Meet Susan Ramirez

We recently connected with Susan Ramirez and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I believe that every one of us wants to find our purpose, yet so few of us are willing to take risks to find it. That was certainly my story. I found my purpose through a long journey of being in service to others–it is where I found my greatest joy. Chick-fil-A may have coined the term “It’s my pleasure” but it really was my great pleasure to be a helper. I had no vision to start a nonprofit, much less a national one. I still just sit in awe from time to time when I look back and think about all the impact my little ole’ (not so little anymore) organization has made. After learning the heartbreaking statistics faced by the foster care community, everything changed for me. I knew that I needed to do more; that we could do better. So, I set out to do just that – and this is where my journey to discovering my purpose began. When I founded Austin Angels in 2010, it began as a monthly service project with a group of friends. In the beginning, I didn’t know that this was my purpose; in fact, it wasn’t until five years in that I realized it was.

The only way I was going to find my purpose was through stepping out of my comfort zone. It’s easy to stay in a comfortable position – straying away from that comfort is hard. At least, this was true for me. Society has painted a picture of the “American dream” – get a degree, start your career, get married, climb the corporate ladder. But the word “dream” often gets lost in this. What are the things that make your heart sing, that truly light your soul on fire? To me–that is what dreams are! And for me it was not corporate America. The only thing that I was “dreaming” about when I was in corporate America was a bigger paycheck each year and soon I started to ask myself “is this really what life is all about”? The answer of course was NO!

I believe that purpose is something that you have to passionately pursue. In order to feel like you have purpose, you have to feel like you are good at what you’re pursuing. And you not only have to feel like you are good at it – you have to have such a deep belief in it. It is a feeling that you can’t shake. When you are passionately pursuing your purpose you must have the drive and motivation to continue growing and learning. You have to innovate and try new things in this pursuit. You have to take risks, and sometimes that means you might experience failure. I’ve certainly had my fair share of this, and I believe it’s part of what has helped me grow along the way.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

In 2013, my life changed when Austin Angels launched a pilot of the Love Box Program (minus the name) and began to walk alongside a single foster mom, Esther, and her six teenage boys (you read that right — six!).

Our relationship began just as many of today’s Love Box matches do; with a box. Each month, I’d visit Esther and the boys, bringing a box filled to the brim with things like dish soap, paper towels, pantry items, and notes of encouragement. As I entered their home, Esther would say “Here comes my love box!” And with that, our signature program had a name.

I continued to deliver those monthly boxes — and something magical began to happen. Relationships formed, built on a foundation of consistency and trust. The boys began to engage with us through eye contact and conversation. Soon, we were helping them with schoolwork, celebrating their birthdays, and cheering them on at football games. Love outside of the box.

I’ll never forget the moment when Ryan, 14 years old at the time, said “I love you” to me. This young boy had experienced so much hurt and heartache in his life, yet he felt safe enough to not only receive, but to give love.

Transformation was happening – not only in their lives, but in mine too. I knew we had a program that was changing lives, and was faced with a choice – I could either stay at my job, living a life that lacked impact, or I could leave Corporate America behind and fully set out to change the way that children, youth, and families experience foster care.

The culmination of growth, goodness, and impact in the lives of Esther and her boys led me to my decision – honestly, it was a no-brainer. I had a choice. I could step out of my comfort, follow a dream that I believe was placed on my heart, boldly pursue this idea of really making an impact or I could have stayed at my job. I’m so glad I made the decision to leave.

You never know what is on the other side of a YES, a yes that is so uncertain, so full of risk, and yet, so full of reward that you cannot even imagine. Austin Angels eventually grew into National Angels and today we operate in 20 cities across 14 states with 116 employees. In 2023, we walked alongside 3,000 children and youth in our programs. I am delighted to see that kind of progress, and yet there is this big gap between where we are today and where we need to be – my vision is to reach and serve every single child and youth who experiences foster care by 2050. If I had to sum up my “brand” in one word, it would be relentless.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Here are the top 3 most important skills I have learned along my journey–

Resilience: I have learned to embrace failure and mistakes as part of the journey. I’m not perfect, nowhere near it and I don’t try to be. I have learned that success rarely comes without setbacks, and resilience allows you to bounce back stronger each time you encounter challenges. We must view each setback as an opportunity to grow, learn, and revise.

Courage to Ask: Don’t fear rejection or hearing “no”. Actively seek out opportunities, and don’t hesitate to ask for what you want and need. Remember, every “no” brings you closer to a “yes” and fuels your growth. I always say, “If you are not hearing the word no, you are not asking enough!” I never built this organization by myself; I’ve asked for support, mentorship and have actively looked for partnership throughout the entire journey. There is no such thing as “self made” – this statement couldn’t be more misleading. No one can build anything of importance without the help of others. You must have the courage to ask for whatever it is that you need.

Patience and Persistence: These may be the most important of all. It’s critical to understand that success takes time and consistent effort. It’s a gradual process of continual improvement and thoughtful execution. Stay committed, even when progress seems slow, and trust in the journey. The saying ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ emphasizes patience, perseverance, and the gradual process of achieving great things. It happens over time, through many little deposits each day.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

It’s often said that the greatest obstacle a leader faces is none other than themselves – specifically, their inner dialogue. I’ve found this to be true for myself – as a high achieving enneagram 8, I take charge and like to take care of the people around me. I believe deeply in people and can see the potential that lies within them, yet through my internal dialogue I can be my own greatest obstacle at times – and also my own greatest opportunity.

Challenges are an inevitable part of any journey, and I’ve come to understand that the stories we tell ourselves about these challenges hold immense power over our actions and outcomes.

In my own journey, I often find myself navigating concern about the thoughts and opinions of those around me. It is a blessing and a curse. As our networks expand and our spheres of influence grow, so too does the opportunity for feedback – both constructive and critical. Embracing this feedback, learning from it, and using it to fuel our growth has been an ever evolving tight rope I walk.

The path to purpose is rarely smooth, full of twists and turns that you must learn to navigate. Trust your resilience, lean into the lessons, and never underestimate the power of your own inner dialogue. For me, I’ve learned to overcome the challenges that this dialogue can bring by holding space for self-care in the morning – a quiet walk around my neighborhood and a cup of coffee can go a long way, freeing my brain from the noise and creating space to rediscover my truth and purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nationalangels.org
• Instagram: @nationalangels | @mrs.susanramirez
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-angels | https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-ramirez-913b96141/

Image Credits

Amanda Hoffman Art