“I first reached out to Operation HOPE to discuss credit building,” she explained. “My credit score had dropped immensely from what I had in prior years.”

Like many in the aviation industry, Arianna’s income down-shifted during COVID. As her pay decreased, her reliance on credit cards increased. One balance transfer led to another. Eventually, two credit cards were fully maxed out. Then came additional financial responsibilities including a new car co-signed with a significant other. By 2023, the weight of it all was hard to ignore.

Rather than avoid it, she sought help.

Arianna learned about Operation HOPE through Delta’s wellness and financial wellbeing team, as a part of the HOPE Inside the Workplace program. She was connected to Financial Wellbeing Coach Nikki Jones in Marietta, Georgia.

What started as credit repair quickly became something deeper.

“One of the big things that really helped me was doing budgets and being accountable for those budgets,” Arianna said.

Budgeting wasn’t new to her. She had created budgets before. But this time was different. With Nikki’s guidance, the process moved beyond intention to implementation.

“I made sure I had a budget before the month started and understood where my problem areas were,” she said. “Then I was able to look back each month and see how I actually did.”

That follow-up — looking back at how she actually spent her money — was transformative. “That level of accountability helped me make choices and be more responsible… so at the end of the month I wasn’t so embarrassed about how I spent my money.”

One expense stood out immediately: “How I spent my money to eat out was insane,” she said.

The shift wasn’t about cutting everything out — it was about understanding where her money was going and making more intentional choices. Instead of imposing rigid rules, Nikki helped Arianna build a plan that worked with her lifestyle. Given the nature of her work and how frequently she was on the move, eating out was part of her reality. The goal wasn’t to eliminate it entirely — it was to bring it under control.

“Nikki really listened and let me talk it out,” Arianna said. During her first full month working with Nikki in April 2024, Arianna was spending approximately $900 eating out. One year later, that number had dropped to $150 or less per month.

Over the course of a year and a half, Arianna’s small, consistent financial decisions added up. She saved more than $11,000 and increased her credit score by 61 points. The numbers are impressive — but what excites her most is what they represent.

“I’m excited to spend my money wisely,” she said, “and to be able to share that knowledge with other people and get them excited about being able to be financially free and debt free.”

Now, with her credit steadily improving and savings growing, Arianna has her sights set on a new goal: saving for a house down payment.

Her journey is proof that financial transformation doesn’t always begin with a windfall or a dramatic turnaround. Sometimes, it begins with a hard look at the numbers — and someone willing to help you stay accountable to them.

For Arianna, the breakthrough wasn’t just budgeting. It was taking ownership and building momentum month after month.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

The post From Maxed-Out Cards to Savings Momentum: The Power of Financial Accountability appeared first on Operation HOPE.

“I only understood labor,” Gregory explains. “I knew how to do landscaping… I had the experience, but I didn’t know or understand business.”

The turning point came in April 2021, when Gregory picked up a book titled Up from Nothing by Operation HOPE Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant. The message resonated deeply, sparking a desire to move beyond manual labor and into the world of building a sustainable business.

Determined to educate himself, Gregory began joining local organizations like the SBA’s “Boots to Business” program and the Memphis Minority Business Continuum (MMBC). It was through the MMBC that he was referred to Operation HOPE to help him achieve his ultimate goal: scaling his business to secure large-scale commercial contracts.

Gregory enrolled in Operation HOPE’s Small Business Development program, where he was paired with Small Business Coach Angelic Mister. Together, they began the work of transforming Gregory’s Lawn Service from a labor-intensive operation into a structured enterprise.

“Learning from Operation HOPE and MMBC, it taught me how to be more hands-on in business itself — the management side, the contract-seeking side, the bookkeeping side,” says Gregory.

One of the most critical hurdles Gregory faced was financing. Despite his decades of experience, he found that securing capital to purchase commercial equipment was a “difficult process that could either make us or break us.”

Under Coach Angelic’s guidance, Gregory focused on a key pillar of business health: credit. “Your credit has to be at a certain level,” he notes. “We had attempted several loans… unsuccessfully. But after teaming up with Operation HOPE and getting our credit squared away, we were able to secure a loan for $25,000.”

Gregory credits much of his success to Coach Angelic’s professional yet personal approach. “Miss Angelic was very professional. She was patient, she was caring,” he recalls. “She seemed to be the type of person that’ll dig until she finds answers.”

Beyond the classroom and coaching sessions, Operation HOPE provided something Gregory hadn’t expected: networking opportunities. During his graduation from the program in September 2025, Gregory was introduced to Angelic’s network partners, giving him a chance to communicate directly with potential clients about their landscaping needs.

Today, Gregory’s Lawn Service is unrecognizable from its purely labor-focused beginnings. Armed with new funding, the company has implemented modern computer and networking systems to manage operations efficiently. While they continue to serve a growing residential base, they are also pursuing — and securing — commercial contracts.

But for Gregory, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Certified Master Gardener, success isn’t just about “astronomical profits.” It’s about adding value to humanity. This June, Gregory plans to bring on 10 new staffers through a youth program, providing young people in Memphis with vital work experience.

Reflecting on his journey from the mower to the manager’s chair, Gregory is quick to offer his gratitude. “Sometimes in our jobs or in our walks in life, we don’t know if we’re really making a difference, but you guys are making a difference, and I thank you.”

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

The post From the Mower to the Manager’s Chair: Scaling a 41-Year Landscaping Legacy appeared first on Operation HOPE.

That’s when his father stepped in.

A retired fireman who had long emphasized the importance of financial literacy, he introduced Kyle to the work of Operation HOPE through founder John Hope Bryant’s books on the topic.

After absorbing Mr. Bryant’s guidance, Kyle decided to explore Operation HOPE’s Credit and Money Management program.

“I came in first just for overall understanding of budgeting,” he explained. “I knew anything that I wanted to get is going to cost money, so making sure you’re not overspending and tracking where your money is going in or going out.”

Working with Financial Wellbeing Coach Syreeta Lewis helped translate those general goals into practical steps.

As Kyle began reviewing his budget, one issue became immediately clear: he was overspending by several hundred dollars each month on eating out.

“It would be a lot of DoorDash orders for lunch at work or fast food for dinner,” Kyle said.

With Syreeta’s guidance, Kyle began grocery shopping, meal prepping, and using an Instant Pot to cook meals throughout the week. The shift made an immediate difference.

“That saved me an extra $100 instead of just always going out to eat,” he said.

Small adjustments added up quickly. But Syreeta’s support didn’t stop with budgeting. She also helped Kyle take a closer look at his credit report—something many young people overlook until they are trying to get a loan.

Kyle discovered that an inactive Pandora account opened years earlier was negatively affecting his credit score, so he worked with Syreeta to have it removed from his credit report.

“I didn’t realize that does affect your credit score,” Kyle explained.

Just as important as the tactical guidance was Syreeta’s coaching style.

“She was very patient, very understanding,” Kyle said. “If there were certain topics I didn’t understand, she would always take her time to explain to me, give me different analogies.”

That openness also made it easier for Kyle to talk honestly about past financial missteps:

“Being able to be vulnerable—admitting I didn’t know certain topics well or that I was making negative financial decisions—but knowing there’s still time to correct them and do better.”

Over time, those efforts made a measurable difference. With the support of Syreeta, financial education tools from Operation HOPE, and staying consistent with on-time payments, Kyle’s score climbed from 558 to 723.

With improved credit and reduced expenses, his focus has shifted to growing his savings for a car and an apartment. He’s also exploring opening an account with a credit union to continue strengthening his financial foundation.

But perhaps the biggest shift has been in mindset. Learning financial literacy, Kyle said, feels like gaining a new kind of power.

“It does feel somewhat of a superpower,” he shared. “You have more of the power to control your goals and your destiny.”

Instead of “walking through a dark tunnel,” Kyle now says he feels equipped with “an ultra-bright flashlight” to choose his own path forward.

For someone just beginning their financial journey, that confidence may be the most valuable asset of all.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

The post Making Financial Literacy a “Superpower” with Operation HOPE’s Help appeared first on Operation HOPE.

“I got a grant to do it and I just took off running,” she said.

What she didn’t have, however, was something equally essential: a real business plan.

A SCORE mentor pointed her toward Operation HOPE, where a free five-week virtual business planning webinar was being facilitated by Small Business Coach, Brooke Ratliff. Jenny enrolled immediately, unsure of exactly what to expect.

What she found was transformational.

“The information that Brooke disseminated over the course was invaluable to me,” she said. “It really gave me a good read on what I needed to do to develop a solid business plan.”

At first, Jenny had viewed a business plan as something to show investors—a formal document meant to check a box. But during Brooke’s course, her understanding deepened.

“Understanding the numbers was key for me,” she explained. “Brooke bringing out that it was a vehicle for securing capital from banks—it really was a light bulb moment for me.”

The business plan wasn’t just paperwork. It was leverage.

For Jenny, who identifies as a BIPOC founder, that realization carried even greater weight.

“Being a BIPOC founder… it is difficult for us to secure capital for our business ventures. And so having a really solid, well-rounded out, well-thought-out business plan… I thought was great to learn how to do.”

Instead of walking into funding conversations with passion alone, she would be equipped with preparation, strategy, and proof.

As she worked through the curriculum and refined her thinking, her vision for the venture became clearer and more ambitious. Today, her venture has evolved into a digital upskilling educational platform designed to serve adult and student learners in Detroit—and eventually far beyond—helping them move from low-wage work toward economic mobility and security. That evolution was guided by the discipline of building the business plan from the ground up.

Working with Brooke made the process approachable rather than intimidating.

Jenny explained, “She was absolutely our coach, but she was very relatable. She seemed like she came from a founder’s background. So she understood what our positions were.”

Brooke didn’t simply deliver information and move on. She extended sessions when participants had questions and created space for dialogue.

“She would extend the time so we can ask… things that we weren’t clear about,” Jenny said. “It was absolutely a wonderful experience.”

Now, armed with a refined business plan and deeper understanding of her numbers, Jenny and her team are preparing to build a working prototype—grounded in real-world feedback from customer discovery sessions—before seeking additional capital. Investors, she learned, want more than enthusiasm.

“We have our passion,” she said. “But we now have our proof as well which is great.”

That distinction—passion plus proof—has changed how she approaches fundraising.

“Now we’re at the gate where we have to start asking people to give us money,” she said. “It’s daunting… but we are armed with the tools that we need to show them, hey, this is what we’ve done.”

For founders who ask how she built the foundation for her venture, her answer is immediate.

“Operation HOPE is the first thing out of my mouth,” she said. “Find them. See if you can tap into one of the sessions and really invest in the time… so that you can get the most out of it.”

For Jenny, Operation HOPE didn’t just help her write a business plan. It helped her transform passion into proof—and proof into possibilities.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

The post From Passion to Proof: Turning Vision into Capital with HOPE’s Help appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Catrina first learned about Operation HOPE through the Brooklyn Public Library’s PowerUP! Competition. “They had mentioned Operation HOPE in one of the Business Plan Competition’s required courses,” she explained. “Somebody they were mentioning a lot was [Operation HOPE Coach] Walid Morad.” When she looked it up and realized Walid’s coaching—through the Small Business Development Program and the 1MBB Initiative—was free, she decided to sign up.

At the time, she was building a comprehensive business plan for ProManage Services, her construction management firm focused on supporting small contractors. Her company acts as a bridge, helping subcontractors and general contractors navigate the paperwork required to get paid on time.

The PowerUP! competition required a full business plan, covering everything from marketing and finance to creating a sustainable business within Brooklyn. Catrina went into the process completing it largely on her own. But when she enrolled in Walid’s 8-week program, something shifted.

“The first day I went in that course, I’m like, ‘This is the best spent time of my day of learning more about becoming a small business and entrepreneurship overall,’” she said. Unlike other programs she had taken, this one felt practical and personal. “Everything was focused on small businesses and creating the business plan.”

Walid’s style resonated with Catrina immediately. “He relates each class to what we may have or will soon encounter in the world of business and he’s a straight shooter,” she said. She appreciated that he spoke from experience, often saying, “This is what I’ve been through. This is what I’ve done in business. This is what failed. This is what went successfully.” More than instruction, Walid’s teaching style felt familiar. “I literally feel like I was talking to a family member, like speaking with my own brother,” she said.

After the course ended, Catrina didn’t hesitate. “I knew I wanted to continue working with Walid, regardless of the outcome of the competition,” she said.

When she was selected as a finalist for the PowerUP! Competition, the business plan moved from document to dynamic strategy. Together, they refined her presentation and pitch. “He was a great sounding board,” she said. “He filled in the gaps for me.” From recommending procuring an accountant and lawyer to reminding her about a using a teleprompter app to practice her speech, Walid’s support was both strategic and tactical.

“Walid became an exceptional coach, keeping me motivated, offering honest and constructive feedback, and sharing his trademark humor that made every meeting engaging,” she remarked.

Equally impactful was how Walid pushed Catrina to think bigger. Initially, Catrina had focused exclusively on public sector clients—housing authorities, transit agencies and state entities. Walid encouraged her to expand her list of prospects to include private developers and contractors. He also suggested exploring federal opportunities through sam.gov.

“He definitely opened up the pool a little more and encouraged me not to silo myself there just yet,” she said. “He kind of reshaped that strategy for me.”

Instead of treating her business plan as a finished submission, Walid treated it as a working tool—something to test, expand, and refine in real time. They created prospect outreach lists, strengthened marketing materials, adjusted positioning, and built momentum all the way through competition day.

Catrina was named a top 8 finalist out of 200 applicants, received a merit award, and won the People’s Choice Award—earning $2,000! “It was an amazing time,” she said.

More importantly, she proved something to herself.

“I was up there presenting by myself,” she said. “If I could do this, I can do anything. That means I do make good business decisions. I have the discipline to focus and conquer all my goals.”

The wins didn’t stop there. With Walid’s guidance, Catrina secured a consulting contract with an organization focused on helping young adults enter the construction trade—work that positions her to qualify for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) certification in New York City and New York State.

“Walid has been a tremendous coach, an excellent educator, and an overall outstanding person to work with,” she said.

Today, her next goals are clear: secure three more projects and complete her M/WBE filing.

For Catrina, the difference wasn’t just writing a business plan. It was learning how to let it guide her decisions long after the competition ended. With the right coaching, what started as a competition requirement became a living, breathing roadmap—guiding her decisions, expanding her vision, and helping her succeed.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

The post Catrina Turned Strategy into Momentum with Business Coaching appeared first on Operation HOPE.

At the time, Nyanna was living in Massachusetts and working in politics. She was actively seeking spaces that aligned with her values and was eager to learn from others committed to uplifting their communities. Kendrick, meanwhile, was building his life and leadership in Alabama, centralized in community engagement.

Kendrick and Nyanna met on the second day of the 2022 Forums gathering during a refreshment break, and the conversation quickly turned meaningful. They discovered that they shared a deep commitment to helping others. Nyanna spoke about her family’s nonprofit, The Focus Is Our Children, and her own initiative, Move in Love—both centered on providing community resources and spreading kindness. Kendrick shared his work organizing an annual anti-bullying event that brings together city leaders, mental health professionals and local families. In fact, the Phenix City Mayor was the one who introduced him to his Operation HOPE Coach, Mike Lainez.

For Nyanna, the Forum’s power was in its diversity and reach. “It was amazing to be around so many people of color of different descents…doing amazing work in their communities,” she said. Just as impactful were the ideas attendees could take home. “You can go to conferences and learn a lot, but it’s really about what you bring back to your own community to help it flourish. That conference helped me see things more clearly—it gave me more insight, and honestly, it gave me hope.”

Kendrick found inspiration in the unexpected moments—especially watching Operation HOPE Founder and CEO John Hope Bryant on stage. Seeing Bryant confidently ask for sponsorships and partnerships in real time shifted Kendrick’s mindset. “Watching him ask for help like that really opened my mind,” he said. It reframed how Kendrick viewed leadership, showing him that asking for help wasn’t a weakness, but a necessary part of scaling his work to benefit the community.

After they went home to their own states, they stayed in touch and eventually married. In 2025, they returned to the HOPE Global Forums together—and brought their one-year-old son! “It felt like an anniversary gift,” Kendrick said.

While the conference helped bring them together around shared values and community impact, it also sparked personal financial growth. One message from John Hope Bryant resonated deeply with both of them: homeownership as a pathway to building wealth. They began to see buying a home not just as a milestone, but as a strategic step toward long-term stability and generational opportunity—and they committed to working toward it together.

Through Kendrick’s success working with Mike, Nyanna was inspired to enroll in Operation HOPE’s Credit & Money Management Program, where she partnered with Coach Syreeta Garrick. Through their individual financial coaching journeys, they were able to position themselves well to buy a home together in Alabama.

Today, Kendrick and Nyanna are looking ahead with the same curiosity and openness that first brought them to the HOPE Global Forums. They’re focused on building emergency savings, traveling, and eventually building a new home on land Kendrick owns. For them, travel isn’t just about seeing new places—like that first HOPE Global Forums gathering, it’s about the experiences that stretch their thinking. “You never know who you’ll meet when you get out of your comfort zone,” said Nyanna.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

The post From Shared Purpose to Lasting Connection: A HOPE Global Forums Love Story appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Now, nearly four years later, we took the opportunity to catch up with LaTonia, who still keeps in regular contact with her Operation HOPE Financial Wellbeing Coach, Brooke Ratliff. Her business, The Ladies League of Detroit, continues to grow a membership of women—also known as sisters—who come together regularly to support each other, both personally and professionally. “I built my business to give mid-career women in Detroit an opportunity to meet with their peers and have real conversations about the obstacles they’re facing to reach their goals,” said LaTonia. “Many of our members are the first of their families to go to college and have a professional job so I wanted to provide a space where we come together to learn, uplift each other and also have a lot of fun together,” she added.

When it comes to learning about finances, Brooke is a resource the League turns to. She guides the sisters through Operation HOPE workshops on financial topics including budgeting and building credit. “It’s not as simple as saying ‘I got this because I’m paying my bills.’ I want the sisters to truly understand how to make credit work for them. Calculating your debt-to-income ratio, being intentional about raising your credit score, and paying down debt means that they will be able to access better rates on mortgages, car loans and credit cards,” said LaTonia.

With a growing and thriving membership, LaTonia is excited about the future—both for her and the sisterhood. “We were taught that the way to get financial security was to get a good job. I’m here to show the sisters that a job with an employer isn’t the only way. If you have a business idea that you’re passionate about, entrepreneurship is available to you too.”

With support from Brooke, Operation HOPE, and the 1 Million Black Business Initiative, LaTonia is helping her sisters build a financial foundation so they can have the life they’ve dreamed of.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

The post Detroit Entrepreneur Helps Mid-Level Businesswomen Thrive     appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Decades of experience working in social services meant that Allen understood this sentiment deeply. Serendipitously, a new technology was going mainstream that gave Allen an idea of how he could help others—but this time in a business context. “As I joined [the Operation HOPE cohort] it was during a very monumental moment in history because artificial intelligence (AI) came out and it was one of those things that I embraced and learned everything I could,” Allen said. After completing the Operation HOPE program, Allen was able to create a service offering: guiding small business owners on how to use this game-changing AI technology to increase productivity and save costs.

In addition to learning about business fundamentals like marketing, financing, and developing a business plan, it was the belief that the Operation HOPE team had in Allen that helped him soar. “The biggest thing Operation HOPE offered me was confidence. They were my thought partner … I really needed someone who didn’t know my personal background to be able to push me along while giving me a safe space to spitball ideas and make mistakes,” Allen said.

From Operation HOPE’s perspective, Allen was a star pupil—he sought out all the opportunities the organization offered, including network events, and attended every single one. “I was seeking this information and here was a place that was willing to give it to me. All they required of me was to apply the knowledge, so I just really leaned into it,” he said. In our experience, having a self-starter attitude like Allen’s is one of the most important traits of a successful entrepreneur.

Allen also gives a lot of credit to his coach, LaQuita Carrington, who tapped her connections to help him grow his business. “This really helped me to transition into entrepreneurship because the largest issue I was experiencing was how to reach the right people. All my experience up until then has been networking within silos because I came from a social service background. I loved that Operation HOPE created avenues where I could thrive,” said Allen. To this day, LaQuita and Allen connect regularly to review his progress: “I’ve been in other business classes where, when the class ends, so does the support, and I really appreciate our ongoing relationship,” he said.

LaQuita noted that Allen has a gift to lead and build organizations. “Effective leaders like Allen,” she said, “think of the things that will include more people in the future and give them a voice even while working on the present goals. The key is to dream big while still living in the present because people depend on your abilities.” 

Echoing the earlier sentiments of John Hope Bryant, Allen firmly believes that if you’re receiving you must give back. To that end, he’s volunteered his time with several Operation HOPE cohorts (and counting) to introduce AI to participants and show them how tools like ChatGPT can assist them in drafting a business plan. To get started, he encourages cohort members to experiment with the tools by entering prompts on subjects they are knowledgeable about. It’s a way for members to see firsthand how accurate the tool is so they have confidence about the results when they enter subsequent prompts for unfamiliar topics.

Allen sees this ongoing relationship with Operation HOPE as foundational to building a community that “meets people where they are and provides opportunities for them,” he said.  “The biggest thing I am trying to do is foster community and show people that I’m a reflection of the community that they have just joined. I give them my perspective on where I started—with a product that just didn’t work—up until now when I’ve developed a tool that brought me into this room that was fostered and harnessed here.”

While the feedback and questions about AI from Operation HOPE program participants help Allen refine his product for paying customers, what motivates him is helping others. “I always leave the Operation HOPE sessions and laugh because as soon as I log off, I’m like, all right if nothing else happens today, I’ve done something,” he said.

Operation HOPE helped Allen build confidence, connections and community, and they can help you do the same.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

The post This Entrepreneur Gains Confidence, Connections, and Community appeared first on Operation HOPE.

At that time, Dezani shared he needed structure: “I was just spending crazy amounts on food, clothes, shoes …. I also started investing in cryptocurrency and stocks. I wasn’t saving at all, to be honest.” But with the support of his coach in the Credit & Money Management program, Isabelle McLeod, his habits began to change. “Since working with Coach Isabelle,” he said, “I have become more disciplined with how to cut back on unnecessary spending and have gradually developed a positive saving pattern.”

For example, he’s replaced his Dunkin’ Donuts runs with making coffee at home. “I’m saving about $50 per month because I was going to Dunkin almost every day,” he shared with a laugh.

The real surprise came when they reviewed his recurring bills—Dezani discovered he was paying an exorbitant $125 per month for his phone plan. “I didn’t realize how much I was paying for my phone bill until we went through everything,” he said. Isabelle helped him explore competitors and he now pays just $50 a month. This one action is giving him more breathing room in his budget and helps him to supercharge deposits into a high-yield savings account.

That discipline wasn’t just about cutting back on spending—it was about learning the “why” behind key financial decisions. “I now understand that I should not exceed 30% utilization of my credit limit, make payments before the due date, and minimize applying for new credit,” he explained, listing off some of the ways he learned to raise his credit score.

But what Dezani appreciated most was how invested Isabelle was in helping him navigate every financial challenge that came his way. For example, during his final semester at UConn, Dezani had a tuition balance that stood between him and graduation. “I owed a bill balance of $927 to the University,” he shared. “My financial hardship could prevent me from graduating.”

Isabelle encouraged him to explore every option, including ones he hadn’t considered. “I would have never thought to call my councilwoman for assistance with my financial hardship if it weren’t for Isabelle,” he said. That phone call led to results: “I received a one-time ‘UConn Policy Exception Grant’ and my fee bill was paid off.”

Dezani was shocked by the outcome—and deeply grateful. “Oh my gosh, shout out to Isabelle for real,” he said. “I didn’t even think about doing this.”

Isabelle’s support expanded even further. She didn’t just coach him on budgeting and credit; she became, in many ways, a life coach—someone invested in his long-term stability and future opportunities. Knowing he was preparing to graduate and enter the workforce, she went above and beyond to help him strengthen a testimonial from one of his prior jobs so he could enhance his resume. She also coached him on how to search effectively on Indeed and encouraged him to network for roles that would maximize his income potential.

“What I like about Isabelle is that she’s very informative and very action oriented. She doesn’t waste time at all. She lets you know, too—‘Hey, Dezani, it’s on you as well. I’m here to help, but you have to take action and go after what you want,’” he explained.

With discipline, guidance, and the willingness to put in the work, Dezani now has a solid financial foundation—and the confidence to continue building on it.  “I hope to continue growing with Operation HOPE and eventually own a home in a few years,” he said.

For a young man in his early twenties, Dezani isn’t just improving his finances—he’s charting the course for the rest of his life. And thanks to Isabelle’s exceptional coaching, he’s walking into that future equipped and empowered.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

The post Starting Early, Guided by HOPE: This Graduate Charts a Course for Financial Wellbeing appeared first on Operation HOPE.

But behind the polished image, Marvetta was quietly unraveling.

“I was slowly crumbling inside,” she shared. “On the outside, I’m helping everybody else and making sure they’re okay—but I had suffered a huge financial loss after the pandemic.”

Like so many Americans, Marvetta’s life was upended by COVID. She became severely ill, was hospitalized, and faced mounting medical bills alongside time away from work. The struggle felt especially isolating because of her profession. In real estate—an industry where image is everything—there’s little room for vulnerability. “People look at you and think you have it all together,” she explained. “But when you suffer in silence, anxiety comes. Depression comes. Marital issues come. All kinds of things happen because you don’t want to speak up.”

Marvetta first encountered Operation HOPE through her professional work. As president of the Empire Board of Realtists, she met members of the HOPE team while exploring a future collaboration to help prepare first-time homebuyers. Curious, she began digging deeper into the organization—and into the work of its founder, John Hope Bryant.

What began as research quickly became personal.

She started listening to Bryant’s podcasts, journaling, signing up for classes, and reading his books. One line from The Memo stopped her cold: The most dangerous person in the world is a person with no hope. “That hit me to my core,” she said. “Because that’s how I felt—like my hope was gone because of my finances.”

For Marvetta, that renewal meant letting go of the image she felt pressured to maintain and being honest about where she really was. “You have to break some things off,” she explained. “Some habits, some ways of thinking, even some relationships. But once you do, you can fly again.”

Through Operation HOPE’s emphasis on mindset, she began to reframe what wealth truly meant. “He talks about how wealth isn’t just in your wallet,” she said. “It’s your mind, your relationships, your skill set. And I realized—I have an abundance of wealth.”

In that shift, Marvetta began to see her setback not as the end of her story, but as a moment to reset and rebuild. That realization was transformative. “I’m so thankful,” she shared. “Those resources put me back on a path. I’m learning every day now. My mindset is wealthy.”

Marvetta eventually met John Hope Bryant in person at a gala where she honored him before more than 500 members of her organization. When she thanked him for saving her, his response reframed everything: “No—you saved you.”

“That moment stayed with me,” she said. “I am totally the driver now. I control my mindset. I’ve dealt with imposter syndrome, but that’s buried. When you top this mindset off with my skill set—I’m unstoppable.”

Today, Marvetta is ready for the next chapter. While many Operation HOPE clients begin their journey with a coach, hers started with self-work—mindset, courage, and vulnerability. Now, she’s starting her work with a Financial Wellbeing Coach to tackle the tactical steps: managing debt, rebuilding her credit, and creating a diversified financial plan that can withstand the ups and downs of a commission-based industry.

“I want a roadmap,” she said. “What do I do first, second, and third? How do I rebuild—and how do I make sure I’m prepared so this never happens again?”

Perhaps most importantly, Marvetta is no longer hiding. “I feel comfortable now,” she said. “I can take the mask off. I feel good. I’m on the journey.”

Her story is a reminder that setbacks can happen to anyone—no matter how educated, accomplished, or successful they appear. What matters is the willingness to be honest with yourself and ask for help.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

The post Finding HOPE, Mindset, and the Courage to Begin Again appeared first on Operation HOPE.