Legacy Through Leadership: Farica Chang on Preserving the Past to Empower the Future
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
When I founded Anderson Archival with my partners as a division of Anderson Technologies, I wasn’t just launching a business, I was honoring a legacy. My grandparents and parents immigrated from Hong Kong to St. Louis in the 1970s, bringing with them a spirit of resilience, sacrifice, and service. Their journey, marked by hard work, humility, and a deep commitment to family, laid the foundation for everything I do. Discovering and documenting their story was a turning point for me. It inspired me to create a company that helps others preserve the histories that shape who they are.
To lead with legacy in mind means making decisions today that will still hold value tomorrow. It’s about being intentional with your time, your team, and your mission. At Anderson Archival, we digitize and preserve historical collections with the highest standards of care, but our work is about more than technology. We’re stewards of memory. Whether we’re capturing a 19th-century family genealogy or a business’s founding documents, we’re helping people protect the stories that shaped them—and that will shape others.
As a founder and managing partner, I’ve made it a priority to build a company culture that reflects the values we preserve. That means leading with empathy, clarity, and purpose. I’ve been fortunate to mentor and work alongside brilliant women who bring both technical expertise and emotional intelligence to our projects. Together, we’ve created a space where women can lead with confidence, collaborate with intention, and grow into roles that amplify their voices and their impact.
Shaping the next generation of women leaders starts with visibility and access. I believe in showing, not just telling, what’s possible. I’ve spoken on panels, mentored young professionals, and opened doors for women in the tech and archival spaces who might not have seen themselves in this field. But more than anything, I try to always lead by example. I want my team to see that you can be both strategic and compassionate, both visionary and grounded.
To women stepping into positions of power for the first time, I offer this: Own your story. Your path, your perspective, and your presence are your greatest assets. Don’t wait for permission to lead; step forward with conviction. Surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow and who celebrate your wins. And remember, leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room;
it’s about being the one who listens, who lifts others, and who guides with legacy in mind.
At Anderson Archival, we often say that we’re in the business of preservation, but what we’re really doing is building bridges between generations. That’s what legacy leadership looks like to me. It’s not just about what I’ve built, but about who I’ve empowered to build alongside me and who will carry that vision forward long after I’m gone.
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