Meet New 1995 Society Inductee, Izabela Patriota!
Meet New 1995 Society Inductee, Izabela Patriota!
Izabela is a passionate advocate for freedom and market-based solutions, currently serving as the Director of Development at the Ladies of Liberty Alliance (LOLA). She graduated with a law degree from her hometown university in northeastern Brazil in 2015, followed by a master’s degree in Law and Regulation from Brasília in 2018.
In 2024, she completed her PhD in Law and Political Economy at the University of São Paulo, Latin America’s most prestigious university. In 2019, she moved to the USA to intern at the Cato Institute and became a Bastiat Fellow with the Mercatus Center.
Her journey with LOLA began in 2018 as a volunteer, and her dedication led to her becoming the Director of Development in 2021. An advocate for women’s rights, she challenges the status quo by promoting market-based solutions over increased government intervention. Her insights have been featured in major Brazilian media outlets, and she maintains a column in a prestigious liberty-oriented magazine.
Beyond her professional achievements, she is a karate black belt and three-time national champion, a testament to her enduring courage and ambition. She continues to seek new opportunities globally, driven by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and freedom.
What moment or opportunity in your life played the most significant part in getting you to where you are today?
Moving to the United States in 2019 to become a Cato Institute intern. I didn’t know anyone in the U.S., I was making $250 a week, and I had only $3,000 in my bank account. Still, it turned out to be the best decision of my life.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far?
Leaving a job I once considered my dream job. I realized I was unhappy and decided to take a risk. I approached my current boss and asked for an opportunity. Even though I didn’t have much experience in development at the time, she gave me a chance, and that decision completely changed my career.
What piece of work or accomplishment are you most proud of?
Helping turn the Ladies of Liberty Alliance into a million-dollar organization for the first time last year.
In your words, what motivates your belief in freedom?
I believe only free societies allow people to truly become the authors of their own lives. Without freedom, individuals are reduced to pieces in someone else’s plan instead of building their own path.
What do you believe is the greatest challenge facing America today?
The growing disbelief in the American Dream. The United States is still the country with the greatest opportunities and where people from all backgrounds can succeed. We need to restore confidence in that promise.
What is the next big goal or project you’re working on? How can the AF community help?
One of my main goals right now is expanding the Ladies of Liberty Alliance domestically and strengthening leadership training for women in the liberty movement. Support from the AF community in connecting us with young women interested in leadership, speaking opportunities, and partnerships for our events and retreats would make a huge difference across the United States. We want LOLA and AF to be closely connected communities.
What advice do you have for those who want to advance liberty and make a difference in our society?
Stay grounded in your values. Political waves can make liberty advocates appear closer to the left or the right at different moments, but what matters is remaining consistent with the principles of freedom.
What are some hobbies/side gigs/secret skills no one knows about?
I am a black belt in karate and was a three-time Brazilian national champion in high school. I am also fluent in three languages: English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
What are you watching/reading right now?
I am re-reading How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Last question: What does winning this award mean to you?
As an immigrant from Brazil, receiving an American award like this feels like living the American Dream that inspired me to come here in the first place. It means a lot personally, but it also reflects the incredible campaign the LOLA women organized to support me. Their support reminds me why I believe so deeply in the promise of a free society and the opportunities the United States represents.