Meet Samantha Majors

We were lucky to catch up with Samantha Majors recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

My optimism comes from the foundation my family built for me. Growing up, my parents and relatives always made sure I felt supported and encouraged. They spoke to me with kindness, but they were also honest, teaching me that true support means both lifting someone up and guiding them with truth. That balance shaped how I see the world and how I face challenges—always with hope, but also with honesty.

Now, working with the iCare Program, a nonprofit dedicated to providing social programming for adults with special needs, I feel that optimism is not just a personal trait but a responsibility. The adults I work with deserve to see that life is full of possibility, joy, and connection. By staying positive and looking on the bright side, I hope to model for them that no matter what challenges we face, there is always so much life to live.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m the Executive Director of the iCare Program, and I absolutely love what I do! iCare started as part of the nonprofit Sea Turtle Adventures, offering nature-based programs for adults with special needs, but it didn’t take long to realize that our members wanted something even more fun with social opportunities where they could connect and just be themselves.

I started volunteering with iCare five years ago, and I quickly fell in love with our members and the sense of community the program creates. There’s nothing more exciting than seeing these adults try new things, make friendships, and grow into the confident, capable people we know they can be.

This past year has been amazing—we’ve worked hard to offer programs almost every day, and earlier this year in July, iCare officially became its own nonprofit! Stepping into the role of Executive Director is such a dream because I truly believe in our mission: creating more opportunities, inclusion, and kindness for everyone. Being part of that, every single day, is incredibly rewarding and inspiring.

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?

Looking back, three qualities have been most impactful in my journey: empathy, dedication, and adaptability.

Empathy has allowed me to truly connect with the adults we serve, understand their needs, and create programming that makes them feel valued and included. My advice for developing empathy is simple: listen actively, spend time learning from others’ experiences, and approach every interaction with an open heart.

Dedication has been essential—building a program like iCare from just seven initial members into a thriving nonprofit with nearly 250 members takes persistence, patience, and passion. For those starting out, my advice is to stay committed to your mission, even when progress feels slow. Small, consistent efforts add up in powerful ways.

Adaptability has helped me navigate change, whether it’s shifting program offerings to meet our members’ needs or stepping into new leadership responsibilities. To improve adaptability, I encourage early-career folks to embrace challenges as opportunities to learn, stay curious, and remain flexible in their approach.

Above all, I would say: surround yourself with a supportive community, stay true to your mission, and never underestimate the impact of kindness and encouragement—both for yourself and for the people you serve.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

Over the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth has been learning to practice positive self-talk and challenge the thoughts that feed imposter syndrome. Leading a growing nonprofit like iCare has been incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with moments of self-doubt—wondering if I’m doing enough or if I’m the “right” person for the job.

I’ve been working on recognizing these thoughts when they arise, reframing them, and reminding myself of the impact I’ve had and the progress our team and members have made. This shift hasn’t just helped me feel more confident—it’s also made me a better leader. By modeling self-compassion and positivity, I can encourage my team and the adults we serve to approach challenges with the same mindset: believing in themselves, taking risks, and celebrating growth, even when things aren’t perfect.

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