Joy in the Hard Things: Nancy Gale on Resilience, Craftsmanship, and Choosing Purpose

Nancy Gale didn’t just survive unthinkable trauma—she built something beautiful because of it. Founder of JAMAH, a luxury American-made handbag brand, and AMBITION, a nonprofit for disadvantaged youth, Nancy’s life is proof that purpose and pain can co-exist. In this conversation, we talk about her early years in Detroit, what it really takes to build a brand from scratch, and how she turned personal tragedy into a mission that’s impacted lives around the world. This episode is raw, honest, and full of moments that’ll stay with you long after it ends. 00:00 – Intro: From personal tragedy to luxury brand 01:35 – Growing up in Detroit and the roots of American craftsmanship 04:50 – Why JAMAH was built to challenge European fashion dominance 06:30 – Launching JAMAH and committing to a 25-year vision 08:10 – The artistry of American manufacturing and building connection 09:30 – The birth of the JAMAH Motorcar Collection 11:00 – Telling love stories through custom bags 13:00 – The early struggles of building a brand with no support 15:00 – Learning to trust your own vision as a founder 17:20 – A skydiving story that changed how Nancy led her business 19:00 – Why she started AMBITION and the power of consistent mentorship 21:45 – Getting to know students before trying to teach them 23:30 – The “You Don’t Know About Me” student challenge 26:00 – Nancy’s mental health journey after rape and trauma 29:10 – Finding strength through storytelling and humor 32:50 – Her mother’s murder and choosing purpose over pain 35:10 – What Sir Richard Branson taught her students 38:40 – Teaching kids the value of hard work 41:00 – Why purpose is essential for mental health and joy 44:00 – The truth about resilience (and why it’s a daily choice) 46:30 – Why leaders must hold space for two truths at once 48:00 – What Nancy learned from her father about softness 49:00 – What she hopes people say about her legacy 50:30 – Where to find JAMAH and support AMBITION 51:00 – Her unpopular belief: Simplicity is the goal https://www.jamah.com/about-nancy ________ 📅 Book a Call with Josh: https://calendly.com/josh-kosnick/30min 🔗 Follow Josh Kosnick & Get Exclusive Content: https://linktr.ee/joshkosnick Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes featuring top business minds, elite performers, and leadership experts. #SpartanLeadership #Leadership #BusinessSuccess #Mindset #Entrepreneurship #SelfImprovem Spartan Valor Foundation is dedicated to empowering veterans, military families, and survivors of child trafficking. Through strategic partnerships, we provide critical resources, advocacy, and hope for those who have sacrificed so much. Join us in making a difference—because no hero should stand alone. 🔗 Learn more: spartanvalor.org Support the show CONNECT WITH ME HERE: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube