Episode 27: Gretchen Huijskens—Real Talk on Adoption, Motherhood, and Building a Multi-Million Dollar Ethical Fashion Company to Save Lives Artwork

Permission To Lead with Cindy Monroe

Welcome to Permission to Lead, where we teach high-achieving female business leaders and entrepreneurs like you how to achieve more, lead effectively, and flourish in both your business and personal life. Listen each week as host Cindy Monroe (former CEO of the multimillion-dollar company Thirty-One Gifts) reveals practical and actionable business and leadership strategies you can implement immediately, interviews some of the world’s boldest female CEOs and business leaders, and gives you the tools you need to lead a thriving business while achieving goals you never thought possible. You deserve to have the business and family life you’ve always wanted—and you don’t have to choose one over the other. Permission to Lead will show you how. Subscribe now!

All Episodes

Permission To Lead with Cindy Monroe

Episode 27: Gretchen Huijskens—Real Talk on Adoption, Motherhood, and Building a Multi-Million Dollar Ethical Fashion Company to Save Lives

July 18, 2023 • Cindy Monroe • Season 1 • Episode 27

As a mother of two young children, Gretchen Huijskens felt a calling to look into international adoption. Then a trip to Haiti rocked her to her core—and her life would never be the same. She was shaken by the corruption of so many orphanages there and decided to open her own orphanage, where she helped 100 children find forever families in Haiti.

But she wanted a better way to help these families. And in 2010, Gretchen, her daughter, and two friends started Trades of Hope, a multi-million dollar ethical fashion company that exists to create jobs for women to rise out of extreme poverty and trafficking.

Today, Gretchen reveals why she chose to build a business to help these women, not just another charity—and why we need more businesses to address big social needs. Gretchen says women don’t want charity. They want opportunity.

And she shares the personal experience she had that convinced her job creation was the most powerful thing she could offer these women. Plus, she breaks down how to lead from a posture of commitment as the world and business evolve and grow.

Get Gretchen’s new book HERE.

Shop Trades of Hope HERE.

Connect with Gretchen on Instagram HERE.

Liked this conversation? Check out episode #10: From Laid Off to Launched: How Heather Adams Built a Thriving Business Against All Odds HERE.

Join Cindy’s email list HERE.

Buy your copy of Cindy’s new book, More Than a Bag, HERE.

For daily leadership + business tips, follow Cindy on Instagram HERE.

People on this episode

Cindy Monroe

Host