Social Impact Heroes Helping Our Planet: Why & How Laura Sharp-Edge Of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida Is Helping To Change Our World
An Interview With Martita Mestey
Accept Challenges as a Chance to Learn. No matter how hard you strive for perfection, life will always send challenges your way. Instead of shying away from them, embrace them as a chance to experiment with new solutions and gain experience — so when the next rough patch arrives, you’ll be better equipped to tackle it.
As a part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Laura Sharp-Edge.
A vital member of the Goodwill Industries of Central Florida leadership team, Regional Director of Retail & Donated Goods Laura Sharp-Edge currently leads the training and development of the nonprofit’s retail store leadership. Laura earned her bachelor’s degree in Merchandising Management from IADT in Chicago and has 16 years of multi-management and business experience. Throughout her career, she has been driven by a passion for serving others and helping them achieve their personal and professional goals.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I grew up in a small rural town in Illinois as part of a blended family with 6 siblings. My neighborhood was full of friends my age, and we used to play all day and into the night — and as I got older, playing sports was my whole life. I played soccer, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, and ran track. It always felt like I was running back and forth between sports practice, camps, and games.
My parents stayed busy with their real estate company, but they always managed to keep family first. We went to church every Sunday and youth group every Wednesday, and we usually took our annual vacation to wherever in the U.S. our church conference was being held. I have a lot of fond memories of those trips. It was my family who taught me the values of work ethic and service, just as my coaches and teammates taught me self-discipline and structure — and both experiences have shaped the leader I’ve become today.
You are currently leading a social impact organization that is making a difference for our planet. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change in our world today?
Goodwill Industries of Central Florida is a mission-driven nonprofit. When generous neighbors donate their gently used clothing and household goods to Goodwill, we process, sort, and sell those items through our retail stores to raise funds for our mission: “Building Lives That Work®.”
Environmental impact is a top priority at Goodwill, too. It’s part of a social enterprise model that protects the environment by reducing waste — diverting more than 20 million pounds from local landfills in the last year — and giving donations a chance at a second life. When items can’t be sold in our stores, we work with partners locally and globally to repurpose and recycle them. All told, more than 98% of all goods donated to Goodwill are diverted from landfills.
However, our success relies on the generosity of the neighbors who donate to and shop at Goodwill — and that’s why helping to educate the community and raise awareness about sustainable goods is a top priority. It’s important that more and more people move past the “throw it out” response or just “put it on the curb” approach. My hope is they will then donate what they don’t need or want anymore to organizations like Goodwill, which allows us to put those goods on the shelf for someone who does.
Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause?
What originally drew me to Goodwill in Central Florida was the mission: “Building Lives That Work.” For more than 60 years, our organization has been helping create better jobs for people who need it — and now, we’re going further than ever to help employees achieve their personal and professional goals, from one-on-one personal coaching sessions to prepaid college tuition for employees.
Once I started, however, I fell in love with a side of the organization that most people don’t know about: What happens to donations after drop-off? It’s actually a very interesting journey — and one that doesn’t always end on store shelves.
Any goods or clothing that don’t sell in retail stores are redirected to Goodwill outlets to be sold in bulk. From there, any remaining unsold textile stock is baled and sold in aftermarket — an effective process that means less than 2% of donated goods doesn’t get repurposed. In 2022, we diverted over 2.6 million pounds from the landfill through our outlets, but our aftermarket initiatives diverted 22 million pounds.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. They don’t get up and just do it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and do it? What was that final trigger?
For me, every day is an “aha moment.” One of my biggest passions is in helping people understand how their personal choices and donations translate into real-world impact. What you see at the donor drop-off is just the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands of Goodwill team members hard at work behind the scenes to use that gift for good, and exponentially more people who are benefiting as a result — not only locally, but internationally as well.
It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a humorous mistake that you made when you were first starting and the lesson you learned from that?
There’s no specific story that comes to mind, but I’m always looking for chances to learn through experience — especially from the people around me. I work closely with leaders at all levels. Some I hire, train, and develop myself, but others I inherit from the organization. No matter where someone comes from, I always want to be aware of where they are on their career journey and keep an open mind. One strength of mine is that I want everyone to win — and that means providing the leadership they deserve to be successful.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
I’ve always liked to surround myself with a diverse and interesting group of friends and colleagues, and that network has been a great resource over the years — offering unique perspectives, good advice and insightful criticism. One of the best ways to grow is by listening to what others have to say.
People are often more willing to help than you assume. To this day, I’ll still text my past colleagues and leaders out of the blue to check in and ask for advice, and they are always ready to respond. My biggest “cheerleader” lives some 2,000 miles away, and we haven’t worked together in 10 years — but she’s still my biggest supporter. Her positivity and encouragement have made a lasting impact on my career.
Are there three things the community, society, or politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
- Don’t Discard — Donate. You’d be shocked how many people throw away items simply because it’s convenient, or because they don’t realize how long their cast-offs will linger in our (and our children’s, and our grandchildren’s) environment. Instead, give your unneeded items a chance at a second life — and, in the process, support nonprofit programs that improve education and careers. Goodwill provides easy in-and-out drop-offs; in Central Florida we have 29 retail locations and 16 Donation Xpress locations across Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Volusia, Seminole and Lake counties.
- Shop Secondhand First. If you’re into the thrifting lifestyle, you know that shopping secondhand is a great way to find quality items at a fraction of the price — and it’s also much kinder to the planet. When you buy new, even simple items like disposable totes and T-shirts come at a hefty cost in energy, material, water, and nonrenewable resources. Thrifting doubles the lifespan of clothes and goods, cuts their environmental footprint in half, and keeps more trash out of landfills.
- Educate Others. Many people simply don’t think about their impact on the environment. The best way to change that is by modeling good habits in your own life and encouraging your friends, family, and neighbors to do the same. Spread the word about options like Goodwill and help create a greener community by practicing sustainability.
What are some things that businesses or other organizations can do to be more sustainable and/or be more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
Think before you throw something away. I know, I know — it’s so easy to toss something in the bin without a second thought. I’ve been guilty of that in the past, too. But all I’m asking is for more people to think about what that means and what will happen to your trash when it gets carted off to the landfill. What you or your organization may think is garbage could be a treasure for someone else — and Goodwill can find a purpose for it.
What many companies don’t realize is that Goodwill Industries of Central Florida can deliver a donation bin or trailer and ultimately help the company host a special cleanout day and/or donation drive. We would love to partner with you, your company, or your organization to schedule an event.
To offer an example from my own life: I’m participating in a leadership class hosted by a local Chamber of Commerce, and recently learned from a classmate that their company was planning to discard supplies that were no longer needed. I’m so glad we had that conversation. I was able to share information about the more environmentally conscious options available to them — and in the end, the company decided to make a generous donation of what they were going to throw out. That’s the power of collaboration.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
- Accept Challenges as a Chance to Learn. No matter how hard you strive for perfection, life will always send challenges your way. Instead of shying away from them, embrace them as a chance to experiment with new solutions and gain experience — so when the next rough patch arrives, you’ll be better equipped to tackle it.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up. It can be daunting to offer your own ideas and opinions in a professional context. But while “sitting back and listening” may be easy, it’s not going to benefit you or your organization in the long run. Learn to share your voice effectively, and you’ll be better able to collaborate with your team members and inspire their creativity.
- Say “Yes” at Every Opportunity. New can be scary. New can be uncomfortable. But it’s not until you’re willing to accept risk and vulnerability that you’re able to move forward. Whenever possible, say “yes” to new challenges: As your confidence grows, you’ll learn things about yourself you never realized and achieve things you never thought possible.
- Find Value in Feedback and Criticism. Defensiveness is an instinctive reaction to negative feedback, but learning to overcome that instinct is essential for professional success. Nine times out of 10, the person offering feedback isn’t trying to attack you or cut you down — they care about your professional development, and they’re trying to help you learn and improve. Take their words to heart and put them into practice.
- Find a Mentor … and Be a Mentor. Strong professional relationships are one of the best sources of inspiration, encouragement, and good advice throughout your career — and it’s also a great avenue for meeting new people and encountering new possibilities. Whether you’re receiving guidance or guiding someone else, participating in a mentorship is time well spent.
If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
We all share one home: Planet Earth. So, take pride in your hometown, and get involved as part of the sustainable solution. You don’t have to be a scientist, conservationist or researcher to make a positive difference in your daily life. The 22 million pounds Goodwill diverts from landfills annually is made possible by regular folks making a little extra effort to do things the right way, instead of the easy way.
That said, donating isn’t difficult. Just load up your car with unwanted items (or offer to take a load for a friend) and drop them off at Goodwill, or at one of our convenient Donation Xpress locations, where our team members can help you unload your car. From there, Goodwill will reuse, repurpose or recycle your donations to better the lives of members in our own community — a real win-win.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
As I scroll through social media — LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram — I always like to take a quick screenshot of quotes that speak to me and inspire me. When I need a boost, I can go back and look at them to help keep things in perspective. On the other hand, that means there are a lot of different quotes that come to mind … but if I had to choose one, it would be “One life, one shot. Make it count.” It’s simple and to the point, and it’s a sentiment that holds true in so many ways for me — spiritually, personally and professionally.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Tim Tebow, and not because of his college football days or the NFL. Honestly, I don’t know much about him as a sports figure. What I admire is the influence he has on society through his leadership and community involvement. He has a wonderfully positive outlook on life; instead of using his celebrity to benefit himself, he stays humble and spreads a message of love and faith. I would be honored to meet him and give him kudos for being such a well-rounded role model.
How can our readers follow you online?
You can follow everything we do at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida at Instagram (@goodwillcentralfl), on Facebook (Goodwill Industries of Central Florida), on LinkedIn (Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, Inc.), and on Twitter (@goodwillcfl). Another great way to learn more is by visiting our website at www.goodwillcfl.org.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Social Impact Heroes Helping Our Planet: Why & How Laura Sharp-Edge Of Goodwill Industries of… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.