About Us
At Ikigai Empowerment Hub, we support and empower women and youth discover their ikigai—their unique reason for being—and use it to create meaningful change in their lives, their communities, and the world.
Our work is intentionally aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, advancing gender equality (SDG 5), inclusive quality education (SDG 4), decent work & economic growth(SDG 8), health and wellbeing (SDG 3), and inclusive, sustainable communities (SDG 11)
What is Ikigai?
In Japanese culture, ikigai (生き甲斐) means “a reason for being. It represents the harmony between what you love (your passions), what you’re good at (your talents), what the world needs (economic demand), and what you can be paid for. (financial reward based on the value you bring)
When these four elements align, life gains purpose and energy. It’s the point where passion meets contribution—where personal fulfillment and social impact become one.
At Ikigai Empowerment Hub, we bring this philosophy to life through practical tools, mindset training, and community programs that empower participants:
…reconnect with their authentic values and potential
…break through cultural and emotional barriers
…understand their own thoughts, choices, actions and behaviors, and the experiences they create that generate feelings and emotions.
…cultivate resilience, confidence, and self-worth
…build skills for leadership, purpose-driven careers, and financial independence
…become intentional creators of their own lives.
Our approach integrates neuroscience, behavioral science, mindfulness, experiential and social impact education—empowering individuals to not just dream of change, but embody the change the want to see in the world.
Our Vision
A world where women and youth live with purpose, confidence, and economic freedom—igniting a global movement of conscious leaders who create positive, lasting change in their communities and beyond.
Our Mission
Ikigai Empowerment Hub equips women and youth to discover their Ikigai—their unique purpose—and to transform that awareness into meaningful action.
Through an innovative blend of neuroscience, behavioral science, and experiential education, we empower individuals to strengthen their mindset, leadership, and life skills.
Our Approach
Our hybrid model—combining nonprofit empowerment programs with purpose-driven consultancy and training—bridges inner transformation and external impact, fostering resilient, purpose-aligned communities and organizations worldwide.
The Story Behind Ikigai
Our founder, Roxana A. Matthews, grew up under a totalitarian regime in Romania, where girls’ dreams were often dismissed. She longed to play soccer, but only boys were allowed. She loved physics, but her father—shaped by cultural norms—refused to let her join the physics club, a decision he later regretted. Even in tennis, her life’s passion, she was sent to practice alone against a wall while boys were being coached.
At just 11, Roxana began listening to women share painful stories of domestic violence as they came, as former students, to her parents for advice. They were former educators. At the age of 14, soon after the Romanian Revolution, she volunteered as a translator for a Belgian humanitarian convoy—a defining experience that ignited her lifelong passion for service and empowerment.
Education became her pathway to possibility. Roxana went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Management, a Master’s in Education, and an Master of Arts in International Development, along with specialized graduate certifications in international education, language teaching, and mindful learning. Over 25+ years, she has worked across continents—in China, Oman, Romania, and Uzbekistan, teaching, coaching, designing and implementing programs, and leading initiatives for refugee communities, trafficked girls, and youth worldwide.
Her journey led her to Japan, where she discovered ikigai—a philosophy that gave language to her life’s work: transforming limitation into possibility, and hardship into purpose.
To deepen this mission, Roxana is trained as a NeuroChange Solutions Consultant, applying Dr. Joe Dispenza’s neuroscience-based framework for personal and organizational transformation. This science-backed approach helps individuals and organizations rewire limiting beliefs, build resilience, and create sustainable change.