Mindset mentor Nekeya Parks has revealed that she built a $70 million business while battling depression, urging people to identify and pursue what she described as their God-given purpose.

Speaking at the 2026 TrueLife Experience at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, she challenged participants to reflect on the ambitions they had before societal expectations and personal fears influenced their choices.

“When you think about the dream that you had when you were smaller, when you were younger, before the world got its hands on you, before all the reasons why it felt too big landed, what was your original dream?” she asked.

Ms Parks said many people were raised to pursue conventional career paths such as engineering, medicine and law because they were considered secure and financially rewarding.

However, she argued that these choices did not necessarily reflect an individual’s personal calling or purpose.

“But that was not automatically the thing that God had placed within you. That’s the dream that I’m talking about, the thing that felt like it was what you needed to do, what you were put on this earth to do, and what God had called you to do,” she said.

‘My biggest audacity’

Ms Parks said her greatest act of courage was believing that she deserved a fulfilling and prosperous life despite the difficulties and experiences that shaped her upbringing.

“My biggest audacity was believing that no matter what my people, my parents endured, no matter how unworthy I was taught that I was, I had audacity to believe that God wanted me to have a life that was healthy, rich, and that I loved,” she said.

She disclosed that she built a business valued at $70 million while struggling with depression, highlighting the difference between financial success and personal fulfilment.

“I built a $70 million business depressed. I had six and seven figures in a bank account, and I didn’t want to get out of bed most nights,” she said.

‘Hustle is not enough’

Ms Parks, whose mother is from Jamaica, said she grew up with an emphasis on hard work, financial success and security.

She noted, however, that financial achievements alone might not bring fulfilment if individuals were not pursuing work aligned with their sense of purpose.

“But if you are not doing that thing that God has placed within you, it is not going to lead to a feeling of bliss and happiness,” she said.

The 2026 TrueLife Experience is a two-day gathering bringing together business executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, professionals and emerging leaders to discuss courage, personal development and purposeful action.

Other speakers at the event included business leader Sir Sam Jonah, Edward Effah, founder of Fidelity Group, and Dzigbordi Kwaku-Dosoo.