Araceli Esparza, founder of Midwest Mujeres Collective, joins Rachel Bernier-Green on The Purpose Profit Shift to break down how storytelling becomes a real economic tool for purpose-driven business owners. We get specific on money shame, founder compensation, and the structural decision that finally let Araceli pay herself. If you are building a mission-driven business and quietly wondering whether the work will ever fund a life, this is for you.

CHAPTERS:

• 4:53 Plan B and the Cost of Racial Harm
• 18:40 Money Shame and the 5K Day
• 26:40 Self-Trust Is Not Imposter Syndrome
• 33:53 What to Sunset, What to Scale
• 40:17 Storytelling as Economic Tool
• 45:15 Your Medicine Is Your Story

KEY TOPICS:

• Self-trust vs. imposter syndrome for founders
• Operational triage: consolidating, digitizing, and sunsetting nonprofit programs
• Founder compensation, fiscal sponsorship, and the structural decision to incorporate as a 501(c)(3)
• Macroaggressions and unjust termination as catalysts for founding mission-driven work
• Closing the gender wage gap through culturally-specific programming

ABOUT ARACELI:

Araceli Esparza is a Chicana writer, speaker, and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of Midwest Mujeres Collective, a nonprofit supporting Latina and Black women in building confidence, income, and leadership through storytelling, coaching, and community-based learning. With nearly a decade of experience, Araceli helps women overcome burnout and money shame, guiding them to reconnect with their voice and values. She emphasizes trust as a personal and business asset in her work. Currently, she is launching a five-week coaching program designed to help participants rebuild self-trust, moving from survival mode to grounded decision-making in their work and leadership. Her efforts have been showcased in various community and nonprofit spaces, fostering environments where honesty and purpose are supported.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Voces y Sueños Academy: https://www.midwestmujeres.com/voicesanddreams2026
• ¡Yo Quiero Dinero! (event): https://www.midwestmujeres.com/event-details-registration/iyo-quiero-dinero-our-stories-have-value
• Five-Week Self-Trust Coaching Program: https://www.araceliesparza.com/event-details/rebuilding-self-trust-in-times-of-transition
• Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/habits

FOLLOW ARACELI:

• Midwest Mujeres Collective: https://midwestmujeres.com
• Personal Website: www.araceliesparza.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwestmujeres/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/midwestmujeres/
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/araceliesparza_speaker

Follow the Host, Rachel Bernier-Green:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelberniergreen/
• Website: www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/
• LinkedIn (Company): www.linkedin.com/company/jointhryvo/
• Twitter/X: x.com/jointhryvo
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jointhryvo
• Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@jointhryvo

Listening Links:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kmrlBqo4QHftlfmqo2Q32
• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-purpose-profit-shift/id1829627732
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PurposeProfitShift

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