A year ago, Stinson Mundy began disrupting the traditional law firm model. She decided to educate and empower small businesses, along with providing legal services. Her distinctive approach has included free monthly presentations, flat-rate fees for clients and a commitment to donate 20 percent of Linden’s profits to local nonprofits. She took a leap outside formal office politics, too, by joining the Gather co-working community in Scott’s Addition. That move turned heads at Entreprenuer.com, which praised Mundy’s policy of freely answering legal questions from co-workers in person or in online chat rooms.

Mundy’s passion for local economic development extends even beyond those unorthodox walls. She’s an advisory board member with UnBoundRVA, a nonprofit which puts individuals from low-income backgrounds on the path to business ownership. Inspired by such committed people, Mundy sees a bright future. “I’m constantly amazed at how innovative and creative our entrepreneurial community is and how quickly our message has resonated,” she says.

Mundy won’t shy away from a party with heart, either. She’s a board member with Celebrate RVA, which holds memorable birthday parties at Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary, where 53 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch programs.