Interview With Faith Forward Principal Owner Imani Missouri
Imani Missouri is the Principal Owner of Faith Forward LLC, where she leverages the essence of faith to coach leaders toward their purpose. She has a number of faith-centered sub-brands that motivate women of color to reach their full potential in the professional sphere and beyond. Some of which include the Forward 40 (4tea) podcast, which highlights the experiences of 40 women of color on the rise in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors. She is also the founder of The Forward Academy, a faith-centered professional development platform for women of color seeking to define themselves beyond their titles. Her career spans experience in the nonprofit, community development, and education sector. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for DIFFvelopment, a nonprofit that creates historically and globally conscious Black visionary leaders who believe in Black business, take responsibility for developing solutions to the issues Black people face, and have unshakeable pride and confidence in themselves. She is also a member of the Medal and Nominating Committees for Smith College.
Imani Missouri, Principal Owner of Faith Forward LLC
Who is Imani?
I am a faithful(filled) daughter, friend, entrepreneur, global and civic servant. In business, I am the Principal Owner of Faith Forward LLC where I leverage the essence of faith to coach and consult faith-increasing social impact leaders in the areas of personal and professional development, community engagement and diversity, equity, and inclusion. I currently live in the Bronx, NY, the borough of my upbringing. In addition to the business side of my work, I serve on the Board of Directors for DIFFvelopment, the global Black community through historically centered re-education that empowers aspiring Black visionaries to develop their world differently through community-minded business ownership and wealth building. In addition to my leadership on the Board, I am also a member of the Medal and Nominating Committees for Smith College, my undergraduate alma mater.
What is it that you do for your clients?
On the coaching side of my work, I support clients in the areas of personal and professional development. This takes shape in the form of career transition coaching, leadership development and executive coaching. On the consulting side, I support social impact organizations frame, refine and implement their racial equity and inclusion initiatives as well as support with community engagement.
Who should hire/work with you?
My coaching clients are altruistic social impact professionals and organizations. They believe in greater than themselves and are committed to embracing the actualization of faith and work. They are driven by more than the bottom line in business and work. Client Types/Experience Levels include:
SVP-VP-Director
High Potential Leaders
Equity & Social Impact Minded Organizations
Faith-centered Leadership/Companies
What do you do to keep yourself inspired in the work?
In addition to witnessing and being a part of client breakthroughs, I am continually inspired by community and servant leadership. Some examples of that include The Coaching Fellowship, where I provide pro-bono coaching to women in the social impact space. I am also in community with other entrepreneurs, like Faith-Driven Entrepreneurs, and am continually encouraged by the community of fellow Black visionary leaders through DIFFvelopment.
What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
I am on the path to achieving it. Personally and professionally, I am working to build generational wealth for my family and thus community as an entrepreneur. Through my work I aim to work with clients to move beyond their blindspots (perceived mountains) and journey forward in their visions for personal development, leadership development, equity & impact knowing that the work is far greater than themselves. Faith, equity and work can and does exist as one. 10 years from now, there will be a shift from solopreneurship with Faith Forward LLC. We will have scaled to a global multi 6-figure with a social enterprise arm and thriving team of mission-aligned professionals. We will have collectively grown a pipeline of committed clients and partners. Additionally, as the founder and CEO, I will have authored at least two books, fiction (Young Adult) and nonfiction (Christian Self-Help). Tell that mountain to move! I know I am.
