LWP Crossover - Dive Into Purpose: Miami’s B Corp Ocaquatics Swim School Making an Impact
Mar 3, 2025
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Miren Oca, founder of Ocaquatics Swim School and advocate for community impact, discusses her inspiring journey from aspiring orthopedic surgeon to successful business leader. She emphasizes the transition of her swim school to a 100% employee-owned model, fostering a culture of ownership. Miren highlights her role with Florida for Good and the Ripples of Impact initiative, which provides scholarships for underserved communities while promoting sustainability. Tune in for insights on purpose-driven entrepreneurship and the power of community!
Miren Oca emphasizes that effective leadership and fostering an inclusive team environment are essential for the long-term success of Ocaquatics Swim School.
The transition to a 100% employee-owned model at Ocaquatics promotes financial stability and deepens the commitment of team members to the organization's purpose.
Deep dives
Origins and Growth of Oak Aquatic Swim School
The founder of Oak Aquatic Swim School, Maren Oka, shares her compelling journey from wanting to become an orthopedic surgeon to establishing a thriving swim school business. Growing up in a family that owned restaurants, she witnessed the challenges of entrepreneurship and initially sought a different career path. However, after experiencing an unexpected pregnancy during college, Maren pivoted to open her swim school, combining her passion for swimming and teaching children. Over the years, Oak Aquatic has flourished, celebrating over three decades of operations while emphasizing leadership development and community engagement.
The Importance of Leadership and Team Development
Maren emphasizes that effective leadership is crucial for the success of a business, and she has focused on developing her team's skills and confidence. Recognizing that her initial viewpoint of needing to know everything was limiting, she now fosters an environment where team members contribute ideas and grow. By creating leadership development programs and focusing on values-based hiring, she builds loyalty and commitment among staff. This has led to a stable workforce and the ability to achieve significant objectives, including teaching thousands of swimming lessons annually.
A Purpose-Driven Mission and Community Impact
At Oak Aquatic, a clear mission revolves around making a difference in the lives of families by promoting water safety and teaching swimming skills. The organization recognizes that drowning is a leading cause of accidental death among children in Florida and takes this responsibility seriously. Through Ripples of Impact, Maren's nonprofit initiative, the school provides scholarships for swimming lessons to underserved communities and conducts environmental education programs. By reinforcing the importance of purpose within the organization, team members understand their contributions lead to meaningful changes in both community safety and environmental stewardship.
Employee Ownership as a Pathway to Sustainability
Maren explains how Oak Aquatic has transitioned to a 100% employee-owned model through an employee ownership trust, ensuring the business remains aligned with its purpose-driven values. This innovative structure allows team members to become co-owners based on their dedication and hours worked rather than financial investment. By distributing profits in a way that supports long-term financial stability, the organization cultivates a sense of shared responsibility among its staff. This impactful model fosters employee engagement and longevity, positively influencing both company culture and the bottom line.
In this crossover episode of Logistics with Purpose®, hosts Enrique Alvarez and Kristi Porter interview Miren Oca, founder of B Corp certified Ocaquatics Swim School. Miren shares her journey from aspiring orthopedic surgeon to successful entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of leadership, purpose, and community impact. Ocaquatics, which teaches lifesaving swimming skills, is now 100% employee-owned through an Employee Ownership Trust, fostering a culture of ownership and long-term commitment. Miren also discusses her involvement with Florida for Good and the nonprofit Ripples of Impact, which extends their mission to underserved communities.
Tune on for a conversation that underscores the value of purpose-driven business practices in creating sustainable, positive change.
WEBINAR- Bridging the Gap: Investigating the Disconnect Between Supply Chains and the People Who Run Them: https://bit.ly/3F1iZr2
This episode is hosted by Enrique Alvarez and Kristi Porter and produced by Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/logistics-purpose-drive-purpose-miami-b-corp-ocaquatics-swim-school-impact-1398
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