Celebrating Women's Day: Honoring the Legacy of Resilience and Empowerment
Happy Friday, and happy International Women’s Day!
As we celebrate International Women's Day today, I find myself reflecting on the incredible legacy of strength, resilience, and empowerment that has shaped my journey as a woman and minority entrepreneur in the solar energy industry.
I feel especially compelled to share this message, as this day holds a special significance for me.
I consider today especially significant not only because it celebrates the achievements of women around the world, but also because it reminds me of the remarkable women who have paved the way for me in my own family.
My journey as a woman in business has been deeply influenced by the powerful women who came before me. Personally, I love tracking my family tree.
My family is one that comes from all over the globe, so it proves to be difficult to track more than a couple of generations. For me, the time I spent with the women in my family (especially my elders) shaped my mind, soul, personality, and ambition.
When I think of courage, I think of my Vietnamese, immigrant grandmother on my mother's side.
She had the inviolable boldness to work alongside American soldiers at the mess hall in her home country. Her stories of sneaking around to ultimately stand up for what she believed in, and hearing her recount how that act of boldness shaped the rest of her life by leading her to meet my grandfather and start a family will never leave my mind.
When I think of resilience, I think of my grandmother on my father's side, who raised five children as a single mother while juggling multiple jobs to provide for her family.
She, like the other women in my family lineage, had the bare minimum amount of tangible assets required to live day by day. But, her struggles and hardships never hardened her heart. It takes a very special kind of resilience to never let the obstacles in life crack your spirit - I have always admired her tenacity.
My mother, the strongest woman I know, is a first-generation American who shattered every glass ceiling in her path.
Despite facing numerous challenges and being raised in a 100% immigrant household that balanced Vietnamese and Hispanic cultures, at a young age she earned a 100% self-financed Law degree from the University of Georgia (not to mention the several other degrees she collected along the way). Yet, amidst her professional achievements, she always prioritized her role as a mother, ensuring that my sibling and I had a strong foundation and unmatched support to pursue our dreams. Her ability to “do it all” so gracefully has shown me that I, too, can do it all if I put my mind to it.
The women in my family have always chosen "fight" in the fight or flight scenario, never allowing any obstacle to hinder their progress.
Their hardships have never hardened their hearts; instead, they have only fueled their determination to create a better future for themselves and those around them.
As a woman and a minority in the male-dominated solar energy industry, I have drawn strength from the resilience of the women in my family. Their stories have inspired me to break barriers and defy expectations, even when the odds seem stacked against me.
In my journey as an entrepreneur, I am committed to supporting and empowering other women who are entering the industry. I believe that by lifting each other up, we can create a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
Today, as we celebrate the achievements of women everywhere, let us also honor the legacy of resilience and empowerment that has been passed down through our own family, friends, and local community. Happy International Women's Day!
Sincerely,
Infinite Energy Advisors
