What if the key to solving global poverty starts with truly listening?

In this powerful episode, Holly McNeill sits down with Gretchen Villegas, a global development executive and "social impact architect," whose journey began as a Peace Corps volunteer in South America and led to decades of transformative work across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Gretchen shares what it means to build trust, empower communities, and design solutions that actually work—by paying attention to what people truly need.

Key takeaways:

• Why empowerment begins with listening, not assuming
• The overlooked power of community in the world's poorest regions
• The current state of global aid and why new approaches are urgently needed
• How corporations, nonprofits, and individuals can meaningfully raise impact
• What each of us can do—through intention, choices, and small actions—to be catalysts for change

This conversation is a heartfelt reminder that we're all connected—and that hope, compassion, and intention can lead us toward a more equitable world.

Connect with Gretchen:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchenvillegassocialimpact/

Connect with host Holly McNeill: Instagram: @hollymcneillofficial Website: https://www.hollymcneill.com