Creating Your VEST Legacy Map: Claiming the Impact You’re Already Making

VEST Legacy Map Framework

What will you be remembered for?

It’s a big question but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Legacy isn’t reserved for the end of a career or a life lived in the spotlight. Your legacy is being written every day, in your choices, your voice, your leadership, and the way you show up for others.

At VEST, we believe every woman deserves the space to reflect on and own the impact she’s already making. That’s why we created the VEST Legacy Map a framework to help you pause, take stock, and intentionally shape the example you're setting and the systems you're influencing.

Whether you're leading a team, mentoring a colleague, advocating for equity, or simply learning to say "no" with clarity, you are already building a legacy. The question is, are you clear on what that legacy is?

Why Mapping Your Legacy Matters

Too often, women underestimate their influence, especially when they’re not in traditional positions of power. But legacy isn’t just about titles or accolades. It’s about how you make others feel, what you normalize or challenge, and the sustainable changes you help create.

Mapping your legacy helps you:

• Recognize your impact, past and present

• Lead with intention in your daily actions

• Feel more connected to your values and goals

• Celebrate progress (not just milestones)

• Shape the future for those who come after you

  
  

And here's the truth, you don’t need to wait until retirement or a major life event to define your legacy. In fact, the earlier you start, the more intentional and fulfilling it can become.

The Four Dimensions of a VEST Legacy

The VEST Legacy Map outlines four distinct areas where your leadership shows up. Each one offers a different lens through which to view your influence and intention.

1. People You’ve Impacted

Your legacy is reflected in the lives you've touched. Whether it’s someone you mentored, a peer you encouraged, or a colleague you advocated for, these moments of support and recognition ripple far beyond what you may realize.

Ask yourself:

• Who have I supported, mentored, or encouraged?

• Who might be where they are because I saw something in them?

  
  

2. Norms You’ve Shifted

Legacy is also about what you challenge and change, especially when it comes to outdated mindsets or unspoken rules. Maybe you named a bias others ignored. Maybe you introduced a new process that made things more equitable. These moments shift cultures.

Ask yourself:

• What truths have I named?

• What processes or biases have I questioned or changed?

  
  

3. Practices You’ve Modeled

Sometimes the quietest legacies are the most powerful. When you model healthy boundaries, give credit freely, or create space for others, you're not just influencing individuals you’re setting a standard for what leadership can look like.

Ask yourself:

• What values am I modeling in my day-to-day actions?

• What behaviors am I normalizing for others to follow?

  
  

4. Systems You’ve Strengthened

Legacy isn't only about individual relationships it's also about the structures you help improve. Whether it’s introducing built-in mentorship, streamlining workflows, or clarifying expectations, these changes create better systems for everyone.

Ask yourself:

• Where have I made things more sustainable or equitable?

• What improvements will benefit others long after I’m gone?

  
  

Start Today

Your legacy is already unfolding, don’t wait to name it. Use this VEST Legacy Map to get clear on the impact you’re making and where you want to grow next. Remember legacy isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence, purpose, and the everyday choices that reflect your values and shape the world around you. The sooner you start naming and nurturing your legacy, the more powerful and lasting it becomes.

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