In this episode of Gateway to Growth, host Jamal Cornelious sits down with Sylvester Chisom — co-founder of the Show Me the World Project — to talk about how a mission-driven coffee company is sending St. Louis students on life-changing trips around the globe.

What starts as a conversation about great coffee turns into a masterclass in social entrepreneurship — from a chance grocery store run on a Costa Rican coffee farm to a brand now sold at farmers markets, cafes, and even the airport across Saint Louis. Sylvester breaks down how he and co-founder Samantha built a business where every bag sold funds a student's first passport stamp.

This episode covers experiential education, social enterprise, and the mindset shifts it takes to scale a mission-driven business — plus the entrepreneurial roots that shaped Sylvester long before Show Me the World existed.

This episode's highlights include:

• A mission-driven coffee company that's sent 150+ St. Louis students abroad — including 30 kids to Colombia this June.

• The grocery store moment that turned coffee into an empowered fundraising tool instead of a handout.

• His mentor's rule for growth: "You don't solve fewer problems — you exchange your problem set."

Whether it's a bag of coffee, a school swap, or a mentor's hard truth about problem-solving, Sylvester's story is a masterclass in building a business that changes lives while it scales.

Want to get involved? Grab a bag of Show Me the World coffee at the Tower Grove Farmers Market, Midtown Cafe, Great American Bagel, or Lambert International Airport — or set up a fundraiser for your own school, team, or organization through the Show Me the Cause platform.

Connect with Sylvester Chisom ▶ https://www.sylvesterchisom.com/
Show Me the World Project ▶ https://showmetheworldproject.org/

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