Meet Maurya Cockrell

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maurya Cockrell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Maurya, 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?

My purpose unfolded over time, deeply inspired by my grandmother, MeMe, who taught me what resilience and respect truly mean. She faced profound challenges with courage, especially when she wasn’t valued as deserving of care simply because of her age. Standing by her side, I learned how essential it is to advocate for others’ dignity and worth, especially for those who might otherwise be overlooked.

This purpose gradually revealed itself as a mission to elevate and support individuals who often go unseen, like older adults confronting age-related biases or side hustlers working tirelessly to build their legacy through both profit and passion. My purpose showed up across different areas of my life and was later validated through personality assessments that highlighted values like faith and alignment. I began recognizing this calling in my professional work, my side quests, and my volunteer efforts, each of which allows me to advocate for respect and visibility. Each step reinforced that my purpose isn’t about finding a single path but about aligning my actions to foster connection and honor the worth of those often underestimated.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

As Founder of Leaves Speak, I am passionate about transforming the way we approach aging, grief, and legacy. What excites me most about this work is the opportunity to bring empathy, respect, and empowerment into often-overlooked areas of life, such as end-of-life support and the nuances of elder communication. Through elderspeak awareness training and personalized death doula support for individuals, families, and communities, Leaves Speak provides a compassionate, clinically-adjacent approach that extends well beyond traditional care settings.

This mission is expanding in an exciting new direction through our partnership with YKNOT Consulting. Together, Leaves Speak + YKNOT now offer bereavement policy consulting and transitions-focused Employee Resource Group (ERG) consulting to businesses, especially small to mid-sized companies. This collaboration equips organizations with modernized, compassionate policies around bereavement and life transitions, fostering workplace environments that truly honor and support their employees through life’s significant changes.

Guided by core values of compassion, integrity, innovation, flexibility, and collaboration, Leaves Speak and YKNOT are creating spaces where individuals feel seen and valued at every stage of life. We’re thrilled to embark on this new journey, helping organizations build a future where well-being and respect are central to workplace culture.

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?

1. Compassionate Curiosity: As a death doula, cultivating compassionate curiosity has been crucial. This means more than simply being empathetic—it’s an active approach to understanding each person’s unique end-of-life journey with openness and respect. For anyone beginning this path, I suggest practicing deep listening, engaging with people’s stories without judgment, and allowing their experiences to shape your approach.

2. Generational Awareness: Through our partnership with YKNOT Consulting, I’ve seen how critical it is to understand generational perspectives in shaping policies around bereavement and life transitions. Each generation brings unique values and needs, particularly when it comes to support during life’s major changes. For those developing generational awareness, immerse yourself in multigenerational settings and strive to understand the social factors that influence each generation’s outlook.

3. Vocation and Alignment: My work has always been about aligning my actions with a deeper vocation—a sense of purpose that brings clarity and resilience. This alignment has been essential, especially during challenging times. For those starting their journey, I encourage identifying a core purpose or mission that feels authentic to you. Aligning with this purpose will help you navigate obstacles and ensure your work feels both intentional and fulfilling.

These qualities—compassionate curiosity, generational awareness, and alignment with vocation—have not only guided me in building Leaves Speak but have also been the foundation of my work, allowing me to make a meaningful impact across all stages of life.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

It’s actually two books that have shaped my journey. Early in life, When God Winks taught me to see the seemingly small coincidences as meaningful ‘winks’ from the universe, signaling that I’m on the right path and encouraging me to trust in divine timing. This idea of purposeful alignment shaped how I understood my experiences and decisions. More recently, The Alchemist has reinforced the power of following one’s personal legend, with the reminder that ‘when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.’ Both books underscore the importance of staying true to a calling, trusting the journey, and seeing every encounter as part of a greater purpose—a perspective that continues to guide my work and life.

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