Marilyn Tam arrived in the United States in 1969 with two suitcases. A young immigrant from Hong Kong, she relied on her fearlessness to come halfway across the world alone and integrate herself into a foreign school system, beginning with a college education at the University of Oregon and then, Oregon State University, where she received a bachelor's degree in Foods and a master^'s in Economics.

Marilyn's business career began as she climbed the corporate ladder at May Department Stores, a company that believed, as did she, in the importance of making difference in the community. Her courage fol lowed her as she grew in personal power and became, in rapid succession, the CEO of Aveda, the vice president of Nike, the president of Reebok, and a recipient of the Reebok Human Rights Award. Marilyn is the founder and executive director of the Us foundation, which facilitates global action plans and dialogue to address social, economic, and environmental issues. She believes that philanthropy provides an essential balance and relevance to her life. She sees her recent book, How To Use What You've Got to Get What You Want, as a way to share with others the stories, principles, and actions that transformed her from an unwanted girl in Hong Kong to an international business leader, a philanthropist, and, most important, a generous person at peace with herself.

"I didn't know that I was courageous because I was just focused on my mission of making a positive difference in the world," she says modestly. "I didn't realize I was courageous even as, I made my way through the corporate structure to run Fortune 500 companies. But it's my courage and my belief in Spirit that, in retrospect, sustained and fortified me to be who I am today and every day." In her photograph, the sword represents fortitude and the rose represents her connection with nature and Spirit--a sense of resolution and trust in something bigger that guides us and motivates us to be all that we can be.