Finalist: Mara James

Founder & CEO
Extraordinary Lives Foundation

Mara James, founder of the Extraordinary Lives Foundation, aims to inspire and empower the world to heal during times of suffering. Bridging the gap between mental health professionals and holistic healers, she transforms lives through her nonprofit work. Having faced her own struggles with bipolar disorder, she turned her experiences into an opportunity to help others, particularly families with young children. As a mental health thought leader, James hosts the podcast “Let’s Talk Wellness,� engaging medical professionals and holistic healers in weekly interviews. She is also an author and created the character Piggie Bear to enhance children’s social-emotional learning. Her upcoming book, “Unconditional,� focuses on heart-centered parenting and will be published in mid-2023. Through the Extraordinary Lives Foundation, James collaborates with like-minded individuals and organizations to spread healing globally.