About our founder
Deborah Shepherd is an award-winning ex-corporate entrepreneur, qualified wellness practitioner and Founder of Gratitude™ incorporating Embrace Life™ Festivals, Lighten Up ™ Summit and the Conscious Marketplace.
Gratitude™ has evolved to become a co-operative movement of professionals who provide state of the art marketing tools and shared support services to purpose-driven entrepreneurs in the health and well-being sector.
The importance of gratitude and giving back underpins Deborah’s approach to all aspects of her life, which she advocates to members of the movement.
The adoption of this philosophy has generated unprecedented growth over the past three years from 50 locals to a global audience reach of 61,000 members with 900 participating businesses. Importantly, the positive social impact of the movement is further leveraged to facilitate corporate social responsibility and charitable work.
From Walgett to London and back
Raised in modest surrounds in Walgett, country NSW, Deborah attributes much of her success today to her strong sense of community values, as well as fostering her spirituality. From an early age, she was exposed to the wisdom of indigenous customs as well as Catholic practice and tradition.
Yet, like many journeys to a place of self-awareness and consciousness, her path has not been straightforward.
After completing her tertiary studies, Deborah embarked on a career in financial services, affording her placements working in the British and Asian markets, significant financial perks and what seemed to be a rewarding lifestyle.
After many years, Deborah came to the realisation that she was not following her purpose in life, and left her corporate career including the financial security it provided. She went on to study complementary healing, and gained Diplomas in Aromatherapy, Energetic Healing and Reiki.
Getting the balance right - Purpose and Profit
After setting up practice as a wellness practitioner, Deborah’s unique perspective on health, spirituality and the necessity to address the commercial side of business became clear. She realised that there was a gap in the market for talented practitioners who, like herself, were giving selflessly to heal others, yet were not adequately monetising their time.
Deborah firmly believes it is essential that ethical businesses profit from their purpose. This belief led her to positively disrupt what has traditionally been a ‘not for profit’ market, to now a co-operative movement of thriving, conscious-minded businesses, partners and patrons.
Through ongoing collaboration and the organic nature of attracting like-minded people, Gratitude™ has rapidly evolved to become a multi-provider of marketing services with a vision to continue to grow locally and abroad for the benefit of all members and their customers.
Our Community
Founded in 2011, we have continued to evolve and expand the reach beyond our physical events to launching Gratitude™ – The Magazine, online video summits, The Conscious Marketplace and a global community upholding a core philosophy around the importance of gratitude in our everyday lives through relationship with ourselves, each other and the planet for our overall wellbeing.
Gratitude™ is the world’s first co-operative movement that provides marketing tools and support for a community of professional, purpose-driven businesses in order to create campaigns and activities to service the conscious consumer in an informative, centralised and engaging way.
Our co-operative’s MANIFESTO was co-created by us all. It captures our commonly held values of collaboration, uplifting and inspiring each other while consciously choosing to bring the best version of ourselves to each interaction.
Surrounded by entrepreneurs whose support each other, clarity and wisdom are undeniably contagious, and we effortlessly ripple positive change into our world.
We value relationship, transparency, integrity, mindfulness, and a sense of belonging – this community spirit truly allows us to make a difference and to shine our light!
Gratitude™ is focused on being on purpose. We believe in a balance between people, planet, and prosperity, and with every interaction within our community to increase gratitude on a global scale.
