What happens when the scariest thing you can do also turns out to be the most important? In this episode of Humankindness at Work, Jennifer Clark sits down with Jessica Honegger — founder of Noonday Collection and author of the best-selling book Imperfect Courage — for an honest, unfiltered conversation about courage, creativity, and building a business that changes lives on both sides of the transaction.
Jessica’s story doesn’t start with a business plan. It starts with an adoption in progress, a financial crisis, and a friend’s offhand suggestion: sell handmade goods from artisans in Uganda to help cover the costs. Terrified of what people might think, Jessica almost canceled the very first trunk show, hosted in her own living room. But she didn’t. That one courageous, imperfect yes became the foundation of Noonday Collection, a people-first lifestyle brand with over $155 million in lifetime revenue and a mission to create dignified work for thousands of artisans in vulnerable communities around the world.
In this conversation, Jessica and Jennifer explore:
- Why courage was never about the absence of fear — and how redefining courage changes what feels possible
- The critical difference between charity and dignified economic opportunity
- The “sisterhood effect” vs. the “bystander effect” – and what it means to stop waiting for someone else to step up
- The honest, funny, and humbling reality of being a mother building a global company
- What’s next for Noonday, including new travel experiences launching this fall to Guatemala, Nepal, Peru, Thailand, and Uganda
If you’re building something new, questioning whether one person can really make a difference, or simply craving a conversation that recognizes courage as something that ordinary people practice, this episode is for you.
About the Guest: Jessica Honegger is the founder of Noonday Collection, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and the author of Imperfect Courage. Her work has been featured in Inc. Magazine, InStyle, the Today Show, Vogue, Magnolia Journal, and Thrive Global. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three teenagers.
🔗 Learn more and shop Noonday Collection
🔗 Buy Jessica’s book Imperfect Courage
🎤 THIS EPISODE’S SPONSOR PARTNER: JENNIFER’S VOICE
Jennifer Clark is a multi-award nominated female voice over talent who specializes in TV/radio/digital commercials, web videos, corporate training, eLearning, TV narration and documentaries. She has voiced projects for brands like Apple, Walmart, Pinterest, Walgreens, Advent Health, NASA, PBS, Sam’s Club, Hilton, LEGO, and Starbucks. Jennifer is a trusted and seasoned voice talent, who brings the sound of humankindness® to everything she voices. Need professional voice over for your media projects? Let the sound of humankindness share your story!
🎧 PRODUCER: Melanie Scroggins of Scroggins Creative
Scroggins Creative is a mom-and-pop content studio run by husband-and-wife duo, Jeremy and Melanie Scroggins, helping founders and teams create thoughtful, high-quality podcasts and videos for heart-led brands. They shape content with care, creativity, and a personal touch, turning your expertise into connection points that create a meaningful impact with your audience.
🎵 Original music written and produced by Brent Johnson.