An Interview with Loudr's 2026 Empowering Humanity Award Winner
Year Two of the Empowering Humanity Award
Our agency's purpose, empowering humanity, grew out of a question our CEO, Jackie, asks herself every morning: how can I help someone or make something better?
In 2025, we created the annual Loudr Empowering Humanity Award to honor the teammate who answers that question most consistently. Someone who shows up authentically, solves problems, and leaves things better than they found them.
To choose the recipient, our executive leadership team looks back at twelve months of feedback, peer recognition, and company shoutouts for a clear, observed pattern of impact. The winner is revealed at our annual Company Retreat and receives a $2,500 bonus plus a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice.
Meet Lia, Loudr's 2026 Empowering Humanity Award Winner
Lia joined Loudr a year and a half ago as an Account Supervisor, bringing years of account management experience with her. She has quickly become someone the team knows is reliable, supportive, and a force to be reckoned with.
We sat down with Lia to talk about the award, leadership, and where her donation is going.
You were named Loudr's 2026 Empowering Humanity Award winner. What was that moment like for you?
You know me, I hate the spotlight. I'm a workhorse. I put the blinders on and focus on getting the work done in whatever capacity it needs to be done, and I never give myself a moment to reflect on that.
To have that recognition come from the people I work with was really nice. Especially being seen by leadership, who aren't always in the day-to-day or on the client emails. Sometimes in your career, it's important to pause and just enjoy the moment.
If I had to sum it up, it was very surreal.
Did you have any idea it was coming?
No. I was literally looking around the room thinking, who could it be?
I really did not expect it at all. I think that's just my nature. I focus less on myself and more on the people I work with and how they're feeling. If they're good, I'm good.
The award is rooted in Loudr's purpose of empowering humanity. What does that purpose mean to you personally?
Reflecting back, I took a very different approach to empowering humanity this year than I typically do. In account service, you sit in this middle space: you represent the agency externally to the client, and you represent your client internally to the agency.
This year, I was covering for a teammate who had to go on unexpected leave. From one day to the next, the majority of her accounts were on my plate. There was no time to prepare, no formal introduction, just an emergency jump in.
Those clients were used to an amazing account manager, and the person covering needed to equal that, or be even better. Leaving things better than I found them became what I held on to while I jumped in.
Your whole career in account service, you develop relationships with clients over time. I had to develop them at hyper speed. These clients needed to trust, almost immediately, that the agency had their back, even though their normal point of contact was out.
I think I was successful in that. Some of those clients still message me now that my teammate is back, asking, "You're not leaving the account, right?"
It was good to know that I was able to help them and my teammate when they really needed it.
You've described the way you lead as "low-key mentoring." What does that mean?
It's mentoring because people learn from it, but it's low-key because you're not doing it intentionally.
The way you move within the agency, how you communicate, how you respond to stress, that isn't just seen by the people you work with every day. Maybe I'm talking to one person directly in a group chat, but the way I communicate is being seen by many more. And the genuineness of that response matters.
After the award, I was approached by people I don't really talk to day-to-day, people in other departments, who said they knew I would get the award or that it was very well deserved. That was eye-opening. You never know who's watching or who you made an impact on.
After receiving this award, is there anything you'll think about differently as you work with the team and our clients?
I know people look to me for guidance. But the reframe that my response holds more weight than I thought is really important for me moving forward.
I'm a problem solver. If someone approaches me with an issue, I want to solve it for them.
Because of the additional support I was providing this year, I had to not take on unnecessary problem-solving and let the team work it out. I learned that things will be okay. People will grow, we'll make mistakes, and we'll figure it out as a team. I don't believe I know it all. Everybody has really good ideas, regardless of their level.
That ability to grow people is probably the strongest thing you can have as a department and as an agency. As we grow, that's the reframe for me: you're a leader here, and the way you move and the opportunity you provide is being seen.
You received a $2,500 donation to a charity of your choice as part of this award. Where is it going?
I chose Tepeyac Mission, a local organization here in Palm Beach County. They focus on helping immigrant families and children get access to support, including legal support, educational support, and more.
Tell us about your personal connection to that cause.
My mom came to the United States when she was young, so I'm first-gen. The immigrant story is very much a part of my identity.
I've had a lot of advantages in my life because of a decision my mom made at 25 years old. That's insane to think about: coming to a completely different country where you don't know the language or anything about the culture, and starting life fresh.
Whenever I sit down and think about how I got here today, it's rooted in a decision she made to give herself, and her future family, a better life. That's always been very special to me.
Then I became a mom, and the story shifted. I've never lived her experience, but as a parent, I see it differently now. So I wanted to find an organization that supports both: immigrant families and their children.
What is it about Tepeyac Mission specifically that means so much to you?
I went back and forth. There were other organizations that support immigrant families, but this one felt closer to home.
It isn't a huge organization. In 2025, they helped 84 local families, got holiday gifts to 68 children, and provided Thanksgiving meals to 29 families. How special is it that I could meet those 29 families and know I supported their meal? I wanted my donation to have weight.
I also signed up to volunteer. I'll be helping with translation, educational resources, and even transportation for anyone who doesn't have access.
My mom had to lean on her community when she came to this country. She taught me very early on that when you see somebody in need, you help, regardless of the inconvenience to yourself. Your 30 minutes of time could be life-changing for that other person.
This has always been a passion of mine in my personal life, but I'd never really done anything with it. This award made me think about it. Now they'll receive a donation and ongoing support from me, and I'm really excited.
What does it mean to you to have Loudr make this donation on your behalf?
I've never worked at a place that considers its employees beyond the work they give to this extent.
There's something very concrete about a donation made on behalf of an employee. And there wasn't a list handed to me that I had to pick from. They truly allowed me to pick what matters to me.
It feels very personal, and very considerate of the agency to look at you and say, "If there's something you're really passionate about, we support you. Your decision." I don't know the exact words for it, but I'm very grateful.
Tepeyac Mission, Inc. is a nonprofit based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, formally established in 2001. It connects Palm Beach County residents with resources including food, education, transportation, housing, health and mental wellness services, and access to legal services. To learn more or support their mission, visit tepeyacmission.org.
