Jillian Ryan: A Business with a Heart

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Jillian Ryan

Using her business for the force of good, Jillian Ryan is the founder of a “give back” company, Marie Mae.  Marie Mae Company produces sustainable, corporate gifts that give back because every purchase provides an hour of business school for one person around the world. In the United States, she works with non-profits who refer women who were involving in trafficking or were abused to find their right place in the business world through the education arm of her company. She is doing virtual classes and helping them to learn how to do a virtual interview.

It is a particularly difficult time for women in these vulnerable situations. They are either in group homes or an apartment. Their resilience and outlook is amazing, but, when you peel it back, you can see how scared they are.

Jillian has had some typical business problems with the pandemic. Her supply chain completely shut down, but they still had demand from corporate clients. So they had to get creative. She put together a productivity gift bundle for people working from home that companies could send out as a thank you. She also put together a wellness kit with essential oils and worked with a local candle company.

You can go to her website, Mariemae.com, and send a gift to someone who is working from home, whether you are company or an individual. It can be themed such as Easter or another holiday.

About nanmckay

Nan has been President of Nan McKay and Associates, Inc. since 1980. She started Nan McKay Connects LLC in 2019 and has started 4 other businesses over the last 50 years. She has received numerous awards including the Allan Anderson Award of Merit from Minnesota National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, the Section 8 Administrators Award, in 2018 the National Association of Women Business Owners' (NAWBO) Signature Award for Southern California, and in 2019 she was selected by NAWBO as the California Woman Business Owner of the Year. She was co-founder of Minnesota Women in Housing and has served on the Board of Directors for the National Leased Housing Association for many years. She has two buildings named after her in Minnesota, a 10-story elderly high-rise, the Nan McKay Building, and a family subsidized development, McKay Manor. Nan now hosts four podcast shows featuring stories of women empowerment, oral history makers of affordable housing and community development, and stories of ordinary people coping with COVID-19 pandemic.
www.trailblazersimpact.com; nan@nanmckayconnects.com