Her Story
About Brandi
Brandi McAlister is a Certified Life, Spiritual, and Grief Coach based in Hackensack, New Jersey, and the founder of Pray the Impossible, a faith-based service company. Her career began in New York's retail and marketing world, where she spent nearly eight years at Macy's corporate, rising from print management roles to Associate Marketing Manager of Print Media and Packaging. She holds a bachelor's degree in communication from Virginia State University and a master's degree in integrated marketing communication from Manhattanville University. There she developed the project management, vendor relations, and cross-functional collaboration skills that still shape her work today.
After her baptism in 2017 and a prophetic word encouraging her to write, McAlister launched a devotional website in 2018. When she was laid off in 2020, the same year she earned her coaching certifications, she turned that platform into a full coaching practice. She has since added advanced grief coaching training through the Institute for Life Coach Training and a Certification in Women's Entrepreneurship from Cornell University. Through her Navigate the Impossible program, she offers one-on-one coaching, leads sessions for youth in group homes, and delivers workshops and speaking engagements. Her work helps people move past fears and obstacles with godly wisdom, practical tools, and compassionate support through loss.
McAlister is also the author of three books that trace her journey through spirituality, life, and grief: Real Talk: A Conversation from My Heart to Yours, My Way or God's Will? The Choice is Yours, and My Greatest Loss Turned into a Purposeful Win. She credits her relationship with God and her commitment to transparency, authenticity, and relatability for the trust her clients place in her. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, she has served as its Public Relations Chair since 2012. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and attending events and new experiences.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Brandi
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to God. I did not grow up attending church, but in 2018 I built my own personal relationship with Him and asked Him to use me. He has been my foundation throughout my journey. Entrepreneurship was never something I dreamed of, yet trusting Him and keeping my faith has shown me that He will take care of me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to keep going. Wherever I find myself, someone is encouraging me to keep pushing forward. It is powerful advice because giving up is easy, especially as a full-time entrepreneur facing real challenges. But people are depending on me to succeed and to show them what success looks like.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be patient with yourself, and stay flexible, because how you start is rarely how you finish. Set goals that keep you accountable so you do not become overwhelmed, and take things one step at a time so you do not quit. Remember that seasons and cycles fluctuate. There will be seasons when your business thrives and seasons when you are simply trying to survive.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is pricing. Some potential clients are deterred by the cost of my packages, believing they cannot afford them or not seeing the value in investing in themselves. The biggest opportunity is networking and word of mouth. Every time I have networked or spoken at an event, new doors have opened. For example, I began working with one person at a group home, met the vice president, and was then invited to serve additional sites.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Transparency, authenticity, and relatability are central to both my business and my personal life. They define who I am and form the core of Pray the Impossible and Navigate the Impossible. By showing clients that I am a real person navigating real-life experiences, I create a safe space for them to come to me.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.