Business Spotlight – Shannon Parris Part One

In Part 1 of our interview, Shannon Parris provides a unique perspective as someone with 10 years experience in the non-profit sector.

Shannon earned her degree in psychology, believing she would become a counselor or therapist. However, upon graduation, she couldn’t pin down her ‘why’ for going back to school to fulfill this.

Ultimately, she started selling her handmade jewelry and volunteering at a women’s resale boutique. This volunteering turned into a paid position over the next few years, and became the entry point into Shannon’s work at the intersection of nonprofits and entrepreneurship.

Shannon shares that the most important question someone should address before starting a non-profit is, “What is the unmet need I’m uniquely qualified for?” If there’s another organization in your community that’s already fulfilling that mission, don’t compete—find a way to help them & contribute to it.

We close out Part 1 by discussing some of Shannon’s challenges in her journey—the main one being self-doubt. Being an employee brings structure and security, and Shannon initially had a fear of the potential instability of relying on herself. With time, and working to conquer these thoughts with a coach, Shannon finds herself the happiest she’s ever been in her career.

Stay tuned for the conclusion of this month’s spotlight!