Written by Krystal Jugarap
Lifting as We Climb: Building a Future of Women’s Empowerment – Creating a legacy is about more than personal achievements—it’s about building a future where others can thrive. For women across generations, empowerment has not only been a goal but also a movement. As we reflect on the journey toward gender equity, we must ask: What will we leave behind for the women who follow? True legacy means lifting others as we climb, creating spaces where every woman can shine with confidence, courage, and purpose.
Empowerment begins with opportunity—an open door, a platform, or even just one voice saying, “You can.” This is where communities like EM/POWEREDbyWMN play a transformative role. EM/POWEREDbyWMN is a vibrant community dedicated to creating opportunities for women to shine their light and build meaningful experiences. It champions the idea that when women support each other, powerful change happens—not just individually, but across society.
Through mentorship, workshops, networking events, and storytelling, EM/POWEREDbyWMN cultivates an environment where women are encouraged to lead authentically, challenge barriers, and develop the tools they need to thrive in every space they enter. Whether they’re entering a new career, launching a business, or simply becoming a more confident version of themselves, the community exists to help women rise—and to do so together.
Leaving a legacy for women’s empowerment also means being intentional in our everyday actions. We advocate for equal pay, inclusive workspaces, accessible education, and safety for all women. We celebrate diversity, amplify underrepresented voices, and ensure that leadership tables reflect the communities they serve.
To build this legacy, we must each play a part. We must choose to mentor, to listen, to uplift, and to do so with vulnerability and integrity. We must tell our stories, share our knowledge, and stand up against inequity. Every step forward lays a foundation for the next woman to walk more confidently in her truth.
The spirit of EM/POWEREDbyWMN empowers women not just in moments but in movement. A legacy of empowerment endures, igniting future generations with the strength, wisdom, and light of those who came before.
We asked some of the women in the EM/POWEREDbyWMN community, “What legacy do you hope to leave behind?” Here is what they said.
I hope the legacy I leave behind is one of softness, resilience, and sacred remembrance. I want people to say that I was kind, that in my presence, they felt seen, loved, and safe to be exactly who they are. As a spiritual healer and sound practitioner, my work is an extension of my heart. I create spaces that invite people back home to themselves, using ancestral practices, energy work, and ritual to remind others that healing is possible.
My journey has shown me that no matter how deep the conditioning or how heavy the pain, there is always a path back. You can choose softness after survival. You can be the one to break patterns and open emotional doors your lineage never had the chance to walk through. I’ve chosen to live a life rooted in tenderness and trust, taking things one day at a time. Honoring each moment of joy, love, and divine alignment.
The younger me would be in awe. I’ve become my own superhero. I’ve learned that I am enough. If my legacy is anything, let it be a gentle revolution of healing, a reminder that it’s possible to create a better story and to do so with love.
Domie Monet
Sound Healer and Wellness Practitioner
As a former tech leader, I broke barriers in a competitive, male-dominated industry, pioneering solutions that not only advanced technology but also created more inclusive spaces for future leaders, especially for women. My transition into entrepreneurship was marked by purpose and vision, founding ventures that reflected my deep commitment to creativity, impact, and empowerment to inspire women entrepreneurs.
My story is not just about personal success but also about lifting others as I climb—whether mentoring emerging leaders, supporting diverse startups, or empowering my own children to dream big in this world full of possibilities. The legacy I want to leave behind is a testament to what’s possible when passion meets purpose and when leadership is driven not only by achievement but also by the desire to create lasting change across generations.
I want to leave a legacy rooted in empowerment, impact, and generational transformation—where bold ideas are nurtured, women of color are championed, and my story inspires others to rise. More than just a record of achievements, I hope to leave behind a ripple effect of courage, curiosity, authenticity, and conscious leadership that begins with my sons and echoes through my communities of people inspired and more.
Haena Sunshine
Entrepreneur, Business Owner, Women In Tech Leader
I want to leave behind a legacy of transformation you can actually see and feel. The kind where a woman walks into a room and is instantly seen for the powerhouse she truly is, not overlooked or underestimated because of how she presents herself. My mission is to help women bridge that gap between who they are on the inside and how they show up on the outside. Presence isn’t about being born a certain way – it’s a skill, something you can learn, refine, and own with intention, elegance, and impact.
To me, legacy isn’t just about what you accomplish – it’s about how people feel in your presence and how they remember you. If I can help a woman feel grounded, magnetic, and completely in her element during the moments that define her story, then I’ve done my job. That kind of ripple effect? That’s the legacy I’m building – one woman at a time.
Kate Ziuz
Self-Presentation Coach
I hope my legacy feels like a gentle hand on your back, encouraging you to both chase your dreams and savor the view right where you are. I want to be remembered as a woman who poured her passion into her family with equal heart.
As a life coach, wife, and mama, I want to show that you can grow big dreams without missing the beauty of the everyday moments. That emotional wellness isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. And that caring for your mind is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your family.
I want my legacy to be that she believed in celebrating the small wins, raising emotionally wise little humans, and never losing sight of joy in the present, even while building the future.
In the end, it’s not about doing it all; it’s about doing it with heart. If I can leave behind a ripple of women who feel supported and emotionally equipped to lead their lives with confidence, then I’ve done what I came here to do.
Nivetha Raj Gowrishankar
Founder of Spark Your Sparkle Co. and Emotional Fitness Coach
Founding EM/POWEREDbyWMN ignited a passion in my heart so deep for uplifting other women around me and paving the way for our future generations, just as the women before us have done. Throughout this journey, I continue to reflect on the legacy I hope to create. The resounding message is grounded in creating a space where women recognize and embrace their power and worthiness and begin living lives they truly love.
As a mom of three, including two young girls, I want them to not only be told that anything is possible and that they’re deserving of pursuing their own happiness but to be immersed in that energy and atmosphere so that it’s not merely an inspirational quote but a witnessed reality. I want the women around me, especially the moms, to feel inspired by their titles, not limited by them. I want the growing leaders of tomorrow to recognize they have the power to change what leadership looks like and to replace competition and scarcity with collaboration and abundance.
When it comes to my legacy, I don’t want people just to remember me, but instead the community of women that surrounds me through the doors I’ve helped to open.
Krystal Jugarap
Founder of EM/POWEREDbyWMN
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