In March, the Surge Institute is celebrating Women’s History Month, which honors the contributions of women who are leading sustainability efforts across environmental, economic, educational, and social justice movements. This week, we highlight Mandisa John (PHILA23, Angels ’24).

Several years ago, while coaching high school basketball, Mandisa John (PHILA23, Angels ‘24) noticed a common pattern among many of her former players. After graduation, these young women would leave a structured environment and struggle with the transition to adulthood. They would come to Mandisa seeking advice about how to navigate college, or apply for a job, or find an apartment.

Discovering a Need  

Mandisa empathized with their stories. As a former high school basketball player herself, she dealt with career-ending injuries and the process of pivoting toward a vocation beyond sports. She was also having these conversations with students all while navigating her own challenges as a young professional in educational spaces. Too often, her career options felt rigid and linear.

Mandisa discovered that the places where she could have the greatest impact–mentoring and coaching young women and girls toward adulthood–were increasingly distant from the classroom. She sensed a calling to meet their needs by offering the services, knowledge, and support that traditional systems were failing to provide. But how could she help? Where would she even start?

Creating a Space for Impact

Mandisa credits her Surge experience with helping to design a model of impact. 

“My Freedom Dream Project helped me frame the passion that I had for mentoring these girls and determining that theirs was a problem/challenge that deserved a solution,” she says.  

Armed with a structured idea and vision, Mandisa used her time in Surge Angels to create Blooming Belles, a company focused on supporting young women athletes with the transition to adulthood.

“Adult life skills are gained through lived experience and trial and error,” Mandisa says. “We work to package these skills in ways that help girls experience the lives they want. ‘What am I interested in? Who am I? How do I find an apartment? How do I navigate relationships?’ Whether it’s a career or some other endeavor, we want to give them the tools to fit all the pieces together as they transition in or out of sport.”

Coming Full Circle

When asked about the importance of young women seeing other women–especially women of color–lead, thrive, and take on new challenges, Mandisa responds: “It’s really hard to become something you don’t see.”

She never saw herself as a business owner, nor did she envision entrepreneurship as a pathway to impactful education. But here she is!

“I believe that for the next generation, all the work that we're doing to elevate women's voices, to be in the seats, to make those decisions, to let them see and hear and experience is really opening up more possibilities for what they are able to do.”

Keeping It in the Family

Mandisa cites her parents as an inspiration for envisioning new pathways. They immigrated from the island of Dominica in their twenties to start a family and pursue new opportunities for themselves and their children. All these years later, they are still dreaming.

Mandisa’s dad parlayed a renewed passion for painting into an arts, writing, and photography business. Her mom is pursuing an associate’s degree after having paused her education more than 30 years ago. “Watching both of my parents now as retirees doing the things they love and fulfilling long-term dreams is inspiring, but also pushing me to not wait.”

“Being a daughter of immigrants has shaped how I see the world, lean on community, push through challenges, and work to achieve my dreams.”

We’re grateful for leaders like Mandisa, whose dreams are forging new paths for their communities.