Mindy Mizell
Mindy Mizell
What makes a good person “good”? Just like every characteristic in life there are different levels of goodness and kindness. When you meet someone who is exceptionally good you can see it in all they do and the way they live their life. Mindy Mizell embodies classic characteristics of goodness and kindness and she lives her life in a way that makes it easy to see.“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” – Albert Einstein
Life’s Baggage would like to honor Mindy Mizell with the “Golden Rule Award” for she truly treats others as she would like to be treated. She is kind, caring, and does her best to make the world a better place. She also surrounds herself with others that also have a positive impact on the world through the places she works. Mindy was gracious enough to answer a few questions for me about her life and career choices.
To begin I inquired about her time while working at World Vision. For those of you who are not familiar with this organization, World Vision, is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Mindy Mizell served as the Media Relations Director form October 2010 – April 2013. While she enjoyed her time with this organization two of her most memorable moments in her own words are:
“Managing a team of “misfit toys”…..that’s what I lovingly and respectfully called the team I managed. We all had different backgrounds, areas of expertise and it didn’t seem like we would work well together…..but we did! I wasn’t hired to be a manager but inherited the team during my nearly 3 years at WV, and together we became a highly effective team and generated thousands of media placements each year. I learned that being a good leader truly does mean caring more about others than yourself.”
“Deploying to the Horn of Africa in 2011 for the Famine Crisis in Somalia: I was tasked with serving as a general communicator where I gathered resources, conducted interviews and supported our VIPs in the field but I was also able to introduce cutting-edge digital marketing strategies and create WVI’s first emergency social media channels. I created a blog and produced more than 40 videos on my flip camera….which ultimately helped our fundraising teams raise millions of dollars. I still picture the children in my head and how I was tasked with serving as a bridge between them and donors who could help.”
What a great cause and a wonderful impact Mindy was able to have with so many in the world. Many times in life we are led down a path, and other times we choose a new direction. Mindy was blessed with a new position being able to positively impact a new group of coworkers and people around the world. She currently works at The International Justice Mission (IJM) as the Global Public Relations Director. With this position she does a wonderful job raising awareness for IJM worldwide so that more people are encouraged to support their work.She has had many impactful moments with The International Justice Mission but one in particular stands out when she used cutting-edge and innovative strategies last fall to tell the story of four women who had been rescued from sex trafficking in India. A team in Mumbai had alerted IJM that they’d conducted a rescue at a brothel where they had found the girls inside the wall! They sent over some iPhone videos of it so Mindy quickly mobilized a team to conduct a skype interview and do it as breaking news. “We posted in on YouTube and Facebook and it garnered thousands of views. It also became our primary fundraising video during the Christmas fundraising dinners and helped raise millions in support.” Mindy was able to visit them in India and do a follow-up story. Mindy said “I was proud that I was able to help them tell their story more broadly and compellingly by using innovation and unique strategies.”
Click here to see Mindy interview Sanjay Mcwan about the rescue.
Click here to see the women as they were rescued as well as after.
“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.” – William Wilberforce
Mindy doesn’t think she is necessarily on the path of being a good person. In her eyes she is just on her own journey and doing “good” can be done in any career or calling. She looks at life as a path of growth and becoming the best version of herself. In Mindy’s words “Sometimes I’ve gotten off track….even when others perceive what I’m doing as “good”. And sometimes people have perceived that I’ve been off track, even when I’m doing what I know in my heart is right and good. “Doing good” is not just about helping others but it’s an opportunity or invitation to allow God to help us become who He made us to be. I’ve been inspired by nearly everyone I meet and have met along the journey. Every person has taught me something….and has caused me to grow. Sometimes growth is painful and sometimes it’s pleasurable, but I’m confident that doing “good” is always growth that’s bringing me closer to God and who He created me to be.”
As many remarkable people in life are, Mindy is very modest in her view of herself. While to an outsider, like myself, I see her as an exceptional person and someone that is able to have a great impact of making the world a better place. Mindy reminds us that people are able to “do good” every day in their own unique ways. Mindy states “Sometimes it’s just the guy who holds the elevator open as you come running down the office hallway.” This is a great example of how simply acknowledging the presence of others and that you are not alone in the world can be impactful in a good way to others lives.Mindy poses some interesting questions “What is good? How do we define it? One definition is: that which is morally right. But of course, the next question would be….what IS morally right? I don’t think one can truly define “good” until we define “morally right.” Who determines what is moral? Who determines what is right? Do we? Or is that God? And that’s when it seems I can’t help but think about God and what He thinks is good. God’s two greatest commands are to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength….and love others as myself. That’s what I believe is “doing good” …no matter what job we happen to do.”
To sum up her views she said the one that inspires her throughout her life is Jesus. In her own words “Whenever I think about who has done the most good in the world, who sacrificed the most and who modeled all the characteristics I aspire to be about, it’s Jesus. He was loving, selfless, respectful, generous, focused and even creative. He often used stories or parables to communicate hidden truths to crowds…..and he wasn’t afraid to go against normal ways of doing things (like dining with tax collector or healing the sick on the Sabbath). He inspires me to focus only on seeking God’s favor….not others and not even my own.” Mindy, we thank you for being who you are! You are a great example of what one person can do on their personal life’s journey.
