Matt Leonard
Chairman of the Board
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
“An equal world is an enabled world,” is the theme of International Women’s Day 2020, which has been celebrated on March 8 for well over a century. In Carlsbad, we are incredibly lucky to have many women, business owners, trailblazers, who are having a major positive impact in the community and roof that this year’s theme is fitting. A couple of those women happen to be also part of our Chamber.
The first is Jill McManigal, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kids for Peace, home to The Great Kindness Challenge. Kids for peace was founded in Jill’s Carlsbad backyard in 2006, with a mission to empower youth to create peace through hands-on service, global friendships and thoughtful acts of kindness. Through her two main programs, The Peace Pledge Program and The Great Kindness Challenge, Kids for Peace engages youth in all of the Carlsbad Unified School District and has grown to all 50 states, 121 countries, 28,000+ schools and 15 million students.
In a recent conversation with Jill, I asked her what she was most proud of. Jill responded that she is very proud of the millions of kids who have embraced a culture of kindness and are living by the words of the Peace Pledge. These young peacebuilders have built schools in Kenya and Pakistan, set a Guinness World Record, and even presented their Peace Pledge on the House Floor of Congress! Jill acknowledges that she wouldn’t be able to do this alone, and is very grateful to the City of Carlsbad, Carlsbad Unified School District, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, and her corporate sponsors Viasat, Nordson, SDG&E and NRG for their support and seeing value in the mission of Kids For Peace.
When I asked her where she thought Kids for Peace was going in the future, Jill said that she and her team have big plans! They have a goal of implementing The Great Kindness Challenge in all 140,000 American schools, giving every student an opportunity to actively create a better and brighter world for all. As the head of such an impactful global organization, Jill’s advice for women business owners (and men too!) is to lead with love.
Since this is the Real Estate issue, I also reach out to Owner/Broker of Three Lagoons Realty, Megan Schenck. Megan founded Three Lagoons in 2012, its name inspired by Megan’s, and her family’s, love for the outdoors and the three lagoons of Carlsbad: Batiquitos, Agua Hediona, and Buena Vista. Megan and her team of four realtors at Three Lagoons Realty focus on buyers, sellers, and property management of residential real estate in Carlsbad and North County San Diego.
Megan’s community and volunteer involvement include the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, Bottom Line Business Ministry, Carlsbad Educational Foundation, and the Aviara Oaks PTA. When asked about her community involvement she replied, “I believe it is extremely important to be a part of our community and contribute to its wellbeing. We get so much fulfillment and enjoyment out of our community and it’s great to give back.” In addition to her community involvement, Megan has started a social media campaign to highlight local businesses. This goal is to share about the businesses and people behind them to highlight our community and what it has to offer to locals and visitors. Two examples of businesses she has highlighted are San Diego Botanic Garden, and Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation.
As a working mother, trying to juggle kids, life and work, Megan says she is very proud for her three sons to see their mom enjoy a career where she loves what she does. Megan appreciates her opportunity to help people, while maintaining a healthy work/life balance. She is also very proud to be part of helping people achieve their financial and real estate goals. Per Megan, “there is no better satisfaction to seeing this occur and exceeding client’s goal and exceed their expectations.”
Megan’s advice to women entrepreneurs to be successful in business is that it takes hustle, grit, and perseverance; always looking to learn and grow from others and realizing you can’t do it on your own and therefore there’s a need to build a team of people who trust you and supports your goals and vision. Long term, Megan would like to continue to contribute to her clients and community and make an impact in our society while doing something that she loves.
Thank you Jill McManigal and Megan Schenck for your inspiration, and let’s celebrate all women in our lives who are working towards that equal world.