Elizabeth Banks: grit, pies, and safety nets

How time flies. It feels just like yesterday when Jaime, a curious toddler with bright eyes, was running around at family gatherings. He recently graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a double major in Finance and Management, along with a graduate certificate in Film and Media Studies. The only son of GMA7 director Joel Jimenez and award-winning children’s book author Gidget, Jaime’s journey from Manila to the Ivy League is not just a personal triumph — it is a powerful story of grit, faith, and family love.

Elizabeth Banks, a renowned Hollywood actress, director, producer, and UPenn alumna was the commencement speaker at Jaime’s graduation. Witty, candid, and down-to-earth — a good match for Jaime’s dual interests in business and the creative arts. Ms. Banks shared stories of growing up in a working-class family, navigating Ivy League life on scholarships, and never taking opportunities for granted. She spoke about three powerful ideas: grit, pies, and safety nets.

Her words on grit reminded me of the graduation of Jaime’s sister Bianca from UPenn years ago. The speaker then was psychologist Angela Duckworth, author of the book “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” who said: “Grit is working on something you care about so much, you’re willing to stay loyal to it. Grit is not just doing what you love but actively staying in love.”

Ms. Banks echoed this spirit, sharing how rejection shaped her and how she kept going even when the doors didn’t open. “Failure is a great motivator,” she said — and how true that is. Jaime’s own journey reflects this kind of quiet perseverance. From helping build Uber in the Philippines — only for it to be shut down — to later being given the opportunity to lead a product team for Uber in the US, he showed resilience and patience. As leadership expert John Maxwell writes in “Failing Forward,” failure is not final — it’s a stepping stone to growth.

Then came Ms. Banks’ metaphor: the pie. Many people grow up thinking success is a limited pie — if someone else gets more, there’s less for you. But she challenged this mindset: “If there is no more pie, make your own.” What a powerful call to action! She urged the graduates, “Stop waiting for someone to give you your slice. Go and bake your own. And when you do, you make space for others too.”

That idea of expanding the pie struck a chord. I remember back in 2010 when my sister Ate Kay’s grandchildren asked me for gardening tips. I wanted to give them a children’s gardening book but couldn’t find one in local stores. So, Jaime’s mom Gidget and I created one: “The Secret is in the Soil,” which is for ages nine and up. We didn’t realize it then, but we were “baking our own pie,” too.

Ms. Banks also emphasized the importance of safety nets — the people who guide, encourage, pray for, and believe in you. Behind Jaime stands a strong, loving net: his parents Joel and Gidget, who raised their children with discipline, grace, and purpose; his grandparents Carolina “Kay” (known as the Bamboo Queen) and Menardo Jimenez, Sr., (former GMA7 President) firm in their Christian values and open-hearted generosity; and his sisters Bianca and Sofie, both Ivy League graduates themselves, each with accomplishments of their own. Actually, all their other granchildren from children Menard, Jr. ”Butch”, Laurie (Westfall) and Carmen (Ong) are all God-fearing and achievers.

This is no coincidence. The Jimenez children shine because of a foundation built on faith and love. Joel, beyond his professional work, serves as the pro-bono president of The Potter and Clay Christian School in Sanciangco, Malabon, Rizal — a reflection of his family’s heart for service. And in his quiet testimony, Joel always points to the source of it all: God.

As Jaime returns to the Philippines, he brings with him not just a world-class education, but the spirit of Ms. Banks’ challenge: be a builder — of careers, of opportunities, of more pies and better futures.

Jaime’s story is a reminder of what truly matters: grit despite difficulties, creativity that expands the pie, and the steady hands of faith and family holding the safety net below. Congratulations, Jaime. May you lead with courage, share your blessings generously, and continue to walk boldly under the grace of the God who has been faithful every step of the way.

The views expressed herein are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of her office as well as FINEX.

Flor G. Tarriela is a banker and an environmentalist/gardener. She founded Flor’s Garden in Antipolo, an accredited ATI National Extension Service Provider.