Veena Birajadar’s journey is anything but ordinary. Leaving behind an established career in IT, Veena found her true calling in the power of plant-based eating, leading her to open Pure Vegan Café in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2021. Her mission? To bring accessible, nourishing vegan food to the Raleigh community and beyond.

In this powerful episode, we welcome Melva LaJoy LeGrand, founder of LaJoy Plans, to share her journey from academia to events, embracing life’s highs and lows along the way. Melva discusses her early struggles with self-esteem and depression, the importance of resilience, and how personal setbacks—including the pandemic’s impact on her business—shaped her outlook and purpose.