Torah Mathews

My success is rooted in the pain and challenges I have endured throughout my life, all of which I believe God allowed for a greater purpose. I grew up in a country affected by violence, lost my father at the age of 20, and suddenly became responsible for supporting my family as my mother became dependent and my brother struggled with alcoholism. I experienced firsthand the devastating impact of addiction, financial loss, betrayal, divorce, and single parenthood while raising and educating my three children entirely on my own through commission-based work. Despite eventually rising to the top of my industry, I also faced another major financial collapse when the market declined. Through every hardship, God taught me resilience, compassion, and the true meaning of pain, which now allows me to genuinely connect with and guide others through their own struggles. During the lowest point of my life, I experienced a profound spiritual awakening where I felt God calling me to use my story to help others heal. That calling continues to drive my work today, as I coach and speak from lived experience, faith, and the belief that restoration and healing are possible for anyone willing to persevere.

The best career advice I ever received came from learning to be still, trust God, and follow the direction placed on my heart through life’s experiences. I transformed my challenges, resilience, and professional expertise into a purpose-driven career in strategic partnerships, community engagement, and business leadership. I believe true success comes when faith, resilience, and expertise align to create meaningful impact and help others move forward with strength and purpose.

My advice to young women entering the fields of trauma recovery education, course creation, speaking, and authorship is to lead with authenticity, compassion, and a genuine desire to serve others. Honor your own healing journey and recognize that your voice, story, and experiences may become the very thing that helps someone else find hope and transformation. Most importantly, trust your purpose, continue learning and growing, and never underestimate the impact you can make by showing up courageously and vulnerably for others.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is the lack of accessible mental health support for people experiencing trauma. Many individuals turn to substance abuse to numb emotional pain because they do not have access to proper care, healing resources, or support systems, which often creates long-term damage for individuals and families. At the same time, there is a growing opportunity for corporations, NGOs, and communities to invest in holistic wellness, trauma recovery, and preventative mental health programs that support emotional well-being before people reach a breaking point. I believe there is increasing awareness around the importance of addressing trauma through compassionate, faith-based, and restorative approaches that help people heal emotionally, mentally, and spiritually while creating healthier workplaces, families, and communities.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are faith, authenticity, compassion, empathy, and creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and understood regardless of their background. Losing my father at 20 years old and later experiencing seasons of profound financial hardship deeply shaped my perspective and purpose. During one of the darkest moments of my life, I believe God reminded me that my pain could one day become part of someone else’s healing. Those experiences taught me to lead with vulnerability, accessibility, and genuine compassion, because I believe true impact happens when people feel safe enough to be fully themselves while receiving the support they need to heal and grow. I also carry these values through my work as the author of Transforming Pain Into Power, a deeply personal story of trauma, faith, and restoration.