Power of 50

THE POWER OF 50

Soul Purpose Lifestyle company Founder and CEO makes The Power 50 List in Direct Selling and Network Marketing

Nadine Abraham Thompson

Nadine Thompson at a launch event held in Springfield, Massachusetts, June 2008

Exeter, NH (BlackNews.com) - We are very honored and excited today to announce to our Soul Purpose community that our Founder and CEO Nadine Abraham Thompson has been named to the Power 50 List of the 50 Most Influential People in the Direct Selling Industry.

Among other leaders on the list are Andrea Jung CEO of Avon; Robert Kiosaki author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad; Jack Canfield author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul and John Maxwell leadership guru and author of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Thompson stated, "I am deeply honored to be named to this distinguished list and I am committed to continuing to create authentic and sustainable entrepreneurial opportunities for those who want to improve the quality of their lives. I am very honored." Thompson also recently received the 1st Annual Women’s Empowerment Award from the Missionary Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida May 2008. Other awards include the Onyx Woman Economic Empowerment Award; the Global Diversity Network Trailblazer Award; The Los Angeles Black Expo, Madam CJ Walker Award for Leadership and Entrepreneurship; The Rhode Island House of Representatives Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (2006); and Black Enterprise Magazine’s Emerging Company of the Year (2006).

Bio

The chronicles of the business world are, of course, filled with success stories from tales of the individual entrepreneur to accounts of the large conglomerates. But what makes a business a success? A new, unique product or service? Of course. A never-before-seen invention? Absolutely. And everyone says hard work and determination are key.

However, there is one common element found in every success story. Nadine Thompson, who is today writing her own chapter of business history, is the embodiment of that singular characteristic — vision. It is the visualization and foresight of what a company should be and will be. As the Co-Founder and former President and CEO of Warm Spirit, a unique direct-sales company that produced herbal beauty products, Thompson says, "The driving force behind the success of Warm Spirit is that I created a vision, and never strayed from it.

"Simply put, I launched my first business with the vision to create quality products, to empower people to put self- and health-care first, and to create entrepreneurial opportunities for our consultants," Thompson continues. "Over the years, I had many nay-sayers and many doubters. But I refused to lose sight of my vision. I never let that go."

The result of Thompson’s vision? Warm Spirit, founded in 1999, produced a comprehensive collection of nature-based beauty and wellness products. The unique creations were supplied to customers through a nationwide network of more than 30,000 independent consultants. The company transformed the face of the direct sales and network marketing industry by providing an opportunity for wealth-building and financial freedom that had not always been accessible for women–and even less so for the African-American community.

Today, taking her vision and empowerment acumen to another level, Thompson has moved on from Warm Spirit to establish Nadine Thompson Enterprises. Her new retail venture, Soul Purpose Lifestyle Company, is an innovative direct selling company that will launch in January, 2008.

"The unique selling proposition of the Soul Purpose Lifestyle Company is strengthened by the fact that all members of this community will be shareholders as well stakeholders in the enterprise," says Thompson. "With Soul Purpose’s new marketing and compensation plan, wealth and profits will recycle directly back into the households and communities of its stakeholders."

Born in Trinidad, and raised in Toronto, Canada, Thompson received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Smith College. She went on to become Dean of Multicultural Affairs at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire where she shared her rare combination of insight, cosmopolitan warmth and her gift for bringing people together. She was able to meld the prep school’s long tradition of education with a racially diverse and representative student body and faculty.

Her success propelled her into the national spotlight and she is now recognized as a committed and passionate advocate and noted speaker in the areas of racial equality, entrepreneurship, women’s issues and empowerment. Thompson has lectured to a variety of audiences–some of her more noteworthy appearances and speaking engagements include:

* The National Black MBA Association
* The "Today" Show on NBC
* Social Ventures Network
* ESSENCE Magazine’s "Women Who Are Shaping The World" Leadership Summit
* Circle of Sisters Expo
* The National Organization of Women
* Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference
* Columbia University, School of Business
* Women of Vision Alliance
* The Wharton School of Business
* National Coalition of 100 Black Women

Thompson, who has published essays on multiculturalism, diversity and psychology, has recently released her first book titled, Values Sell: Transforming Purpose into Profit Through Creative Sales and Distribution Strategies, published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers in the summer of 2007.

At Warm Spirit, Thompson not only served as the visionary, she was the creative director and sole product developer for the distinctive product line as well which has become recognized as one of the best nature-based brands in the country. Thompson brings this expertise to her new enterprise and works with a team of perfumers, aromatherapists, chemists, herbalists and organic experts to turn her product ideas into reality.

Thompson’s vision of empowerment, wellness and wealth creation has not only touched the lives of women and men in the United States, but has also benefited the lives of women globally in Ghana, India and Vietnam. Her work through the Thompson Foundation provides a market opportunity for women in northern Ghana to sell their wild-crafted shea butter to Soul Purpose and other cosmetic companies in the United States.

Thompson has received several awards, including: the Onyx Woman Economic Empowerment Award; the Global Diversity Network Trailblazer Award; The Los Angeles Black Expo, Madam CJ Walker Award for Leadership and Entrepreneurship; The Rhode Island House of Representatives Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (2006); and Black Enterprise Magazine’s Emerging Company of the Year (2006).

Thompson’s long-term, compelling vision is to establish the Nsorommo Foundation where successful Soul Purpose entrepreneurs will mentor and coach other women from the Native American and African Diaspora around the ideas of business development and entrepreneurship using Soul Purpose Lifestyle as the paradigm for wealth creation and empowerment.

The business story of Nadine Thompson continues to be written as she broadens her vision and launches her new venture. Future chapters will, undoubtedly, chronicle further success as she once again stays true to her vision and never waivers from her commitment.

Thompson is a wife and mother of two children, Camilla (14) and Isaiah (11). She lives in Exeter, NH at Phillips Exeter Academy with her husband, Rev. Robert H. Thompson.

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