What if the greatest gift we can give a child isn't a new skill, but the confidence to recognize the talents they already possess?

Jan Helson spent two decades building a nine-figure family business before discovering an unexpected problem among her employees: many lacked the confidence to ask questions, learn from mistakes, or recognize their own value.

That experience inspired her to rethink education from the earliest years.

Today, Jan is the founder of Global Game Changers, a nonprofit that has reached approximately half a million students with free educational resources designed to build confidence, character, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Her philosophy is simple: My Talent + My Heart = My Superpower.

In this conversation with Avi Zimmerman, Jan shares the story of a second-grader whose disruptive behavior concealed an extraordinary communication talent, and how a teacher helped him recognize and redirect that ability.

We also explore Jan's transition from business to philanthropy, the challenges of improving education from outside the traditional system, and her entrepreneurial approach to sustaining nonprofit impact.

Along the way, Jan challenges us to reconsider what it means to prepare children for the future—and how giving can become an essential part of learning.

Whether you're a parent, educator, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or simply someone who believes in helping others reach their potential, this conversation offers a different perspective on the gifts that matter most.

Learn more:

Global Game Changers: https://globalgamechangers.org

Everyday Heroes: https://everydayheroesco.com

You Are What You Give is hosted by Avi Zimmerman, with generous support from Victoria Hearst.

One woman had a coat she wanted to give away. More than 30 years later, that simple act has grown into a nationwide movement that has helped provide over 9 million coats to people in need.

Beth Amodio, President and CEO of One Warm Coat, joins Avi Zimmerman to share how the organization makes generosity accessible to almost anyone, and how thousands of volunteers, businesses, and nonprofits work together to turn small acts of kindness into extraordinary collective impact.

With more than 5,000 coat drives each year and a network of approximately 2,000 nonprofit partners, One Warm Coat offers a fascinating example of how nonprofits can grow by empowering others rather than trying to do everything themselves.

Beth also discusses corporate partnerships, nonprofit collaboration, reducing textile waste, and her own experience returning to professional life after a decade spent raising her children.

Throughout the conversation, we return to a simple but important idea: giving doesn't have to be complicated to be meaningful. Sometimes it starts with something already hanging in your closet.

And for someone who needs it, a warm coat can feel like a hug from their community.

Get involved: https://www.onewarmcoat.org

You Are What You Give is hosted by Avi Zimmerman, with generous support from Victoria Hearst.

Youmie Jean Francois learned to fly in her 30s. What she discovered along the way inspired something much bigger than her own pilot's license.

Through the Flex and Fly Foundation, she's working to give underserved New Yorkers access to opportunities in aviation, wellness, and entrepreneurship—fields that can seem out of reach without the right resources, relationships, or encouragement.

In this conversation with Avi Zimmerman, Youmie explores what separates a meaningful experience from a transformational one, why opportunities should be offered without making people prove their worthiness, and how connecting young people with experienced older adults can change their sense of what's possible.

She also speaks candidly about the sacrifices, financial challenges, and persistence required to build an organization around a mission you believe in.

At the heart of the conversation is a powerful idea: Giving can change more than someone's circumstances. It can change what they believe they're capable of—and what they eventually give to others.

Learn more about the Flex and Fly Foundation: https://theflexnflyfoundation.org/

You Are What You Give is hosted by Avi Zimmerman, with generous support from Victoria Hearst.