10 Things to Know about Loida Nicolas-Lewis
Loida Nicolas Lewis is a Filipino-born American businesswoman, civic leader, motivational speaker, author, and lawyer. On top of all this, she has a new book out called “Why Should Guys Have All The Fun?” An Asian American Story of Love, Marriage, Motherhood, and Running A Billion Dollar Empire (It debuted as #1 New Release in Business and Finance on Amazon!).
In her new book, Mrs. Lewis takes us to her beginnings in the Philippines at the height of World War II, when Japanese forces occupied the country. She shares her journey from a joyful upbringing with her well-to-do family, to a serendipitous blind date in the city that never sleeps, and eventually, to leading a billion-dollar business empire after the untimely death of her beloved husband, Reginald F. Lewis. The book alsot alks about her and he husbands biracial love story, as well as their challenges in raising two mixed-culture daughters.
Her book earns a place in the libraries of people looking to achieve extraordinary things by following their heart, leading with love, and taking charge of their own destiny.
Feeling inspired already? Here are 10 things you need to know about the incomparable Loida Nicolas Lewis.
1. An attorney by profession, admitted to practice in the Philippines and New York, Mrs. Lewis was the first Asian and Filipino woman to pass the New York bar without having studied law in the United States.
2. Loida graduated in the top 10% of her class from the University of the Philippines College of Law and a cum laude graduate of St. Theresa’s College, two of the Philippines’ premier educational institutions.
3. Loida was born to a family of entrepreneurs in 1942 in Sorsogon, Philippines. In 1937, her father started Nicfur Enterprise, which became famous as a furniture manufacturer in the 1960s.
4. In 1994, she became CEO of TLC Beatrice International, a food products conglomerate, a year after the untimely death of her husband, Reginald F. Lewis, who was the first African American man to own a billion dollar enterprise. In turn, she became the first Asian American woman to own a billion dollar enterprise.
5. After serving 10 years as General Attorney in the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (currently U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services), and having won her discrimination case against INS in 1979, Mrs. Lewis co-authored “How to Get A Green Card”, now on its 14th edition.
6. Loida is one of the founders of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), a civic advocacy group in the USA. In 2000, she played a crucial role in bringing Hillary Clinton, who was First Lady at that time, to the Federation's third conference in New York. She also co-founded the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund (AALDEF), and the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG).
7. She was named the top U.S. woman business executive by The National Foundation for Women Business Owners and landed the cover of Working Woman Magazine’s “50 Women Business Owners in America” in May 1996.
8. She and Mr. Lewis have two daughters (both graduated cum laude from Harvard University), Leslie Malaika Lewis and Christina Lewis Halpern.
9. Loida founded The Lewis College in Sorsogan City, Philippines in 2000 and sponsors more than one hundred scholars – providing opportunities for poor but deserving students to finish their education. Inspired by her husband and what he accomplished despite his upbringing, these 16 to 19-year-olds come from families living below the poverty line, and some even from communities who are caught in armed conflict areas.
10. When asked by Ebony Magazine what she wanted readers to take away from her new book she responded, “I want readers to know that my family didn't start off like this. When Mr. Lewis started off as a practicing lawyer, we had a pile of returned checks for insufficient funds. But we kept going—no matter what. From a woman’s perspective, we are special, and we have the capacity to do things just as well as men, even if we do them differently. What I’ve done is remain true to myself, used my own common sense, and continued to have faith that God will guide me. Do not be scared or afraid of failure, because failure is just another way to success if you can learn from it. “
Written By Rose Buado
Business and Life Purpose Professional Certified Coach
The parol, a star-shaped Christmas lantern, is a timeless and cherished symbol of Christmas in the Philippines. It represents faith, hope, and the enduring Filipino spirit.
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