The Importance of Pro Bono Work in Building a Consulting Practice

When I launched Goodluck 13, I knew I wanted to reserve space for pro bono projects. For me, they’re not just “free work”—they’re opportunities to build trust, create impact, and deepen relationships in ways that go beyond a contract.

Right now, I’m working on two pro bono projects that are deeply connected to my values and my future work in Mexico City.

First, a skill exchange with my Spanish instructor: I’m helping her grow her business through a marketing and communications plan, and she’s helping me sharpen my professional Spanish—teaching me new terminology, guiding me through building marketing plans in Spanish, and coaching me on delivering presentations.

Second, I’m serving as a marketing communications consultant for the Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples. Allyship with the Latin American community is deeply important to me, because that community has given me so much throughout my travels—welcoming me, teaching me, and inspiring me. This is my opportunity to give back in a way that feels both personal and purposeful, supporting their mission to serve and empower the Spanish-speaking community.

Pro bono work has given me:

• Real connection — the kind that comes from showing up with no strings attached.

• A testing ground — to refine my processes and tools before scaling them with paying clients.

• A values check — ensuring that my work aligns with the causes and missions I care most about.

Giving strategically isn’t about overextending yourself or devaluing your skills. It’s about weaving generosity into the foundation of your business so that the relationships you build now can grow into meaningful, mutually beneficial partnerships down the line.

Because at the end of the day, business is about people—and the more you invest in those relationships with purpose, the more you create the kind of luck you want to see in the world.