, she became the first Filipino and Asian judge of the International Criminal Court. She also continued her work as a senator and in 2016, ran again for the presidency.

Defensor-Santiago was indeed a female icon for the 21st century, earning the nickname the “Iron Lady of Asia,” even when most Asian women were happy to be behind the scenes. Her intellect, accomplishments, and outspokenness make her an extraordinary role model to the youth, who continue to look up to her today. Defensor-Santiago’s incredible ability to rise above personal tragedy and continue working as a public servant to serve others is also vital to this great woman’s legacy.

Sacred Fire Creative honors women who left a lasting legacy in this #WomenWhoMatter series. Do you want to be a woman who matters? Let’s collaborate to create a meaningful digital marketing strategy for your business.

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