Mary L. J. Mitchell is a systems builder, solutions architect, and strategic advisor dedicated to advancing practical economic solutions for community-led businesses and organizations. Her work centers mission-driven small businesses and nonprofit organizations committed to building a sustainable and liberated future—especially those uplifting historically marginalized communities. With a background in business technology consulting, project management, and logistics, Mary delivers customized operational and strategic support to small businesses shaping a better tomorrow. A proud Seattle native and Husky Double Dawg, Mary was born and raised in the city’s most diverse zip code. She earned both her Master of Science in Information Systems and her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration—with dual concentrations in Information Systems and Operations & Supply Chain Management—from the University of Washington's Michael G. Foster School of Business. Her commitment to equity and community empowerment is rooted in early experiences with student organizing. At Franklin High School, she led the Black Student Union and co-led All City BSU, mobilizing peers to march for Trayvon Martin. In college, she continued this work by serving on the boards of the UW Black Student Union and the Association of Black Business Students. Through these roles, Mary found purpose in collective action—creating safe spaces for Black students, organizing for visibility and justice, and challenging harmful institutional policies and curricula. As a Black woman and descendant of enslaved Black Americans, Mary’s lived experience continuously informs her work. She is driven by a vision of an economy rooted in justice—one that affirms culture, centers community, and honors the planet. Today, Mary operates at the intersection of equity, technology, and economics, helping communities design and implement alternative economic models that redistribute power, generate wealth, and restore dignity.