Branding Portrait Spotlight: Mimi, Founder of IKIGAI Today
Mimi, founder of IKIGAI Today
Often, people’s first encounter with Mimi is when their life isn’t at its peak.
They come to her stuck — in the middle of a big change, or just aware that something's off without being able to name it. Through her business, IKIGAI Today, Mimi walks people through one question, whether she's working with a single person or an entire team: what's your reason for being?
Her business is built on ikigai, a Japanese idea that sits at the meeting point of four things — what brings you joy, what you're naturally good at, what the world needs, and what actually pays the bills.
"I help people reconnect with purpose, joy, and meaningful relationships," she says, and you can hear how much she means it.
She's Not Waiting Around
Mimi doesn't talk about her work like someone chasing a five-year plan. She talks about today.
"Life isn't about waiting for perfect circumstances," she told us. "Every day gives us an opportunity to learn, grow, love, and make someone else's day a little brighter."
That shows up in how she operates her business. She's not holding out for the ideal group size or the perfect room. She starts with whoever's in front of her, and she aims to leave them lighter than she found them.
Fall Down Seven Times
Ask Mimi for advice and you’re likely to get her favorite Japanese proverb - Fall down seven times, get up eight.
"Life is full of surprises, challenges, and detours," she says, "but every new day gives us another chance to learn, grow, and keep moving forward with hope." And when you hear her, you’ll get the sense that she’s someone who's taken a few falls and carried on, unbothered.
That resilience is something Mimi brings into her work with others. Rather than focusing on having everything figured out, she encourages people to remain open to possibility and to recognize that growth often happens in the unexpected places.
Outside of Work
Mimi runs on wabi-sabi, the belief that things are more beautiful for being imperfect, not less. And she's not coy about her own mistakes, either. "If I never made mistakes," she laughs, "I'd run out of funny stories to tell."
She's energized by anything that puts people in a room together — music, sports, travel, real conversation instead of small talk. Last April, that even meant hosting and opening a live show in Bellevue featuring Jamie Jones of All-4-One, a Grammy Award winner.
What's Next
Mimi is hard at work, growing IKIGAI Today into more online workshops and experiences, still chasing the same idea — that small moments often carry more weight than people give them credit for.
She's also not done with music. More rooms, more nights like the one in Bellevue, more chances for people to laugh, sing, dance, and leave a little lighter than when they arrived.
Mimi, thank you for sharing your story with us and for letting us learn more about the heart behind IKIGAI Today. Your perspective is a beautiful reminder that purpose doesn't always arrive in one grand moment. Often, it is built through the small experiences, connections, and choices we make every day.
At Beauclair Photography, we are continually inspired by women who create meaningful work, follow their own path, and build businesses around what matters most to them. If you are a female founder, creative, or entrepreneur in the Seattle area and you are ready to tell your story through imagery, we would love to create something meaningful together. You can book your personal branding session here.
