What happens when a childhood dream meets a real-world problem? You get ENGin, a nonprofit connecting English speakers with Ukrainians for one-on-one conversations. In this episode of Marketing Like a Mother, Olivia chats with Katerina Manoff, founder and CEO of ENGin, about the delicate dance of balancing passion, purpose, and practicality in entrepreneurship. Katerina shares how her mission to help Ukrainian youth evolved into a thriving global nonprofit and offers wisdom on finding your niche, knowing your audience, and learning when to hold firm—or pivot.

Spoiler: It’s all about staying stubbornly flexible.

Key Takeaways:

* Passion is Just the Beginning: Pair it with skills and market needs to create something meaningful and sustainable.

* Solve Real Problems: Your niche should focus on gaps that people genuinely need filled—not just what you want to offer.

* Know Your Audience: Talk directly to your target users to truly understand their needs, instead of guessing.

* Be Stubborn, But Not Stuck: Confidence is great, but staying open to feedback and adapting is where growth happens.

* Collaboration Over Competition: There’s room for everyone—refer out when needed and focus on your unique strengths.

Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or leave a review! Learn more about ENGin and how you can volunteer to make a difference at enginprogram.org. Ready to connect with Katerina? Email her at katerina@enginprogram.org or on Instagram @enginprogram.