Hey everyone meet Becky (@actionsportslaw). Becky splits her time between running a law firm and a nonprofit called @changingtidesfoundation. She is a connector, collaborator and all around positive force doing good in the world.
How’s your definition of success changed over the years?
Growing up in Miami, in a very fast-paced setting, success was generally measured by how much money you make. I was never a money-driven person. I didn’t really care about the fancy cars and the jewelry but I saw myself falling into the trap the first couple years out of law school. It didn’t feel like me at all. That’s why I decided to move out to California and pursue my passions and step into a lifestyle that felt way more comfortable for me. Success to me now is finding out a way to make a living doing what you love. I believe that happiness comes first, and the money will follow, as long as you’re responsible and realistic about where you are headed and live within your means.
What do you love most about your boyfriend?
My boyfriend is an amazing chef and a great partner and father to his now 13-year-old son. The things I love most about him is that he had the courage to pursue his passion and start his own business in his mid-30’s. Being a young single father, he didn’t really have the option to pursue this career path and working in the traditional restaurant setting was not sustainable for him or his son’s life. He got creative and took the dive into his private chef business the first year of our relationship and I have watched him thrive and shine. He has also done a lot of work on himself to be the best partner and father he can be. I’m so proud of him.
You’re an attorney can you tell me a bit about it…
I’m a lawyer and have been for 16 years. I started my law firm, Action Sports Law Group in 2008 with a mission to help action sports athletes further their careers. I’m lucky to say that I have worked with some of the best action sports athletes including Olympians, helping them get visas to the US and helping with endorsement contracts. I’m not an agent, but I work with athletes or their agents, to review their contracts and make sure things are fair. I also work with photographers, videographers, and artists. I actually didn’t want to be a lawyer, but I did it anyway and managed to merge my passion for action sports with my law profession to keep things fun. It’s all about getting creative.
You’re a cofounder of Changing Tides Foundation can you tell me a bit about that?
Changing Tides Foundation is a nonprofit organization that empowers women to protect the planet. We invite everyone to join us in this movement, not just women, because we feel like we need more women stakeholders and decision-makers to solve the problems that exist in the world today. I started the organization in 2016 with 5 of my best friends because, as surfers, we wanted to do more than just take waves. It all started as a travel-based organization, where we would help alleviate issues in the places we visited, and it was all centered around sustainability and environmental protection but it has grown into so much more. We work with teenage girls to mentor and empower them using the ocean as a tool to promote self-confidence, the creation of strong bonds, and a sense of responsibility to protect the environment.
What habits do you have now that you wish you started much earlier?
I don’t love using the word “habits” I’d prefer to use “behaviors.” I now consider myself much more patient than I used to be, and I attribute that to years of self-reflection and learning by reading books, doing meditations and yoga, and having more meaningful conversations and connections. I do wish I would have started surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding much earlier, but mostly because I feel like I’d be better at them than I am now :)
If you could ask God one question what would it be?
What is the meaning of life?
Do people ever really change?
People grow and with growth comes change. Change can be good or bad but I do think change is not only possible but necessary. I try not to lump everyone into “always” or “never” categories, so I’ll say people can sometimes change.
What are the greatest lessons you’ve learned from your Cuban family?
Great question. Cuban families are large and loud, it’s pretty awesome. We love gathering and dancing…so much dancing, so yes, I can salsa and merengue and I grew up loving going dancing. The biggest lesson I have learned is the importance of family, of taking care of each other. One by one, my family fled communist Cuba to Miami in the 60’s. My maternal grandfather had 13 brothers and sisters. My dad was the youngest of 11, so you can imagine the number of cousins and extended family we had, which meant big parties growing up. I learned you didn’t need a lot of money to make a party fun and awesome. Another lesson that sticks out in a working-class Cuban family is work ethic. Nothing came easy to my family in Miami and they all worked hard to earn a living and create a good setup for my generation. I was taught that from an early age as well. They also taught me to be a team player, to take care of the people you care about, and to always open your door to someone in need.
What are some of your daily habits that help you to be happy?
I personally don’t like routines. I’ve never been one to do the same thing every day. I have never even been a coffee drinker. I can tell you one thing I do is make my bed every morning. It brings me a sense of accomplishment first thing in the am. Then every time I walk into my bedroom, it looks nice and it makes me smile. Luckily my boyfriend is totally on board with making the bed so we take turns. I also am a morning activity person, so whether I’m heading to a HIIT class or a surf session, I do like to get my body moving in the am. I also go into my veggie garden every single day to check on and take care of my plants. I’m like a proud mom, haha seeing a new fruit or veggie never gets old to me. These are habits that make me happy.
What are your thoughts on the ocean?
I love the ocean. I spend so much time looking at her and being inside of her as a surfer. It is my playground and we are so lucky to get to experience the weightlessness and ride the energy she produces. She gives and gives and humanity is destroying her. That is why I feel so called to protect her.
What are a few small changes we can make to help lessen our environmental impact?
First and foremost, you can refuse single-use plastics and replace them with reusables. You can keep food waste out of the trash by composting your food scraps. You can pick up trash you see at the beach and in the water. But more than anything, you can get educated on the topics affecting our oceans, like industrialized fishing, oil drilling, plastic pollution, and stormwater runoff. Support organizations that are planting corals, regenerating mangrove forests and sea kelp. Then take action, sign petitions, and make your voice heard. Our representatives work for us and if enough of us make noise, they have to push for regulations that will protect the ocean and the environment.
What are some ways people can get involved with Changing Tides Foundation?
Obviously, donations are a great way to support any nonprofit, so we welcome individual and corporate donations at Changing Tides Foundation. We recently just launched a new Memberships program which gives people the opportunity to get more involved with CTF and actually chat with our whole team several times a year, it also comes with awesome perks from our brand partners! Volunteers also do help us a bunch, we are looking forward to creating more volunteer opportunities far and wide. We will also be doing more ladies surf meetups which we will open to the public. We also have group challenges throughout the year that help to raise awareness about how our own personal behaviors affect the environment, so those are great to participate in. Supporters also have the opportunity to launch their own fundraisers to benefit CTF.
What are your thoughts on surfing?
Surfing has changed my life. From where I live to the types of people I am around and what I do socially with my friends. Surfing gives you courage, it washes away pain and worries, it’s therapy, it centers you and connects you with nature. I feel like we would be so much happier as a society if people found their “surfing.” Nothing in my life has so effortlessly and consistently brought me into the present moment quite like surfing does. Sprinkle in some dolphins and some friends cheering you on and you’re on cloud 9.
Where did you catch your very first wave?
I caught my first wave in Stuart, Florida. I’m from Miami and the waves are fickle in South Florida because the Bahamas blocks the swells, so I went up to Stuart with a friend from law school and he took me out for the first time. I ended up cutting my head with a fin (it was just a little slice) and I got sun poison from laying on my board (I hadn’t learned to sit yet), but I was hooked.