ShoutOut Arizona Interview-Meet Our Founder
ShoutOut Arizona had the good fortune of connecting with Mario Spano and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Mario, can you walk us through the thought process of starting your business?
I initially wanted to help other men who may be struggling with their mental health like I struggled within isolation. I started Life Coaching for men, and that’s when I realized just how hard it is for men to speak up and be vulnerable about their struggles and seek help in the healing that they very desperately need in order to elevate their lives and become more self-aware and emotionally intelligent. So I broadened my scope with the intention of helping men and started a nonprofit organization that called in like-minded souls to help find a solution. That is how Speak Your Mind was born and the best part about it has been building it with other people.
What should our readers know about your business?
Speak Your Mind is a nimble and diverse organization with a passion for constant learning and evolution. It is not easy to be so open to change, but I think that has been essential in the early stages of our growth as we continue to ask members of our community and our team what would serve them and how we can accommodate and craft who we are to support them.
We are learning every day and there are a lot more changes to come as we continue to invite more growth into our community. Our primary focus is still building the foundation of Speak Your Mind to be able to support the growth that wants to happen. People crave community, nature, and support. And we deliver that. What we are doing is working and the more we create systems, processes, and agreements, the more we can support and respect our current team and enhance our impact moving forward for more people across the country.
Change is hard. Losing people is hard. But the bonds that we build within our internal team is absolutely essential to our resilience in continuing to move forward as we expand into 2025.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week-long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Flagstaff so I would tell them to have coffee and breakfast at Macy’s Café and go for a walk around Buffalo Park or a hike up Humphries Peak!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shout out first and foremost goes to my parents who did the best they could to raise me within the circumstances they had at the time. Without the trauma I incurred, I would not be here today with a passion to help others. And, of course, there was so much good during childhood and now for the foundation my family has provided. I would also like to thank the partners I have been lucky enough to connect with for their support, encouragement, unconditional love. The space that has been held for me by the feminine has been my greatest launching pad towards taking risks and pursuing a meaningful life of elevation, healing, and purpose.
I’d also like to think the dozens of people who have shown up in this journey to help others with their mental health. Rachel, Alexaxander, Marina, Kiana, Annie, Jacqueline, Shae, Mona, John, Caleb, Kaleena, Taryn, Kyle, Elizabeth, Madeline, and so many more people have shown up to assist with this mission that is aimed at helping ALL people build community, friendships, and improved mental well-being.
This is a republication of an article originally printed in ShoutOut Arizona. You can read the original HERE.