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Member Spotlight: Erika Ferrari Lopez

Meet WIF member Erika Ferrari Lopez, a children’s author, dyslexia advocate, and community connector who shares how family, faith, and a passion for connecting others shape her life and leadership.

Tell us about YOU. What do you want other WIF members to know?

I’m Erika—wife, mother to two teenagers (send help!), woman of faith, community volunteer, dyslexia advocate, and children’s author. I released my first book, The Adventures of Amazing Grace, three years ago and the sequel, Secrets of the Time Machine, just launched in August! My favorite part about author life is doing school visits to share about storytelling, writing, and messages from the book which include using your gifts and overcoming fear. The books feature a bilingual protagonist, Spanish words and phrases, and are dyslexia-friendly. The books were inspired by my mom and my daughter—family is very important to me, and I’ve loved sharing a little bit of my family through these stories.

Which of WIF’s four Strategic Plan pillars—Give, Lead, Connect, or Sustain—feels most meaningful to you right now, and why?

I’d probably say Connect—being a connector comes naturally to me and it’s one of things I love most about WIF. Whether it’s shared causes, volunteer experiences, hobbies, career opportunities, or motherhood, there is always something to connect on with every WIF member I meet. We live full lives and it’s always exciting to see how we intersect and how we can help each other and our community. 

What are you MOST looking forward to this year with Women’s Impact Fund?

I love the in-person events. WIF staff and volunteers do such an amazing job making events fun and meaningful. I love meeting new people and I always walk away from WIF events excited about something new I’ve learned or someone I’ve met. 

If you could invite a friend to experience a WIF event, which event would you bring them to and why?

The end-of-year meeting where we give out grants to non-profits is such a feel-good event. It’s like we’re on the Oprah giveaway show—”You get a check!” and “You get a check”! It’s amazing to see the power of collective giving when we give unrestricted funding to deserving non-profit organizations that are making Charlotte a healthier, happier, and more just place to live. The event is the culmination of what WIF is all about. 

How do you stay connected to your community outside of WIF?

I’m mostly a one-on-one kind of person, so walks, coffees, and lunches are my favorite way to keep up with the people in my life. But I do value the benefits of social media to share personal updates with family and friends, especially since most of them live outside of Charlotte. As an author, it’s been amazing to connect with parents, librarians, authors, and teachers through my Instagram—@erikalopez_author. It’s also a place to share information (on my Highlights) about neurodivergences like dyslexia and ADHD to help parents become aware of early signs, support services, and resources. 

What is one word that describes your leadership style?

Servant.

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Janet LaBar

Executive Director​
jlabar@womensimpactfund.org

With more than 25 years of experience, Janet has a proven track record of leading organizations and teams in developing strategies that foster thriving communities. Her career is dedicated to the well-being of the places she serves, and the people and businesses within them, positioning her as a trusted sounding board, critical thinker, and purposeful protagonist across corporate, government, education, entrepreneurial, and civic spheres.
Janet joined Women’s Impact Fund in June 2025 to guide one of Charlotte’s most respected, women-led philanthropic organizations into its next phase of growth and impact. In partnership with the Women’s Impact Fund team, Board, Advisors, members, volunteers, and key community partners, she will continue strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.
Inspired by her family, teams who dare greatly, and people and communities striving to be their best selves, Janet’s impactful career includes leadership roles as President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, President and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, and Chief Performance Officer of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a first-generation Filipino American, her lived experience deeply informs her professional drive to create equitable economic growth and opportunity in the metro areas she’s served.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Janet and her husband James are proud parents to an older daughter, and a daughter and son who are twins.