MHS alum Sarah Bryce helps women in South Africa and publishes a children's book

Sarah Bryce, a Marshalltown High School graduate and founder/CEO of Lead With Love, built a social enterprise in South Africa that employs local women to make dog accessories and has published a children's book titled The God Box.

Sarah Bryce, a 1999 Marshalltown High School graduate, trained as a nurse and later earned a dual master's in Nursing and Public Health. She and her husband Joel lived in South Africa for 11 years, where she launched Lead With Love, a social enterprise that employs local women to make dog leashes, collars and accessories. Bryce recently published a children's book, The God Box, illustrated by Jake Waldron, and the family has moved back to the Boston area. Key details: - Sarah Bryce began her postsecondary studies locally before completing nursing at William Jewell College and later a dual master's in Nursing and Public Health. - The family moved to South Africa in December 2014 and lived there for about 11 years; both daughters were born there. - Lead With Love is a social enterprise founded by Bryce that provides jobs to unemployed South African women to make customizable dog leashes and collars. - The business offers many customization options, and on-ground operations are now managed by a co-founder/COO while Bryce remains founder and CEO. - The children's book The God Box, illustrated by Jake Waldron, is newly published in paperback, with hardcover and Kindle versions announced for release on Feb. 15. - The Bryce family has resettled in the Boston area, and Sarah plans to return to South Africa for work visits beginning in February. Summary: Lead With Love has combined product sales with job creation for South African women while remaining connected to the Bryces' time living in the country. The God Box reflects questions about faith and was developed during their years abroad; paperback is available now and other formats are due Feb. 15. Sarah continues to lead the enterprise from the U.S. with in-country operations overseen by a co-founder, and she plans regular visits to South Africa.