We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Jordan Thurston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Jordan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have always been passionate about finding unique ways to impact the local community, especially in underserved areas. From speaking at local Texas high schools, I identified a knowledge gap in understanding grants and scholarships, often with students telling me they can’t afford college. I took that as my call to action to create a nonprofit, the Neopte Foundation, to ensure we provide meaningful discussion around available resources and support, offer grants and scholarships with universities and trade schools, and bring underserved communities together to drive economic prosperity.

The Neopte Foundation was founded to provide purpose to youth from low-opportunity backgrounds with direction in pursuit of higher education. We take pride in what we’re doing and strive to be a beacon of hope to those in the community by Empowering Students to Reach Their Full Potential.™

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
At 31 years old, I am a father, 2x TEDx Speaker, Author, Senior Vice President at Citi, President & CEO of Neopte Foundation, and Founder & CEO of Evolve Like a Dragonfly LLC. Was it easy? Absolutely not! I’ve been working full-time since I was in 10th grade and have a passion for identifying areas of opportunity and providing solutions. This skill set, coupled with time management, allowed me to accomplish everything I set out to achieve, including obtaining my Doctorate degree in Business Administration.

I am most proud of the outcomes that my accomplishments have afforded me, which include the creation of my nonprofit, the Neopte Foundation, and creating new ways to give back to students in underserved communities who want to pursue higher education. I also recently authored my first book, Walk Among the Dragonflies: How Leaders Streamline Efficiencies Through Process Improvement, in which 100% of the proceeds are donated to the nonprofit.

One major life lesson that I’ve learned along the way is that you may have family and friends who will say you’re “doing too much” and, at times, discourage you in your endeavors. My advice: Keep. Pressing. On. Only you know what is right for your journey, and if you fail, learn and move forward.

Lastly, I want people to take note of my story and know that YOU have the ability to have an impact on the world around you. Life is tough for many, and we have the opportunity to be a beacon of hope to those in the community. The Neopte Foundation will be there, and I hope to see each of you there as well.

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.
Where to start? Crown Block, Truck Yard, 400 Gradi—Dallas has it all, depending on the occasion! In addition to great food, the Museum of Art, Arboretum, Perot Museum, Zoo, Select Start, and Aquarium are must-stop areas when visiting.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I’d like to thank and recognize my wife, Elesia. Her continuous support of my passions allows me to keep pushing forward in all I do. In addition, she is a phenomenal mother to our 3-month-old daughter, Kushalia, and her sacrifices for our family do not go unnoticed!

I’d also like to recognize my grandpa, Dennis Ignatius, who continuously pushes me to pursue greatness and never stop impacting those around me. I credit my diplomacy, appreciation for different cultures and traditions, and my unstoppable drive to him.

Website: https://www.neoptefoundation.org

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordancthurston

Image Credits
Professional Photo: John Emerson
TEDxUNT: Javier Robles.

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