Learning from Loss

Happy Friday, all!

This week, I had the honor of speaking with Rachel Bernier-Green, founder and CEO of the Economic Justice Consortium. Her journey from public accounting to social entrepreneurship and ultimately to financial strategy consulting is a powerful reminder of how alignment can evolve as we grow.

Rachel’s path wasn’t linear—and that’s what makes it so inspiring. After leaving a toxic corporate job, she turned to baking as a stress outlet. That passion became a social enterprise that partnered with Whole Foods and Starbucks and created jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals. Years later, the bakery closed due to a ceiling collapse and COVID-19. But instead of seeing it as a failure, Rachel saw a door opening to a broader mission: helping other entrepreneurs align values and profit through the Economic Justice Consortium.

One of the most impactful ideas Rachel shared was this: “There are some things you can only learn by going through a business that ends.” That struck me because we so often equate business “success” with longevity. But sometimes, the greatest impact begins when we let go of what no longer fits and make space for something new. And just because something ends, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t good.

She also challenged hustle culture head-on, recommending the book Laziness Does Not Exist by Dr. Devon Price. Rachel spoke candidly about how her identity was wrapped up in being a hard worker—and how unlearning that mindset allowed her to create healthier expectations for herself and her team.

Here are three practical takeaways from our conversation:

1. Mission-driven doesn’t mean money-blind. Profit sustains purpose. If you’re ignoring your numbers, you’re risking your impact.
2. Failure is feedback. Rachel’s first business ending led to her most impactful work yet. What if your “failure” is the foundation of your next big thing?
3. Systems matter. Rachel’s team uses OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) with real-time dashboards to stay aligned and accountable. Clarity isn’t just a value—it’s a strategy.

Rachel’s story is a beautiful example of how evolving alignment can lead to greater impact. If you’re pivoting, doubting, or feeling like something needs to shift—let this be your encouragement to trust where your mission is leading you.

 

Questions of the Week

1. Where in your business are you prioritizing mission over profit—and how can you bring those two into greater alignment?
2. What have you learned from a “failure” that might actually be preparing you for deeper impact?
3. What’s one system (like OKRs) you could implement to create more clarity and accountability in your operations?

Tool of the Week

Book: Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price, Ph.D.

This book unpacks the myths of hustle culture and offers science-backed insights into productivity, rest, and worth. If you’ve ever felt guilty for not doing “enough,” this read might just be the mindset reset you need. Rachel credits it with helping her shift her work expectations—for herself and her team.