When I met Representative Sophie Phillips, I didn’t know I was about to hear one of the most interesting stories I’ve come across in a long time. She’s Delaware’s youngest state representative and the only Asian American ever elected to the General Assembly, but what stood out wasn’t her title. It was her story.
Sophie told me about her family, a mix of African American, Caribbean, Indian, Russian, Polish, English, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish roots. She said, “We’re from all over the world.” You could hear the pride in her voice when she talked about how seeing her ancestry results helped her understand how connected we all are.
She grew up in a mostly white neighborhood and was sometimes bullied for looking different. But summers with her cousins and grandparents were where she found her peace. She talked about family meals, her aunt braiding her hair, and feeling at home around people who understood her. That was her reset, her reminder that she belonged.
Sophie’s family history is full of courage. Her ancestors from India came to Trinidad as indentured servants. Her great-grandfather opened a grocery store in New York. Her grandmother’s marriage crossed racial lines when it wasn’t accepted. Listening to her, you could feel how those stories shaped her drive to stand up for people today.
She’s not just a lawmaker. She’s also a Wildlife Ecologist and Director of Talent Management and Operations at SheisMotivated. She told me her science background helps her make better decisions. “I look at data and facts before I vote,” she said. “But I also think about people, the ones who don’t always have a voice.”
Her focus on environmental justice comes from what she’s seen firsthand, how where someone lives can determine the kind of air they breathe or whether their neighborhood even has a park. “Equity isn’t abstract,” she said. “It’s about who gets to live in safe, healthy spaces.”
Listening to Sophie reminded me why I do what I do, to help people tell better stories. Hers is one of identity, family, and purpose. She’s proof that leadership can come from understanding where you came from and wanting better for the people who come after you.