Big Ocean Women: A Decade of Drops Creating an Ocean of Change

In 2025, Big Ocean Women will mark a decade of standing for faith, family, and motherhood. From one drop–a young mother yearning to find her place in the world of feminism–to becoming a tidal wave of change, our story has become the model for the growth of hundreds of women around the world. Carolina Allen, founder and president of Big Ocean Women, is that lone woman who gathered other like-minded women to create an organization empowering and training over 500 women in more than 20 nations and counting.

We asked Carolina and Ann Takasaki, a key founding member, to respond to questions about this remarkable journey.

The First Drop

Carolina described how her experience began in Hawaii while attending the funeral of Moana, a beloved sister-in-law, whose singular life and love had changed her entire community. Overwhelmed by the power of Moana’s life, Carolina sought clarity on a quiet beach. As she watched many small waves reach the shore, she also discovered how their combined persistent force had completely changed the underbelly of a huge rock on which she stood from ruggedly rough to soothingly smooth. This led her to conclude these waves represented the many women like her who valued faith and family, women she must gather to exert their combined powerful beliefs to change and smooth the rock of anti-family philosophies. Carolina powerfully shares the experience in this video. 

Two Key Drops

Her mother, Vilma Sagebin, was the first drop Carolina added to her ocean-building plan. Just as she envisioned, Vilma gathered her own friend, Ann. These two monumental drops Carolina describes as “the core of our organization … the heart and soul. They embody a ‘can do’ attitude, consistent and selfless service, perseverance, grace, and faith!”

Drop by Drop

Growing an ocean from a few drops takes time, faith, and patience. Carolina is certain that an “unseen push from heaven” helped her go forward with courage and confidence and anchored her in truth. Looking back she says, “I have had many discouraging moments, but I’ve had many more moments of small consistent victories. When I look back it feels like we have reached a high summit, but I know there is so much more to climb together.”

As they struggled to define themselves, they created ten tenets, a vision, mantra, and mission statement. One breakthrough was determining their purpose as a leadership training organization. If they could train women to lead by helping them understand their identity and innate female gifts, it would give them power to lift others in a never-ending cycle of gathering waves to this ocean of change. Ann said the reason the organization is still here is because it is God’s work and He has inspired and empowered them. 

Personal Waves

Thoughts on how they have personally been blessed through their involvement in the work of Big Ocean Women:

For Ann, understanding her divine identity has been empowering. She also points to the Savior’s grace which has enabled her to accomplish all that needed to be done, even with limited strength, time, and resources. 

Carolina singled out the personal and professional capacities she and others have developed as they grew from feeling completely intimidated and inadequate to confidently leading teams and providing training with expanding influence.

 Destructive Sneaker Waves

Insights on the growing culture of ideas harmful to faith and families:

They are alarmed at how quickly this “moral decay” has developed and been promoted and are determined to meet it with a resurgence of good. These waves of destruction are fueled by the underlying message to think only of oneself, which in turn fuels pro-choice and global economy agendas and weakens family connections between children and parents. Ann notes, “the intersection of human suffering and these agendas is frightening.”

Oceans of Change

Observations on the collective drops of goodness and key elements that have combined to create an ocean of change:

• Recognizing that every woman who is a part of this organization is the very key to its success
• Helping women love their divine feminine identity, which motivates them to nurture and lift others
• Providing invitations for women to serve and sacrifice, which builds faith, truth, and generosity
• Articulating language to express their role in society, such as maternal feminism and maternal economy
• Focusing on doing good within the walls of of their own homes, thereby unleashing God’s power in their lives and the world 
• Reaching out to our global sisters, assuring them they are not alone–that we see them and suffer with them
• The transformative power of combined faith which will heal the world

Wanted: More Willing Waves

Here are ways YOU can add your drop to this ocean of change:

More members are always needed to carry their message to the world. Another ongoing need is financial support to sustain their force of all-volunteer leaders and expand the outreach of the organization. Even though the organization’s focus is on leadership training, these newly-trained leaders often envision and initiate projects to benefit their communities. Contributing to such projects is another way to be part of this change. 

Simply speaking up for truth and goodness, caring for your family and neighbors, and extending outward to your community are also drops you can add. Your importance can not be overstated. Carolina pleads, “Join us! Link arms with us! We need you! Your life has brought you to this point to share and give of your gifts and lead! Each and every woman who is a part of this organization is the strength of Big Ocean Women.”

Tsunami Ahead

One decade down, more floods of good still to come. All because one young mother asked what difference her small drop of influence could make in the large ocean of the world. We are committed to changing the world, one drop at a time. We are Big Ocean Women, age 10.