Some find philanthropy through an experience and some are simply born into a life of compassion, kindness and complete acceptance. Listen to this finale episode where Michelle has the opportunity to celebrate the life of Annette Beyerlein, a true example of selflessness, through a conversation with her daughter, Erica Vander Sande. When we are able to take a step outside of our own lives and provide dignity to everyone around us, a legacy is created. 

Erica Vander Sande is multi-preuner, wife, mom of two, and a big believer that women will change the world when they embrace their femininity. She is the CEO of The Mina Company, a full-service marketing agency, and The Mina Collective, a business development company that helps women find a business community and resources to scale. She believes that your business should be designed to support who YOU are and your lifestyle. She throws out the rule book and helps women to design a life that allows them to thrive - both personally and professionally.

Within today’s society it can be incredibly difficult to walk through the streets, halls or even sit in our own home feeling safe. Michelle and her guest, Nicole Snell come together in this episode to share how to build that feeling of confidence internally and externally as one walks throughout life. Let's embrace and appreciate the ability to take control of ourselves and our reactions!

Nicole Snell is an award winning international speaker, facilitator and self-defense expert specializing in sexual assault prevention education, gender-based violence prevention, and empowerment. She is the CEO of Girls Fight Back, Founder of Outdoor Defense and Lead Instructor with both IMPACT Personal Safety and IMPACT Personal Safety Global. IMPACT teaches full-force self-defense classes locally in LA and through their global division they teach in countries around the world. Through her company Girls Fight Back, Nicole speaks to gender inclusive groups at colleges, high schools, Fortune 500 companies, corporations, the US Military, outdoor groups, women's retreats, and more both domestically and abroad.

Nicole is a credentialed Empowerment Self-Defense Professional and an NACP Credentialed Victim Advocate. She has been featured on over 35 podcasts and was interviewed for Women’s Health Magazine last year. She is an experienced solo traveler, outdoors enthusiast, and is an adventure leader for the Los Angeles non-profit, Black Girls Trekkin'. Nicole is committed to ending violence in all of its forms and strives to empower people with the skills to live without limits!

At this point we have learned that philanthropy can be found just about anywhere. Those who care and strive to spread joy and positivity throughout their daily life will find a way to do so no matter where they are financially, physically or even emotionally. But what about creating a thriving non-profit from the seed of an idea to a self-sufficient system? This week’s incredible guest did just that across the world!  Join Michelle and Fatou Doumbia in a conversation about how to turn a simple idea into a thriving reality. 

Fatou Doumbia was born in Bamako, the capital of Mali, and was raised in Ouelessebougou, the biggest village of Mali at the time. Growing up, her favorite thing was to be outdoors, playing in the rivers. She moved to the US in the 90’s with her then husband who had received a scholarship to study in the states. After seventeen years in America, Fatou returned to Mali and saw that it was not the Mali she remembered. Fatou found that women had been pushed out of work, society, and families when large-scale, industrial corporate farms took over. As a result, these women no longer had the means or opportunity to provide for their families. Women were turned away from schools, homes, and villages when they became pregnant or acted in ways believed to be inappropriate. Some were even physically abused by their own family members.It was that guidance that led Fatou to found AGILE International, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to fight injustice by securing land, water and energy for rural women farmers in West Africa. AGILE International was created by a Malian woman for all Malian women providing the means to stand up and provide for themselves.