We’re looking forward to introducing you to Laura Reiss. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Laura , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I am most proud of the space we have built, and invisible, powerful culture, where people feel seen, safe and valued as they are. You can’t always measure, photograph or spreadsheet it, but you can feel it in the moment you walk into a Kindness MATTERS foundation gathering: self-worth before test scores; emotions met with kindness, no judgment.
Over years of showing up, listening, and choosing heart over ego, we’ve created a place where emotional and mental safety matters as much as physical safety, and where people can stumble and rise again with support. That’s the Unseen foundation of belonging, and it’s where a real change takes root.
This is the beginning of a New World. Kindness is a skill and we are teaching the next generation, to lead in kindness.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a mother, founder, visionary, sister, soul searcher, the heart behind Kindness MATTERS foundation and my international work.
What began in 2008 as a simple after school club to inspire self-care, emotional wellness, and giving back has grown into a global movement that teaches kindness to self, kindness to others, and kindness to the world.
Our mission is to equip youth, with the emotional tools to thrive, all while building self-esteem, empathy, resilience, and optimism through the practiced skill of kindness. We root our programs in neuroscience and lead with heart, so people remember who they are and step into their kindest selves. With Dido Balla, our CEO, now leading the way in the U.S., I am focused on spreading kindness globally.
Creating connections, and building relationships from Cameroon Africa to the Dominican Republic, developing curriculum, mentoring leaders, and creating experiences that plant seeds of connection and love across continents.
Kindness is a skill and we are teaching it.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I’m releasing the version of me that needed to hold it all—the one who wore every hat
while building from nothing. With our CEO Dido and team, our foundation is strong and our global vision has wings. My work is to trust, make space for new leadership, and step fully into being a connector, messenger, bridge-builder, and light-bearer on a global path of kindness.
As I grow, age, journey through my experiences, stumble, fall and pick myself up, I am constantly reinventing myself for the next chapter. Part of this is being able to release what is no longer serving me or the organization. It’s a constant awareness of what is in the best interest of me personally and then, The Foundation. Letting go is something that I am now well-versed in and feeling proud that I can stand in the light of others.
I have a commitment to global Kindness, and my attachments can be released.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
Our Kindness Matters logo.
For years I was attached to the original design we created in 2008 because of
its meaning, memory and quite honestly, the foundation of what our foundation was built on. When Dido recommended evolving it, my heart clenched until I
realized the spirit of Kindness Matters Foundation isn’t in a mark; it’s in people, mission, and love. Letting go made space for new energy and growth. Today’s updated logo symbolizes trust, transformation, and the power of releasing when the time is right.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
KINDNESS.
Global Kindness.
Kindness practiced, intentional, powerful enough to change lives. If we teach people,
especially youth, to care for themselves, others, and the world, we’ll raise empathetic, strong, open-hearted leaders. Culture change takes time, but I’m committed for as long as it takes, because kindness belongs in every curriculum, every home, every heart. It’s a skill, let us teach it. This work benefits our present and future generations.
One of our 4 Guiding Beliefs is that: Kindness Is Infinite
The more you give, the more it grows. Kindness isn’t a limited resource – it multiplies every time it’s shared. A single act can spark a ripple effect, inspiring others and transforming entire communities.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I remember being a fifth grader on the back of the school bus watching the bully tease one of my classmates. I did not understand what was happening. It did not make sense to me that one human being would intentionally try to hurt another. That was my first and earliest memory of true compassion and empathy.
I believe each of us has a purpose. My work with the Kindness Matters Foundation is one of my purposes. To see and honor one another and support each other with open hearts. I didn’t follow a script; I listened to the quiet voice that said, “This is yours to do,” and I keep choosing it every day with peace, clarity and the desire to constantly and consistently create more and more kindness throughout the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.km365.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurawaldorfreiss/
- Linkedin: https://ww.linkedin.com/in/laura-waldorf-reiss-92356480/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/waldorfreiss
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.w.reiss/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz7kxe9K8wJyE8AcLpwkrzQ
Image Credits
Andrea Blakesberg Photography
Michelle Weinhouse Photography
