From Serial Entrepreneur to Non-profit Powerhouse | Business with Purpose Podcast EP 325: Cary Heise, Designed for Joy

My guest this week is Cary Heise, executive director and founder of Designed for Joy, which provides women in crisis with stability through employment and support.

Cary grew up in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and has lived most of her adult life in Raleigh. Her faith and international mission experience working with women’s artisan co-ops in Central America and Africa inspired the birth of Designed For Joy.

Cary is a serial entrepreneur and has founded small several businesses around creating community for women in the Raleigh area. She is a big believer in encouraging women to pursue their passion.

2:41 – Cary 101

• Cary is married and has two teenagers.
• She works with about 20 other nonprofits in her area to help women in difficult situations.
• She sells jewelry, bags and home décor.
• Her company is five years old, and she has hired 97 women.

7:27 – Becoming an entrepreneur

• When her kids were toddlers, she was a stay-at-home mom but kept creating businesses.
• Cary is thankful for her mistakes and wins, because they have made her more confident.

11:15 – Growing pains

• Her first two months in business, she felt overwhelmed and realized she had some growing to do.

21:03 – Devotion and prayer

• Her business starts with devotion and prayer, but you don’t have to be religious to work with them.
• Cary helps women trust each other again.
• Some women need to earn more money. Others need help with mental health, childcare, etc.

31:43 – Same fears, worries, anxieties

• Many of the women they work with have the same fears, worries and anxieties.

43:55 – Get to know you

• Something memorable that happened in the past year? Seeing her teens dating, driving and applying for college.
• Something she did that people wouldn’t know? She skied the Alps.

FEATURED QUOTES

You’re important here. We need you. You bring value to the workplace.

I’m so thankful for all those little mistakes or wins, because they make me so much more confident now.

You do not have to be a believer of Christ to work with us.

https://www.designedforjoy.com/

Thank you to our partners of the show!

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