Eyespiring

About Eyespiring

The mission of Prevent Blindness Texas is to prevent blindness and preserve sight. We are leaders and change agents in the eye health space here to empower you!

Publisher

Prevent Blindness Texas

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 May 2025

Latest episode

17 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

31 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Living with Vision: Purpose, Service & Legacy with Dr. Kerri-Ann Coombs

   What does it mean to truly live with vision? On this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick welcomes Kerri-Ann Coombs, R.N., O.D., whose journey from registered nurse to optometrist, entrepreneur, author, mother, and philanthropist has been shaped by purpose, faith, and a deeply personal connection to vision loss. Inspired by her father's experience with vision loss, Dr. Coombs developed a passion for helping others protect their sight while also encouraging people to pursue the vision they have for their own lives. She shares candidly about changing careers, overcoming fear, building De'Cordova Eyewear in honor of her father, embracing entrepreneurship, using social media to educate and connect, giving back to children in Jamaica, and the lessons motherhood has taught her about patience and leadership. The conversation ultimately returns to a simple but powerful idea: vision is a gift, and living with vision means having the faith and courage to pursue what you were created to do. Topics Covered Dr. Coombs' journey from nursing to optometry Discovering her calling to healthcare How her father's vision loss shaped her personal and professional journey Overcoming fear and learning to "bet on yourself" The lessons nursing taught her about caring for others The story and legacy behind De'Cordova Eyewear Taking a holistic approach to eye and overall health Entrepreneurship and the challenges of being responsible for it all Learning to embrace areas outside her expertise Social media as a platform for education, creativity, and storytelling Authenticity versus perfection on social media Giving back to children in Jamaica The connection between childhood vision care and future opportunity Gratitude for the gift of sight Writing A Girl with a Big Vision Encouraging children to dream bigger How motherhood has changed Dr. Coombs' approach to leadership Learning patience and allowing things to grow The meaning of vision, faith, and purpose Building a life, not just a business, that reflects your vision Dr. Coombs reminds us that we should never take the gift of vision for granted, but we also shouldn't be afraid to pursue the vision we have for our lives. Her story is a reminder to bet on yourself, learn from failure, and build a life that matters beyond the work you do. As she puts it, "Build a life that you desire. The business may come and go, but your life remains with you forever." Timestamps & Highlights 00:00 – Welcome to Eyespiring 02:21 – Finding Joy in Peace and Simplicity 03:17 – The "Why" Behind Her Work 04:10 – Discovering a Calling to Healthcare 06:15 – From Nurse to Optometrist 08:17 – Following the Dream Despite Fear 11:05 – Betting on Yourself 13:37 – The Story Behind De'Cordova Eyewear 14:36 – Experiencing Her Father's Vision Loss 17:20 – Seeing the Whole Person 19:05 – Authenticity, Creativity & Social Media 23:16 – Building an Eyewear Business 26:40 – The First De'Cordova Frames 27:44 – The Realities of Entrepreneurship 29:22 – Giving Back to Jamaica 31:34 – A Young Patient Who Changed Her Perspective 33:15 – A Girl with a Big Vision 34:42 – Motherhood & Leadership 37:36 – Rapid Fire 39:56 – Vision Means Faith 40:14 – The One Thing She Wants You to Remember 41:17 – Closing & Prevent Blindness Texas

2. 

   3 Sept 2026

   Building Stronger Nonprofits: Leadership, Philanthropy & Creating Lasting Community Impact

   What makes a nonprofit truly successful? According to Kristen Schlatre, it starts with committed leadership, a clear mission, and a willingness to continuously evolve. In this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick welcomes Kristen Schlatre, Assistant Dean for Professional and Corporate Programs and Director of the Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Rice University. Kristen shares her unique journey into the nonprofit sector, discusses the evolving landscape of philanthropy, and offers practical leadership lessons for nonprofit professionals, volunteers, board members, and anyone committed to creating positive change in their communities. Together, they explore how organizations can build sustainable impact by investing in people, embracing innovation, and keeping their mission at the center of every decision. Topics Covered Kristen's unexpected path from aspiring pharmacist to nonprofit leadership Why strong leadership is the foundation of every successful nonprofit Lessons learned from Teach For America and mission-driven organizations Common misconceptions about nonprofit organizations The evolving role of philanthropy and charitable giving Sustainable funding and why nonprofits need predictable revenue Building trust with donors, volunteers, and communities The importance of community-led solutions Leadership, resilience, and preventing burnout Developing the next generation of nonprofit leaders Books and resources for leadership development Kristen's advice for anyone looking to make a lasting impact Leadership in the nonprofit sector isn't about having all the answers, it's about staying grounded in your mission while empowering others to create meaningful change. Kristen reminds us that although this work is challenging, no leader should carry it alone. By investing in people, embracing collaboration, and staying focused on purpose, nonprofits can build stronger organizations and healthier communities for years to come. Timestamps & Highlights 00:00 – Welcome to Eyespiring and introduction to Kristen Schlatre 01:29 – Kristen shares her unexpected journey into nonprofit leadership 09:49 – The one thing every nonprofit needs to succeed 12:20 – Finding purpose through helping other leaders grow 16:11 – Why nonprofits play a vital role in strengthening communities 18:41 – Debunking common misconceptions about nonprofit organizations 25:20 – How philanthropy and charitable giving continue to evolve 31:02 – Why nonprofits need sustainable revenue models 35:44 – Building and maintaining trust in the nonprofit sector 37:18 – The question every nonprofit leader should ask themselves 39:44 – The biggest leadership challenges facing nonprofits today 41:28 – Why the next generation of nonprofit leaders brings hope 43:48 – Leadership skills every nonprofit needs for the future 45:39 – Leadership books and continuous learning 49:03 – Kristen's final advice 50:15 – How to get involved with Prevent Blindness Texas

3. 

   20 Aug 2026

   Leading with Love: How Culture, Trust & AI Are Transforming Leadership

   Can love transform the way we lead? Mohammad Anwar believes it can. In this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick sits down with Mohammad Anwar, President & CEO of Softway, co-founder of Culture+, and bestselling co-author of Love as a Business Strategy and Love as a Change Strategy. Mohammad shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Saudi Arabia and India to building a global technology company in Houston, overcoming near bankruptcy, and discovering that leadership rooted in love, trust, and accountability creates stronger organizations and better outcomes. The conversation explores what it really means to build a healthy workplace culture, why leaders often confuse titles with influence, and how artificial intelligence can actually help us become more human by creating more space for relationships, empathy, and meaningful connection. Topics Covered Mohammad's multicultural upbringing and entrepreneurial journey Starting Softway at just 20 years old The challenges of leadership, ego, and nearly losing his company Why love belongs in business Building trust and accountability within teams The biggest misconceptions about leadership Warning signs of a broken organizational culture Measuring success beyond financial performance Leading people through change Bringing humanity back to the workplace How AI can strengthen, not replace, human connection Leadership lessons from failure and personal growth Leadership isn't about titles, power, or perfection, it's about relationships, trust, and creating environments where people can thrive. Mohammad reminds us that as technology continues to evolve, our greatest competitive advantage will always be our humanity. If this conversation inspired you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who is passionate about leadership, culture, or the future of work. Timestamps & Highlights 00:00 – Welcome to Eyespiring 01:40 – Growing up in Saudi Arabia, India, and eventually finding home in Texas 11:40 – Starting Softway at age 20 15:00 – Early entrepreneurial lessons, stress, and overcoming ego 17:20 – The near collapse of Softway and the moment everything changed 24:45 – Why love belongs in business 31:45 – Why organizational culture is so difficult to change 34:25 – Reframing accountability as an act of care 36:15 – The biggest misconception about leadership 37:45 – Recognizing the warning signs of a broken culture 40:30 – Measuring success through trust, teamwork, and impact 44:25 – Helping people embrace change instead of resisting it 47:30 – Bringing humanity back into the workplace 51:40 – Why AI may help us become more human 54:20 – Lightning round: leadership advice, failure, habits, and lifelong learning 58:45 – Closing thoughts and final reflections

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact Eyespiring

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.