After almost two decades as a respected business owner, consultant and motivational speaker, Vanessa went on a journey to Egypt.
It was that trip in 2006 when her heart and life were dramatically changed. She came to the personal realization that her world had become very small and self-focused. During that personal journey, she became increasingly aware that her purpose and call in life was not to grow companies, but to cultivate and grow people – her call was to serve others and leave the corporate world. It was then that she closed her national real estate training and consulting firm and began leading teams on purposeful life missions.
During the first year, Vanessa mobilized over 3,000 people to join in local communities and engaged them to participate in 147 community projects. Her focus was to organize, create, and deliver all the details of their serving experience in order for them to be meaningful and unique while using each individual’s gifts and talents. She worked with partners in the community and also began taking teams across the globe. It was clear that all the previous years had taught Vanessa how to equip, inspire and mobilize individuals to bring out the best in themselves and put it to good service for others.
In 2009, Vanessa shared the vision of Led2Serve with a few close friends. It was at that time the decision was made to create an organization that could offer life-changing Service Journeys to people of any age, skill level, background, or belief. A special emphasis for the first decade was dedicated to schools (K-12 and colleges) to take what some would call a class trip, and create customized Service Learning Journeys.
Vanessa continues to actively coach and mentor individuals and teams. With an extensive background in business, she takes every opportunity to share techniques and ideas to support others in creating business plans that fit their personal calling in life. She is passionate about people, has a wandering spirit, and a creative mind.
Vanessa travels across the USA and Costa Rica as often as possible equipping teams and inspiring them to go out into their local neighborhoods and make a difference in the lives of others. If you can’t find Vanessa engaged in a serving project for a community, or designing a new Journey, you will likely find her playing pickle ball, tennis, or hiking across some amazing landscape. Her passion for serving people is as contagious as the motto she has in life…. “join a journey ~ leave a legacy."
Contact us to arrange for Vanessa to deliver an engaging, inspiring and motivational talk. You can choose from a variety of topics or she will customize one specific to your group! She speaks from the heart, pro-bono, at any event she is available!