Lourdes I. Fabian

I attribute my success to tenacity, persistence, patience, and passion, along with a genuine commitment to serving others. Throughout my career, I have embraced unexpected challenges and opportunities as stepping stones that have brought me closer to my purpose of advocating for individuals, strengthening communities, and helping others recognize their potential. My experiences as a mother, advocate, military service member, athlete, case manager, and coach have taught me the importance of resilience, adaptability, and perseverance. I believe success is not defined solely by titles or recognition, but by the positive impact I make and whether the people I encounter are better equipped to move forward because I was there.

The best career advice I have ever received is the philosophy of “falling forward,” a message that deeply resonates with me. I have learned that failure, disappointment, and unexpected changes do not necessarily mean I am moving backward; sometimes, they are redirecting me toward a greater purpose. Becoming a mother at a young age, advocating for my child through mental health challenges, serving in the military, pursuing my education, and building my career have all presented challenges that required resilience and perseverance. These experiences taught me that growth often comes through adversity and that setbacks can expand rather than diminish our potential. I believe the goal is not to avoid every fall, but to make sure that when life knocks me down, I continue moving forward and fall in the direction of the person I am becoming.

My advice to young women entering my industry is to start small, remain consistent, and stay committed to becoming the best version of yourself. You do not need an impressive title, a large business plan, or a perfectly mapped-out future to begin pursuing your purpose. Sometimes, it starts simply with the desire to become a better person and to do meaningful work that genuinely matters to you. I encourage women to pursue careers that align with their values and passions rather than measuring success solely by money, status, or recognition. There will be seasons when the rewards are not immediately visible, but meaningful careers are built through persistence, relationships, learning, and service. Most importantly, I want young women to understand that their path may change, and that does not mean their dreams have ended. My own journey has taught me that unexpected circumstances can redirect us toward opportunities and purposes we never imagined, so remain resilient, keep moving forward, and trust that a different path can still lead to a meaningful and successful life.

I see some of the greatest challenges in my field as opportunities to redesign systems so they better serve the people who depend on them. I am particularly passionate about supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth, who often return to their communities without adequate housing, mental health resources, mentorship, education, or ongoing support. I believe there is an opportunity to create transition homes and comprehensive programs that provide stability, guidance, and a stronger foundation for young people rebuilding their lives. I am equally committed to supporting veterans and addressing the barriers that can make accessing essential services difficult. My long-term vision includes developing a community care center that brings together resources such as mental health counseling, physical therapy, acupuncture, and other specialized services in an environment designed around veterans’ needs. Through coaching and the work of my organization, I am continuing to build toward a broader mission of serving youth, veterans, and families affected by mental health challenges, disabilities, and juvenile incarceration. For me, the greatest opportunity is to turn personal experience into meaningful advocacy and create practical solutions that help people not only overcome challenges but also recognize their potential and build better futures.

The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are faith, compassion, perseverance, family, service, and self-care. My faith provides a foundation that keeps me grounded through uncertainty and reminds me to approach every person with empathy while recognizing their potential beyond the challenges they may be facing. I believe in meeting people where they are, advocating for their needs, and helping them develop the tools and confidence to move forward. My experiences as a mother, advocate, coach, and professional have also taught me that compassion must be paired with determination and that caring for others requires caring for yourself as well. I believe self-care is essential to sustaining meaningful service, because we cannot continually support families, children, athletes, veterans, and communities without taking time to restore ourselves. Whether I am advocating for a child, coaching an athlete, supporting a veteran, or caring for my family, I strive to lead with faith, empathy, integrity, and a genuine commitment to helping others become the best versions of themselves.