INSPIRED IMPACT is an ongoing blog series that gives voice to purpose-driven organizations and passionate leaders and entrepreneurs who are making an impact in their communities and industries.
Tamra Ryan is the CEO of Women’s Bean Project. Follow them at Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about Women’s Bean Project at womensbeanproject.com.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
At Women’s Bean Project, we believe that all women have the power to transform their lives through employment. So we hire women who are chronically unemployed and teach them to work by making nourishing products. They learn to stand tall, find their purpose and break the cycle of poverty. Because when you change a woman’s life, you change her family’s life.
WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU MAKING?
Seventy percent of the women we hire graduate the program at the end of 6-9 months and all go on to jobs in the community, where they can advance, prosper, and often, feel valued for the first time in their lives. One year later 93% are still employed.
WHAT (OR WHO) HAS INSPIRED YOU TO MAKE THIS IMPACT?
Seeing a woman enter our doors with no confidence who will ever be able to support herself or her family and watch her transform into a woman who believes she is worthy of a better life makes be come to work every day determined to hire every woman who needs us.
WHAT’S YOUR BIG DREAM FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND THE IMPACT YOU WANT TO MAKE?
I come to work every day with two goals: To grow our business so we can hire every woman who needs us and to ensure that the services we provide while she is at the Bean Project are so effective and far-reaching that she is the last in her family to need us. I want to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
WHAT IS (OR HAS BEEN) YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
Trying to run a business while also delivering on our mission is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. it’s also the most exhilarating!
WHAT WORDS OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER LEADERS LOOKING TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
Find something you care enough about that you can wake up every day and give it your all. Then make sure that your approach is grounded on a solid business model. Good intentions alone can’t help an organization thrive long-term.
HOW CAN OTHERS SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR CAUSE?
Women’s Bean Project products can be found nearly 1,000 stores across the country and online through some of the U.S.’s largest retailers. Buy our products, give them as gifts and spread the word! Grants and donations to support program operations are always appreciated as well.