Who is Purpose First Advisors?
Partnering with ambitious business owners to accelerate growth
We believe profitable ownership and successful exit planning are important strategies for individual and generational wealth building.
We know the work we do is deeply personal. Our job is to help owners and their teams understand their business, optimize its performance, and position it to be profitable and transferrable. We are guided by our core values of Abundance, Equity, Connection, Immersion, and Integrity.
A strategic advisor and value builder like no other
Christy Maxfield, MBA, CEPA
President & CEO
Christy is the founder of Purpose First Advisors, a firm that specializes in helping business owners enjoy the highest possible income, wealth and freedom from their businesses.
In addition to serving as a fractional COO for clients like Gladiator Consulting, Christy advises business owners who want to deeply understand their business, optimize its performance, and position it to be profitable and transferrable. She believes profitable ownership and successful exit planning are important strategies for individual and generational wealth building, particularly for women and entrepreneurs of color.
Raised in a family floral business in New Jersey, Christy started her career as a professional fundraiser before doing her first startup in 2010. She has designed and taught entrepreneurship courses at the University of Missouri St. Louis and Washington University in St. Louis. She also co-created and co-hosted the Entrepreneurially Thinking podcast, which elevated and celebrated hundreds of local underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Christy has a Bachelor’s in Political Science degree from Montclair State University and a Master of Business Administration from Webster University. She is an executive coach with Story Fruition and earned her certified exit planning advisor credential in 2023.
Strategic Growth Advisor | Exit Planning Advisor | Business Coach and Consultant
Driven by purpose & aligned by values
Abundance
We believe there is an abundance of opportunity for business owners from every walk of life to build profitable businesses, create generational wealth and contribute to thriving communities.
Equity
We believe that in order for businesses and communities to thrive we need to focus on getting more money, talent, knowledge, specialized services, and opportunities into the hands of historically marginalized and underestimated entrepreneurs. We strive to create a future where an entrepreneur's ability to raise money, attract talent, and scale their venture is no longer predictable by race or gender.
Connection
We believe our job is to be deeply connected with the owners and leaders we serve. We pride ourselves on helping people connect the dots to unlock the untapped potential in their business, remove limiting beliefs about what they and their business can achieve, and create the life they love.
Immersion
We believe successful business advising requires us to be thoroughly involved in understanding our clients’ personal, financial, and business goals. By understanding their vision we can commit to transformational rather than transactional work.
Integrity
We believe integrity is a state of being fully aligned with those we serve. We work with people who share our values through their words and deeds. We show up consistently. We own our mistakes and have compassionate and challenging conversations. We love deeply and will always try to do better.
We get by with a little help from our friends
QCO Consulting
Quentin and his team specialize in strategic growth consulting and executive/founder coaching.
Story Fruition
Melissa and her team help founders, owners and business leaders use the Mind Movie storytelling method to create presentations that are genuine, authentic and memorable.
“Christy has helped me be a more savvy negotiator, and her advice has helped me stay focused on what is most important for my business growth and personal fulfillment as an entrepreneur.”
— Teresa Wilke, Silver Arrow Strategies