In 2017, Misti Dian went to bed expecting an ordinary night’s sleep, unaware she would have a dream that would soon change her life forever. This dream became one of the first breadcrumbs for the birth of IAOMAI Global, which brings together an authentic and collaborative community to help lead each other to live more authentically. Misti had already dedicated herself to aiding others as a guiding light on their path to wellness and healing. This dream, however, solidified her purpose to help others heal.
“I was in a very painful part of my life, and I had a dream, and I could see the word IAOMAI, and I could hear the way I was pronouncing it, but I didn’t know what it meant it just stuck with me,” Misti, co-founder of IAOMAI Global explains. “That word just felt like a gift to me, and finding out it meant to heal, to cure, to make whole really led me to know this was going to be about doing retreat work and providing safe and sacred spaces for others doing that healing work.”
IAOMAI, pronounced aye-OM-eye, means to heal, cure, and make whole, and helping others heal and create a space to learn from one another has always been Misti’s passion.
“Misti is the master of letting it be and letting it flow,” Jason Krupek, co-founder of IAOMAI Global and Misti’s husband, says.
The married couple crossed paths on social media in 2019 when Jason came across one of Misti’s posts and reached out to her, encouraging her to keep sharing her inspiring content. As the two messaged back and forth, Misti decided to look into the meaning of Jason’s name. What she discovered left her stunned. Not only did “Jason” mean “healer,” but the definition also included the word “IAOMAI.”
Instantly, she sent him a screenshot of a website she had purchased two years prior in 2017 – IAOMAIretreats.com - and explained the fateful coincidence.
“It’s such a crazy story, but it’s such an important piece of the IAOMAI story because, again, it’s been a path that I've been led on my entire life,” Misti explains. “The breadcrumbs have always been there, and there have been detours and pitfalls, and there's been amazing highs and terrifying lows, but from the moment we met, I knew that I had been brought a partner to go the distance for what this vision was.”
Together, the couple has been able to join forces and create IAOMAI Global, where they guide others in self-discovery through their numerous ventures, whether that be from leading retreats, their concert series Whole Notes, or through their non-profit, Spiritual Sustainability. This nonprofit promotes healing and transformation through conscious music events, intentional partnerships, media, and advocacy.
The IAOMAI Global website highlights the phrase, “Your message matters,” a principle heavily incorporated into the IAOMAI retreats. These intimate gatherings create a safe and vulnerable place for those involved to rest, heal, and reflect, all while taking place in breathtaking destinations. During these retreats, Misti is pivotal in guiding group discussions where participants sit in a circle where everyone can engage face-to-face. Another crucial aspect of this experience is giving back to the local community where the retreat takes place.
Most retreats are escape-based, but Misti leads retreats that teach you to live in a way you don't want or need to escape from your life. "I design retreats around a unique service-based mindset, and there's always some way you can serve others by giving back," Misti says. "Nothing dials more into your personal gratitude than being of service.”
Misti has effortlessly created a vulnerable space for others to open up and heal in, and she hopes that this continues throughout the new year.
“Based on the foundation that how we serve is as important as who we serve, our hope is that IAOMAI Global is recognized as a “gold standard” of authenticity and integrity for mission-driven leadership,” Misti says. “A collaborative platform that expands, amplifies, and sharpens service-based work.”
The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to embrace healing – whether through retreats, focus groups, non-profit work, or simply by engaging with others through meaningful conversations.
“Going into 2025 and just knowing the energy of change, and healing, and expansion, people are ready to sit in circles and do the work and show up and support people willing to do the work,” she says. “By showing up, you are helping someone in the room; whether you know it or not, you’re someone else’s breadcrumb.”
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