There are two types of faith: mountain-climbing (endurance/tenacity) and mountain-moving (courage/strength). Looking at her past and present, one can surmise that social entrepreneur Reese Fernandez holds both.
Reese’s life experience is a text book example of facing trials, rising up to challenges, effectuating change and affecting lives. Growing up in three churches and having been raised by several people, it seems that her unconventional childhood has only made room for a make or break. Reese chose the former.
“One day you will look back and realize why things worked out the way they did,” she responded in an email interview with Greater Good Philippines. And probably, all those instances in her life played just the right parts to mold her to the person that she is.
Read on to know more about Reese, one of five Rolex Young Laureates for 2010. You can check out Entrepbuff.com’s interesting feature on Reese Fernandez entitled “WBW: ‘Follow your heart, not your wallet’ and the money will follow” (circa Feb 2009).
Visit their website to learn more about Rags2Riches and how they change lives.
Photo from Reese’s Rolex Young Laureate feature.
Greater Good Philippines: What currently do you do?
Reese Fernandez: I am the President and founding partner of Rags2Riches, Inc.
How is a typical day at work like?
Typical days are not that typical. As a social enterprise that is growing rapidly, our days are very diverse, full of challenges, and surprises. We have not yet reached the point of having a routine. The days are very exciting! We have surprise orders, surprise community members, and other sorts of surprise challenges!
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I am actually convincing myself that I am a part-time bum. During the weekends and after office hours, I try not to work (try is the operative word). I think it is very important to set aside time to rest, write, read, and learn more about other things that may enhance my advocacy.
For a person your age, you seem to be very busy. How do you manage time between all the activities that you’re involved in?
Yes, my schedule these days is sometimes unbelievably busy. I think the perfect ingredients to managing time are 1.) having a really good and reliable team, 2.) setting priorities.
Can you tell us briefly about Rags2Riches and how it has come about?
Rags2Riches started because a group of young professionals and women from Payatas decided to come together to create change together. I was with the group of young professionals when we visited Payatas. We discovered that unfair trade was very rampant and that the mothers were earning around 8-16 pesos a day for selling the rugs they make. This social injustice was the source of our irritation and inspiration. We all came together because we believe that we all have something to offer and if we put together our talents and passion, we could make a lot of difference in the country.
In your own words, what is social entrepreneurship and what does it take to be a social entrepreneur?
Social entrepreneurship is about seeing innovative and scalable solutions to social problems and creating models that could make these solutions sustainable. I believe that social entrepreneurs are generally very disturbed individuals (in a good way). They are deeply disturbed by injustice or social problems. They take risks to act on the disturbance that they see or feel. They also have the appetite for risk and the hunger and openness to learn the skills they need to make the social enterprise work.
Who or what would you consider as your biggest influence in life? How did the subject influence you to become who you are now?
I must say that one of the biggest influences in my life is my fiance. He keeps me grounded and at the same time allows me to dream big. He is my anchor.
What is the most important lesson that you have learned that you apply to this day?
“One day you will look back and realize why things worked out the way they did”.
I have been through a lot. Probably a lot more than most people my age. My experiences are quite intense I must say. But throughout my life, I have realized that even the most embarrassing, painful, and apparently unfortunate experience, meant something. I have learned to accept difficulties and challenges through persevering, looking ahead, and believing that “one day, I will look back and realize why things worked out the way they did”
How was childhood to you like? Any interesting stories from your childhood that you would like to share?
My childhood is quite interesting and unconventional. I grew up in 3 churches around the Quiapo area and from a very early age, I have been exposed to hardship, faith, and the people who cling on to faith to get through hardships.
What role does family and friendship play in your life?
My family and friends are my biggest supporters. It is very important that family and friends support you in your decisions especially if your decisions are not the usual decisions.
What role does faith play in your life?
My faith keeps me true to what I do. Even when I make mistakes or when I doubt myself, I continuously go back to my faith and values.
What is your view on the youth being involved in worthwhile causes? Why do you think is it important for us to be engaged in causes greater than ourselves?
It is important for young people to start getting involved from an early age. It could give them the encouragement and initial successes they need to believe in themselves further to do something bigger.
I think it is important to be engaged in causes greater than ourselves for the simple reason and reality that we are beings that do not live within ourselves. We live in a bigger world with a bigger community. Making the world a better place is actually an advocacy that benefits the advocates and everyone else.
How did you come to be a Rolex Young Laureate?
I got nominated by an international leader. I received the letters and went through the process of the Rolex Awards. It was actually a very pleasant surprise and honor for me that I was selected as one of the five young laureates.
What would you consider as your greatest challenge and how did you overcome it?
I actually find it difficult to answer this question. We face so many challenges every single day. But I guess one of the most memorable and fulfilling ones was gaining and keeping the trust of our community members. It was not that easy to gain this trust. Our communities have been promised by different groups of people and politicians before. We were able to gain their trust after literally years of discourse and transparency. Transparency is one of the keys to gaining and keeping the trust of our stakeholders.
What would you consider as your greatest achievement?
The Quality of Life Program that we recently launched would be our greatest achievement. The QLP as we call it, allows each mother to save a percentage of what they earn per product that they make. Their savings could eventually be directed towards programs that will improve their lives such as educational plans and investments.
What do you see are the values or benefits of what you do?
I think more than the extra income to the community, Rags2Riches serves as an inspiration and model that positive change could be done hand in hand with business.
What can we expect from Rags2Riches and Reese Fernandez in the next months or years?
Well, personally, I will be married by December 22. That will be quite exciting. As for Rags2Riches, we are rapidly expanding. We will have more communities, exciting new designers, and new programs!
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