Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Baird, M.S., Executive MBA.
Hi Andrea, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story really began long before I ever held a title or had a career. It began with learning how to survive and persevere. I experienced homelessness and instability at a young age, and those early challenges could have easily written my story for me. Instead, they became the foundation for everything I’ve built since, instilling in me a deep sense of resilience, empathy, and determination to create the kind of opportunities I didn’t always have.
Over time, I found my purpose in helping others rise. I’ve worked and volunteered across education, nonprofit leadership, workforce development, and healthcare, leading organizations through transformation and growth while always centering people first. That mission led me to create Thrive Impact Solutions, where I focus on helping organizations strengthen their strategy, culture, and community impact. I’m especially passionate about building pathways for more women to step into leadership and lead with authenticity, courage, and purpose.
My journey has come full circle, from surviving systems to helping rebuild them, and I hope my work shows others that where you begin doesn’t have to define where you end up.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I don’t think growth ever is. My path has been shaped by resilience and the constant need to adapt. I am a champ at adapting. Growing up with the instability that homelessness creates taught me how to survive, but it also meant I had to work twice as hard to access opportunities that came easily to others. I’ve always lagged behind my peers, primarily due to the need to care for myself and other family members who required care. I also did not graduate from high school on time or with my peers. I’ve had to push myself, and I am proud to say that today, I hold three degrees, two of which are Master’s degrees, and I am working towards completing my Doctorate. An accomplishment I never thought would happen, but one I have always dreamed of attaining.
Along the way, I faced personal and professional obstacles, balancing single motherhood, navigating domestic abuse, and at times being the only woman of color in leadership spaces. I am a Mexican woman who was raised by a single mother who had even more hardships as a child and young woman than I faced. Each challenge tested me, but it also strengthened my purpose. Those experiences gave me a unique perspective on leadership and the power of empathy in action.
Every hardship became a lesson in perseverance and in creating systems that are more inclusive, equitable, and supportive for those who come after me. I carry those lessons into everything I do today.
We’ve been impressed with Thrive Impact Solutions, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Thrive Impact Solutions is a purpose-driven consulting and coaching firm founded on one core belief: that strong organizations begin with people who feel seen, supported, and empowered to lead. We specialize in organizational strategy, leadership development, and equity-centered transformation, helping nonprofits, educational institutions, and mission-based organizations strengthen their structure, culture, and impact.
What sets us apart is our trauma-informed and people-first approach. We don’t just focus on strategy, we focus on sustainability. We help leaders and teams create environments where innovation, inclusion, and accountability can thrive together. Every engagement is customized because we know no two organizations or communities are the same.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Thrive stands for more than a name, it represents possibility. Our work isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about building long-term systems that honor both mission and humanity. I want readers to know that we exist to help leaders grow stronger, organizations operate smarter, and communities become more equitable and resilient.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There’s no version of my journey that exists without the people who’ve walked beside me, lifted me up, and paved the way before I even arrived. My family has been my foundation. Especially my children, who have given me purpose, perspective, and the daily reminder of why perseverance matters. I also carry deep gratitude for all the strong women in my family who came before me, those who sacrificed so much for their families and future generations. Their strength, even when unrecognized, paved the way for me to walk this journey.
I’ve also been fortunate to have had incredible mentors, colleagues, and others who’ve entrusted me. They’ve challenged me, inspired me, and helped refine my purpose.
And truthfully, my failures, both professional and personal, deserve credit too. Every setback has taught me humility, resilience, and empathy. Those lessons have given me the awareness and depth needed to truly serve others in every capacity I can. My strength is a reflection of all those experiences, and of everyone who has poured into me along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thriveimpactsolutions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveimpactsolutions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577385292465
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrive-impact-solutions/?viewAsMember=true
