Virginie Madistin: Igniting Purpose Across Generations

Kami Redd
Jan 20
3 min read

A Calling Answered with Obedience

For Virginie Madistin, entrepreneurship was not just a business decision—it was an act of obedience. The founder of GIGIINC (Girls Igniting Greater Inner Strength, Inc.), Virginie didn't simply choose this path; she responded to a divine calling. “It was definitely a call placed on my life,” she says. “All the amazing opportunities I received after choosing to obey solidified that this is where I’m supposed to be.”

What began as a vision to serve young women has become a multi-generational mentorship and empowerment movement. GIGIINC is more than an organization—it’s a safe space for growth, guidance, and generational transformation.

From Sales to Service

Virginie’s background in sales gave her the foundation to become the entrepreneur and leader she is today. “My career in sales shaped the way I lead,” she shares. “It’s those skills that allow me to manage and grow GIGIINC with confidence and strategy.” Learning how to build relationships, understand needs, and offer meaningful value became the backbone of her approach to organizational development.

That same skill set allowed her to navigate her biggest challenge—starting a business without a roadmap. “I had no idea what I was doing,” she admits. “But I stayed the course anyway.”

A Vision for Generational Mentorship

What sets GIGIINC apart is its innovative, multi-generational mentorship model. Virginie’s program intentionally connects teen girls with older peers and professional women from a wide range of fields. This layered approach allows young women to receive support at every stage—whether they're navigating school, preparing for college, or entering the workforce.

“Our goal is to make sure that no girl walks alone,” Virginie explains. “Mentorship is not a one-size-fits-all experience. That’s why our structure is built to adapt, respond, and grow with each girl’s unique journey.”

The impact is clear: girls walk away more confident, more equipped, and more connected to their sense of purpose.

The Struggle to Balance

As with many women founders, Virginie faces the constant challenge of balancing business, personal life, and self-care. “There’s a lot of overlap,” she says. “It’s definitely a struggle.” But she has learned how to protect her peace through intentional boundaries and regular self-check-ins. “I’ve had to learn not to allow myself to get overwhelmed,” she adds. “It’s a daily choice.”

Her vulnerability about that struggle is part of what makes her leadership relatable. She doesn’t pretend to have it all figured out—but she shows up anyway, driven by purpose.

Serving as a Black Woman Entrepreneur

Virginie proudly recognizes how her identity as a Black woman informs her work. “Despite the many obstacles we face,” she says, “it’s okay to connect and serve those who look like me.” This connection to community has brought both healing and expansion. Serving her “brothers and sisters,” as she puts it, has helped the organization grow with authenticity and strength.

She’s intentional about creating space for young Black girls to see successful women who look like them, speak their language, and understand their experiences.

Learning Through Connection

If there’s one lesson Virginie wishes she had learned earlier, it’s that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be lonely. “I wish someone would have told me I didn’t need to do it alone,” she says. “That would have empowered me to connect with other entrepreneurs sooner.”

Today, she uses that lesson to encourage collaboration and build strong networks within her organization. GIGIINC thrives because of community. Virginie understands now that isolation isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a barrier to growth.

Looking Forward

Virginie sees tremendous potential in the future of GIGIINC. Over the next five years, she envisions the organization expanding to include new chapters in multiple locations. One of her biggest goals is to open a home for girls—a permanent space where mentorship, support, and resources are available 24/7.

This home would offer stability for young women in transition, a refuge for healing, and a launchpad for personal and academic growth. “We’re planting seeds now,” she says, “but I know we’re going to see the harvest.”

A Message to Young Black Women

To young Black women dreaming of entrepreneurship, Virginie offers this advice: “Serve others in the capacity you want to go into.” Her own journey proves that service is the foundation of leadership. “It was my years of service,” she says, “that brought about my level of success.”

Her words are a call to action—an invitation to lead with integrity, love your community, and trust your calling. Virginie Madistin is proof that obedience to purpose can ignite something far bigger than business. It can ignite legacy.