Driven by culture: How Jessica Stewart’s roots shaped a life of community impact
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Jessica Stewart shares how her Filipino upbringing shaped her values and inspired a career dedicated to giving back.
For Jessica Stewart, community has always been at the heart of everything she does—long before it became part of her official title.
As the Head of Community Impact and Director of the Driven Brands Charitable Foundation, she doesn’t just lead initiatives — she builds connections. Jessica creates programs that inspire employees to get involved, supports brands and franchisees with fundraising giving strategies, and ensures that Driven’s philanthropic efforts make a tangible difference and reach communities in meaningful ways.
Her journey into this work started long before she ever stepped into the nonprofit space. It started at home.
“I realized as I got older that I lean into this because it’s what I grew up seeing my mom do,” Jessica shared. “She’s always been someone who gives her time and looks out for others. That was just how we were raised.”
A mother’s influence
Jessica’s mom, Rowena, was born in Zamboanga, Philippines — a place rich with tradition and deep-rooted values. It was there that she met Jessica’s father, who was stationed there during his Navy service.
Nearly 50 years have passed since Rowena made the U.S. her home. Yet, no matter where life took her, she carried Filipino values with her, ensuring its culture and traditions thrived within their household.
Their household was grounded in principles of the heart: family first, respect for elders, hospitality, and, most of all, Bayanihan — a Filipino word that describes a spirit of communal unity and support, especially for those in times of need.
“These values were never formally taught, but they were modeled,” Jessica explained. “Now I see how deeply they shaped me. Being in the community engagement space in my professional career for over 15 years, I am humbled by the fact that I was literally raised to do this work through Bayanihan.”
Community impact, powered by culture
That spirit has followed her into every chapter of her career and eventually led her to her current role at Driven Brands.
“No two days are the same,” she said. “I can be doing anything from organizing a group volunteer event in Charlotte to helping a brand prepare for their give back initiatives during their convention, or managing regulatory compliance across multiple states. It can be a lot, but I love it.”
Through the busiest of days, it is giving back to communities in need, the connections she fosters, and the many lives the Driven Brands Charitable Foundation touches that keeps Jessica energized.
“There’s a real excitement now around community impact,” she explained. “A lot of our brands are reaching out with new ideas on how to expand their giving footprint. They know they have a partner who can help bring those ideas to life, and that’s really rewarding.”
Carrying culture forward
As Jessica’s cultural heritage inspires her work, it also remains a vital part of her personal life. As a Filipino American, she carries family traditions forward. Every holiday, her family cooks dishes like lumpia and adobo with the intent of bringing together loved ones over shared meals, laughter, and what she describes as joyful chaos.
It’s a tradition that has extended beyond her family: “Now when my friends have get-togethers, they ask, ‘Hey Jessica, are you going to bring the lumpia?’ It’s become a staple.”
Looking back, Jessica says she didn’t always realize just how much her upbringing would influence her path. For her, it was just the way of life. Now, however, she sees the impact Filipino culture has had on her.
“To say I’m proud to be Filipino American will always be an understatement,” she said. “It’s who I am, and it’s why I do this work.”