Some of the most powerful business strategies aren’t found in boardrooms or spreadsheets.
They’re found in relationships.
On this episode of Building Loved Businesses, I had the privilege of sitting down with Jay Justin, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley, and Lynsey Engels, President of the Real Estate Brokerage at Mell Foster Co. What unfolded wasn’t just a conversation about nonprofit work—it was a masterclass in how mentorship quietly shapes workforce pipelines, company culture, and entire communities.
And it couldn’t have come at a better time. This conversation aired during National Mentorship Month, a season dedicated to reminding us of a simple truth:
Every great life is changed by someone who gave their time.
Mentorship Is Workforce Development (Even If You Don’t Call It That)
Jay said something early in our conversation that stopped me in my tracks:
“Big Brothers Big Sisters is a business. We just happen to be a nonprofit.”
He wasn’t talking about profit margins.
He was talking about outcomes.
Big Brothers Big Sisters exists to answer one core question:
How do we put kids in the best position to become self-sufficient, confident, capable adults?
The organization builds what Jay calls “guidance, connection, and resource bridges” between young people and the business community—helping students discover careers, build social skills, and imagine futures they may never have seen otherwise.
And the return on that investment is massive.
A student who graduates, finds purpose, and builds a career isn’t just a success story—they’re a future employee, taxpayer, homeowner, and community contributor. Mentorship quietly creates the workforce before job boards ever exist.
A 100-Year Company That Builds More Than Buildings
Mell Foster Co. has been locally owned since 1921. You don’t stay in business for more than a century by accident.
They’ve embedded community involvement directly into their culture—because they understand that strong communities build strong businesses.
Through Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mell Foster Co.’s agents and staff show up in dozens of ways:
• One-day school mentoring
• Fundraisers and events
• Holiday family sponsorships
• Volunteer days
• Group mentorship programs
• Community awareness initiatives
They meet their people where they are—whether someone has two hours or two days to give.
And what they’ve found is simple:
Engagement creates culture.
Culture creates loyalty.
Loyalty creates longevity.
A One-Hour Meeting That Changed a Life
Jay shared a story that perfectly illustrates the ripple effect of mentorship.
An 8-year-old girl attended a simple job shadow at a local manufacturing company. She met a female engineer.
That hour sparked something.
Through a few intentional follow-ups and community partnerships, that young girl discovered a new dream. Today, she’s in college on a full-ride scholarship—majoring in engineering.
That one hour didn’t just change her life.
It changed the future workforce of the Quad Cities.
The Simplest Ask with the Biggest Return
Here’s the part most people don’t realize:
You can change a life in as little as two hours a month.
Two lunches.
Two conversations.
Two moments of encouragement.
That’s it.
You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t need a special background.
You just need to show up.
And what you give comes back to you—through culture, leadership development, fulfillment, and legacy.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Every good thing in my life can be traced back to someone who gave me their time without expecting anything in return.
That realization changed me.
And it should change how we build businesses.
Because loved businesses aren’t built by profit alone.
They’re built by people who invest in people.
Your Next Step
If this story stirred something in you, don’t ignore it.
Visit BBBSA.org, enter your ZIP code, and explore how you can become part of a mentorship story in your own community.
Your time may be the spark that changes a life forever.
And that may be the most important business investment you’ll ever make.