Loida Lewis, the esteemed Chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice, LLC, a family investment firm, boasts an impressive professional trajectory. As a licensed attorney in both the Philippines and New York, Mrs. Lewis accomplished a groundbreaking feat by becoming the first Asian and Filipino woman to pass the New York bar exam, all without pursuing legal studies in the United States.
Before assuming her current role, Mrs. Lewis served as a General Attorney at the US Immigration and Naturalization Service, now referred to as the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, for an entire decade. During her tenure, she notably triumphed in a discrimination case against the INS in 1979. Leveraging her expertise, Mrs. Lewis co-authored the highly regarded publication titled “How to Get A Green Card,” which has since garnered immense acclaim, spanning 14 editions. Moreover, she authored the enlightening book “Why Should Guys Have All The Fun?”
Presently, Mrs. Lewis calls New York City her home.
Were there any significant experiences or moments from your childhood that sparked your interest in business or entrepreneurship?
We had a movie house named after me in the province where I grew up. My siblings and I, while in elementary grade, started buying raw peanuts and cooking them and selling them inside the movie theater. We learned about capital, profit and loss, and marketing.
How do you approach leadership and building successful teams within your organizations?
I’m careful to choose people I surround myself with who have with similar values of right and wrong, and know how to service the customers. There is a culture of the organization. Communicating clearly the culture and goals and yearly plan of the organization is key.
The title of your book, Why Should Guys Have All The Fun?, is provocative and attention-grabbing. Could you explain the significance of the title and how it relates to the content and purpose of the book?
It is a takeoff from my husband’s book which has influenced and inspired many black men and other people of color. More than 50,000 books, digital, audible copies have been sold. So my book has a built-in audience already.
Besides, to the extent that my book tells a story about how a woman with ordinary talents achieves extraordinary results coming from a personal tragedy and pain. Why should guys have all the fun?
How do you hope the book will contribute to broader conversations about diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities in the business world?
Again and again, bringing into the fold people of diverse backgrounds, different races, ethnicities, faith and national origin have proven that the organizations become richer and more practical in problem solving and diverse opinions. They attract clients and participants that, when properly marketed, would bring success to the enterprise. An example of that is the New York Metropolitan Opera which found a new audience when it started to present operas about black people.
Can you share any memorable experiences or achievements from your career that have had a profound impact on you?
I would not be the person I am today had I not fallen in love and married the man of my life, my soulmate and ultimate mentor and role model Reginald F Lewis. Love conquers all.
Get Your Copy of Why Should Guys Have All the Fun?: An Asian American Story of Love, Marriage, Motherhood, and Running a Billion Dollar Empire by Clicking HERE!
