Amber Melanie Smith discovered her passion for giving back at a young age, which led to the creation of a nonprofit organization that mobilized over 50,000 volunteers to make a difference in their communities. While deeply committed to this mission, Amber began to feel the weight of burnout. It wasn’t until she took a step back that she realized she was no longer connected to the work that truly lit her up.

This episode explores what it means to follow your passion, even when it requires making tough decisions, and the importance of redefining success on your own terms.

Bio:

Amber Melanie Smith is a speaker, award-winning nonprofit founder, social entrepreneur, and creator of the Changemaker Accelerator. Through a growing online community of changemakers, speaking, and educational content, Amber helps people create their roadmap to a life and career that creates positive social change. In college, Amber took off on a 3 month cross-country road trip with her best friend to volunteer in over 20 states. When she returned home, she launched Activate Good, a nonprofit that has since mobilized over 50,000 volunteers to help hundreds of causes. Amber’s writing about social impact, service, and leadership has appeared in Fast Company, the Philanthropy Journal, and other media. In 2017, Amber was appointed a commissioner on the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service by NC Governor Roy Cooper. In 2019, Amber launched a YouTube channel to help educate people on starting and growing a successful nonprofit organization or social enterprise, which has since reached 70,000 changemakers around the world.

Website: https://ambermelaniesmith.com/