Women's Leadership Mindset Series featuring Luisa Molano
Luisa Molano
Certified Executive Coach, Speaker & Startup Business Advisor
Introduction
Hi Sojourners! Upon attending a virtual networking event not too long ago, I had the wonderful privilege of meeting my first guest blogger for the 2023 Women’s Leadership Mindset Series, Luisa Molano. After connecting on LinkedIn and scheduling a one-on-one to learn more about how we each serve the world, I was compelled to invite her to share with us how she serves organizational leaders and develops her leadership mindset for success.
In accepting the invitation, Luisa took a courageous step by sharing the eulogy she delivered to celebrate the life of her grandmother who has recently passed away at the age of 95 years young.
With Mother’s Day approaching, many of us will be reminded of our beloved matriarchs that has gone on before us. For those of us that may still struggle with their absence, take solace in the the lessons Luisa has learned on her journey between Love and Loss.
~Teresa K. Page
Lessons At The Intersection of Love and Loss
The inevitability of loss is undeniable - both professionally and personally.
Whether it's a financial opportunity that slipped away, the loss of a client, or even a business goal that missed the mark...
...loss is a part of life - but it doesn't ever have to define us.
In the end, what does define us?
Is it what we did or didn't do or who we were?
Last Sunday, I laid my grandmother to rest.
And below is the eulogy I shared in front of nearly 50 friends and family in attendance.
A Legacy of Love
“I was watching a movie the other day, and in one of the scenes, the actor said, “we are meant to lose the ones we love. How else are we supposed to know how much they meant to us?”
That was the same day my aunt asked me to speak to you.
I sat with those words, to be quite honest, unsure of what to say today.
Because how do you summarize 95 years of life into a few minutes?
You don’t. You can’t.
So my words here are not an attempt to talk about her. They are a humble attempt to describe her legacy.
What makes a woman great?
What makes a woman memorable?
Is it the things she did or didn’t do?
Or, is it who she was?
My grandmother loved fiercely, spoke bluntly, lived bravely, and laughed contagiously.
In 2020 I decided to call my grandmother every Saturday when I learned she wasn’t leaving her house as a safety precaution against COVID.
Each week, we’d talk about society, health, how she met my grandpa, what she loved to do as a teen, growing up in Colombia, and of course, the news and COVID.
She always had a lot to say about life, but towards the end, she became a woman of few words, so what she said, she really meant.
In all those conversations, one stood out from all the others.
I had asked her to tell me one thing that drove her crazy about my grandpa.
Almost immediately, She replied, “Nothing. I loved everything about him. He was the perfect man for me.”
My grandparents were together for almost 59 years when my grandpa passed away.
That’s 21,535 days.
I don’t need a fortuneteller to tell me that surely, at least once in their relationship, something he said or did drove her crazy.
But that’s not something she chose to to bring to her mind.
Love is all she chose.
Because her message was love.
Her life was her message.
That is a legacy.
That is my grandmother.
That is who I celebrate today.
Thank you, grandma, for teaching me what true love is."
Every situation can empower us, if we choose.
The next time you come up to a loss, feel the feels if needed, and look for the lesson. It's always there.
And, if you haven't called your grandma to say 'hello,' maybe do that, too.
Luisa Molano
Certified Executive Coach, Speaker & Startup Business Advisor
About LUISA
Luisa Fernanda Molano, is a certified executive coach, speaker, startup business advisor and purpose-driven Latina who works with founders and entrepreneurs who crave a life of abundance and fulfillment. Those she serves want to synchronize their ambitions with their inner essence. Luisa empowers them to align their goals with their soul and boldly move towards the transformation they seek.
She has more than 19 years of professional experience in Human Resources, Managed Mental Health and Law across multiple industries with both Fortune 200 and 500 companies. She has also worked with
founders and startups since 2017 and has mentored entrepreneurs in various accelerators and incubator programs. Most recently, she became the founding member of a tech startup blending artificial intelligence technologies to create a better world for humanity.
Her work is anchored in the belief that we can achieve the extraordinary and truly have peace of mind when we can take radical responsibility for our inner life experience and cultivate deep self-awareness to fuel our purpose and mission. When we truly see who we are being, we can design the life we most desire with ease. I masterfully work across the dimensions of the practical and the possible.
Contact LUISA
Website: https://www.luisamolano.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisafmolano/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luisamolano.tgob/
Email: luisa@luisamolano.com