Meet Dr. Trisha Bailey

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

Dr. Trisha, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

Finding my purpose was not an easy journey—it came after I had to make one of the most excruciating decisions of my life. My role now as the founder of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur Academy- working with social entrepreneurs in developing countries- is without a doubt my destiny, and it would never have happened if I’d made the wrong decision 4 years ago.

I had built several businesses, but one in particular in federal contracting was on track to make MILLIONS. But at the time, I felt totally depleted. I was running another business at the same time and also getting my PhD. But I had grown so used to the exhaustion I just assumed this was how life as a business owner was supposed to be.

On a whim, I signed up for a workshop about getting unstuck in your business. It was a rare, quiet Friday afternoon; the rain was tapping on my kitchen window, and I was able to join live. As I listened to the workshop, I had this moment of clarity in which I knew that it didn’t matter what I did, I was never going to feel joy in this business because it was not aligned with my values.

I value freedom and solitude, and this business I was in was all chaos, panic, and blame. After the workshop, I spent some time journaling and then went for a walk to clear my mind. I just couldn’t wrap my head around walking away from something I had spent 5 years growing and still on a tremendous upward track. But over the next 8 days, something extraordinary happened. I received sign after sign from my spirit that it would not be possible for me to do this for the money and keep my soul.

I had asked my spirit over and over ‘Can I keep doing this?” and I would get a yes, but when I finally changed the question to “Is keeping this business what’s best for me?” the answer was an immediate no.

I’ll never forget the day I was running an errand. I stepped on a sidewalk and saw a trash can, and I had this immediate vision of throwing a winning lottery ticket right in the trash. The business was a sure thing, and my partner was counting on it for his retirement, but I knew at that moment I needed to get out.

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

I work with a remarkable group of social entrepreneurs, primarily across Africa and Asia, who are using their businesses to lift people out of systemic poverty. Through job training and wealth creation, they empower individuals to build sustainable livelihoods. What’s unique about my work is that I also help mission-minded executives here in the U.S. connect with these social entrepreneurs by offering them the opportunity to partner through sponsorships. This allows them to align with a deeper purpose and contribute to a lasting legacy.

One of the things that excites me most is how powerful these collaborations can be. Did you know that between 1990 and 2015, a billion people were lifted out of poverty, mainly through job creation? Most of that happened through small businesses with fewer than ten employees. These are the kinds of businesses I get to work with. Take, for example, David from Uganda. Unable to afford a computer, he built one from discarded parts at a local dump. Now, he’s teaching kids without formal education how to code and connecting them with software clients. These stories of resourcefulness and transformation are mind-blowing.

What I find most rewarding is that these partnerships are not just about giving a handout—they’re about empowering people to help themselves. It’s like the old saying, “Teach a man to fish…” What’s even more incredible is that executives can be part of this change from the comfort of their own homes, supporting solutions to poverty, trauma, and violence at a systemic level.

And the impact is enormous. Just one social entrepreneur, through the support of a mission-minded leader, typically changes the lives of 25 people, including their trainees and their dependents. It’s truly a ripple effect of empowerment.

Looking ahead, our goals for the next 12 months are ambitious but aligned with our vision. We aim to uplift 100 social entrepreneurs through in-person and online training programs, help 10 mission-minded leaders uncover their purpose and legacy by sponsoring these entrepreneurs, and raise $100,000 in recurring revenue. This funding will allow us to launch key initiatives like the Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy and conduct in-country training in Nepal, Pakistan, and Nigeria.

Our impact so far has reached over 30 countries and touched thousands of lives. Over the next year, we expect to change the lives of nearly 4,000 more people, magnifying the collective impact of executives and entrepreneurs working together to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I can give 3 qualities, skills, and areas of knowledge that were most impactful, but one is the most important of all. Quiet time.

One of the most important things I think any business owner can do for themselves is to make time for self-reflection.

Even if it’s just for ten minutes a day.

Cultivating a relationship with our spirit, our inner GPS, makes it so much easier to navigate life and business. Whether it’s the big, life-altering decisions; how to communicate with our team or family; or the simple, daily choices – by having dedicated time each day, the answers become much clearer, the quality of our relationships improves, and our trust in our own intuition gets stronger.

There’s a simple formula for daily self-reflection that I love to share with people: gratitude, growth, and guidance. By writing out 3 things you’re grateful for, 3 areas you’d like to grow in, and 3 things you need guidance on, you begin to operate from a higher frequency that sets a better trajectory for your day…and for those around you.

We need quiet reflection. We need to prioritize quiet time because it’s in those quiet moments that we hear the still, small voice, and that’s vital to our success. Because the reality is that some answers cannot be found on your phone, some answers can only be sourced from within.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely! We are always looking for mission-minded individuals and organizations to partner with us in supporting social entrepreneurs who are using their businesses to lift others out of poverty, abuse, and violence. Improving the world is not reserved for the wealthy; anyone can contribute to something bigger than themselves.

There are so many ways to get involved, from sponsoring a social entrepreneur for online or in-country training to simply spreading the word about the incredible work being done. These partnerships provide entrepreneurs with invaluable education, support, and motivation, creating life-changing opportunities.

Imagine joining a global movement that transforms lives, all from the comfort of your own home. Social enterprise training programs have an effectiveness rate of over 95% in changing lives and boosting family incomes. For example, one refugee woman on the Thailand-Myanmar border increased her income by $112 after just three months of training, allowing her to provide basic necessities for her family and eventually obtain legal ID, health insurance, and access to education for her children.

We offer sponsorship packages at various levels, from a $1,200 contribution that impacts 25 lives to a $4,500 contribution that transforms 104 lives. Each contribution directly supports the social entrepreneurs and their trainees, with 98% of every dollar going towards fostering empowerment and sustainable development.

If this resonates with you and you’re interested in being part of this movement, I’d love to connect! You can reach me at [email protected]. Together, we can create lasting change and build resilient communities around the world.

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Trisha Bailey, PhD

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