Ingrid Murray

I attribute my success to perseverance, faith, and staying focused on my purpose through incredibly difficult personal and professional challenges. When my husband got cancer in 2012, I had to step up and lead the business during one of the hardest seasons of my life. Even when he passed away in 2024, and my world shattered, I knew there was this desire and yearning in me to fulfill my purpose, and my purpose is way bigger than what I was living at that time. One of the last things Courtney said to me was that love drives me - that I'm the best when I'm loved and giving love. He told me every day for 16 years that I was the best thing that happened to him, and I realized I was truly blessed with a love that was so purposeful and specifically meant for me. I couldn't give up on all of that. My why changed - it was no longer just driven by the person, Courtney, but who he helped to make me become. So my why is now myself. Why not do it for me? Not just to create a legacy, but to embrace the fact that Courtney helped to turn me into a magnificent woman. I'm a woman on a mission, and at no point right now am I gonna stop until the mission is completed. The purpose is already written, and I'm walking in the path that is laid for me.

The best advice I ever received came from my husband Courtney. One of the last things he said to me was that love drives me - that I am the best when I'm loved and when I'm giving love. He wanted me to find love again and to live the life that I was meant to live, because while he had a good life, I gave him the best life. He told me every day for 16 years, 'You're the best thing that happened to me.' That constant affirmation and encouragement helped shape my confidence and leadership. He helped turn me into a magnificent woman, and understanding that has been central to how I approach my career and my purpose now.

I would tell young women that it's okay if your why changes. You might start out driven by one purpose - maybe it's your kids, your parents' expectations, fulfilling their obligations - but then you realize, I don't want to be a doctor, I actually want to be a painter or an artist. It's okay to change your why. Don't let painful experiences or setbacks define your future. I went from being at the peak of my career, living the dream, driving my AMG 63S, in our brand new 6-bedroom house with a swimming pool, to sitting in a hospital room watching a tumor the size of a golf ball being taken out of my husband's head. I thought I was losing everything. But I realized that my purpose is way bigger than any single moment or hardship. Stay focused on your purpose, remain resilient during difficult seasons, and understand that you have the strength to rebuild and redefine yourself. There's no rush, there's no time frame - what's gonna happen is gonna happen. Just stay dedicated to your mission and never give up on your goals, even when life becomes overwhelming.

I believe one of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs and service-based businesses today is that they don't have structure and they don't have a system in place. So many startups are just running on empty most of the time, trying to figure it all out through trial and error. That's exactly what I help businesses circumvent by creating proper systems. The opportunity is tremendous for those willing to embrace leadership, structure, and strategic growth planning. When I took over my husband's business, I was able to grow it from $77,000 to $347,000 in my first year just by implementing the right systems and focusing on commercial cleaning instead of residential. There's huge potential for women entrepreneurs and service-based businesses that are willing to learn, create sustainable structures, and work with mentors who can help them avoid the mistakes and inefficiencies that so many of us experienced early on.

The values most important to me are faith, purpose, resilience, family, and authenticity. I'm a very religious person, very spiritual, and I know that everything comes full circle. My faith has carried me through losing my husband to cancer in 2024, and now supporting my daughter as her father battles ALS on a ventilator. Being a mother of five unique children and a grandmother to one precious granddaughter is central to who I am. Family has always been my foundation, even through the struggles. I also value authenticity and using my personal experiences to help others. That's why I'm building The Real Ingrid Murray and writing my book - I want to help people redefine their purpose and walk in the path that is ordered for them. I believe in service and giving back, which is why mentoring entrepreneurs is something I look forward to. I'm a woman on a mission, dedicated to helping others heal, grow, and rediscover purpose through life's most difficult seasons.