Meet Trailblazer Michelle Zygmont

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Zygmont.

Michelle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Life has a way of surprising us. As it turns out, I’m a little more adventurous than I even thought possible. I was never much of a dreamer, and I don’t have huge goals and aspirations. I grew up in a small farming community, and the world was pretty small to me. I never thought of living abroad; I didn’t even think of traveling much. Somewhere along the way, life took a detour that I was not expecting. I was always passionate about helping others, but little did I know how that could change my world so drastically.

After graduating from college, my husband and I moved from Pennsylvania to California to try something new. I took a job as a receptionist at an accounting firm to pay the bills. Ironically, I hate talking on the phone, but it was through this job that my career began. An executive manager at the firm saw potential and gave me an opportunity to learn accounting. We later moved to New York and back to California again. Along the way, I again found myself doing accounting work. Before I knew it, I was the Director of Finance for a local hedge fund with a degree in Youth Ministry.

After working for more than ten years and watching my three kids grow up before my eyes, I decided it was time for a break. Working to maintain a lifestyle was exhausting, and I decided that it was important to take time to be more present with our family. As I was transitioning away from my job, simultaneously, my husband and I were feeling called to use our gifts to start a business to help others.

After learning about the realities of human trafficking and the atrocities that stem from a weak economy and a 40% unemployment rate, we felt led to move our family to Nepal to try to make a difference. The idea was to start businesses; businesses help generate economic growth and create jobs for people, giving them the chance to have dignity and provide for their families. Creating ethical jobs in the country would remove the risk of exploitation altogether. Using our skills in a new way, maybe we could be a catalyst to change lives.

We started with a shoe factory. We built a facility, hired workers, trained workers. We imported machines, sourced raw materials, and learned global logistics. We created a socially and environmentally conscientious brand to sell into the marketplace, built a website, and learned how to do digital advertising. My daughter often reminds me – “Mom, I thought you were going to work less? Now you work even more.”

Three years later, we have a business. We have trained workers. We have a great product. I find myself light years away from accounting, in a whole new realm: sales. Numbers are black and white. Sales and marketing have a lot more shades of gray. Learning the secret of sales has been our latest endeavor.

Has it been a smooth road?
No, life has not been a smooth road. My life took all sorts of twists and turned before going to Nepal. Now the twists and turns just seem to be amplified. What started out as an effort to help people has turned into even greater sacrifice than I could have ever imagined.

Would I do it over again? Absolutely. I’ve grown. I’ve learned to love in new ways. I’ve learned to let go of things that I once thought were important. I’ve learned to adapt and change and see the world with a broader perspective. All the challenges have helped me become a better version of myself.

Life is hard, but what makes us grow the most is having to work in areas that push us to the limits of our comfort zone. Character is built from the difficult times. We can complain about how wrong everything went, or we can choose to find the silver linings. Real strength can be found in brokenness, admitting you don’t have all the answers but refusing to give up.

We’d love to hear more about Jivanas.
Jivanas is a brand created to promote people and protect the environment. Promoting people and giving them an opportunity to have hope and dignity is my first passion. But doing this at the cost of harming the planet that we live on is simply not acceptable. The fashion industry is the second-largest source of pollution after the oil industry. Helping consumers understand the impact that their choices have on the environment is critical. Protecting the planet is as important as promoting the people that live on it.

Our brand is designed to help people be a part of something bigger than themselves. Our premium sandals are handcrafted with high-quality natural materials. The real value though, is in knowing that you helped change a life and promote the environment every time you wear them. In a culture where everything is about self, there is something refreshing about doing something that gives back to the world.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
Initially, I thought, how can I give advice on leadership? I am not a leader. I have more questions than answers and I have no idea what I’m doing. After a conversation with a friend, I realized that true leadership is not having it all together. I think the biggest barrier in being a leader is the mindset that unless we are strong, eloquent, and have it all together, we don’t have anything to offer.

I believe true leadership starts with humility. Leadership is making the decision to take all the trials and mistakes along the way and using them to become a wiser and stronger person because of them. It is striving to accomplish a goal with love and a servant’s heart, being willing to go the extra mile to help even at the cost of your own comfort and pride. True leadership isn’t having life all figured out but refusing to give up in the face of adversity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jivanas.com
• Email: info@jivanas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivanasofficial
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jivanasofficial

Image Credit:
Prana Limited LLC

Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.