The Sparks of PWP Through the Years

A Journey of Passion With Purpose

This timeline traces the evolution of The Passion with Purpose Organization (PWP) from its earliest spark in 2013 to its emergence as a leadership and performance coaching organization today. What began as a college student’s desire to help others live with authenticity and passion grew into a movement — first as a university club, then as a message, and ultimately as a business dedicated empowering individuals to ascend to peak performance in work, life, & beyond with fireproof leadership, or as Steven says "fireproof passion." PWP isn't a dream, it's a calling - a calling accessible to individuals from all walks of life - anyone who desires to become the best version of themselves and live a magnanimous life.

2013 - The First Spark

In 2013, PWP founder Steven Mezzacappa recognized the social pressures students face in university and how those pressures can suppress authenticity, passion, and vibrancy. This observation became the first spark of Passion with Purpose — a vision where individuals boldly transform the world by doing what they love.

2014 – Passion Put Into Action

In 2014, Steven became deeply involved with Bridges to Prosperity and its Penn State chapter. He traveled to Panama with fellow students to build a pedestrian bridge that would provide year-round access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and local markets. This experience showed him the profound impact people can have when they use their natural passions and gifts in the service to others. Inspired, he later presented these insights at Penn State’s Engaged Scholarship Symposium in early 2015.

2015 – The Emergence of Passion With Purpose (PWP)

By 2015, Steven’s reflections on passion and action had evolved into the concept for Passion with Purpose—a university club model with dreams of spreading across campuses nationwide & beyond. The mission: help students uncover their passions and apply them in meaningful service to make a real impact. In November 2015, the first-ever PWP club meeting was held at Penn State, formally beginning the organization’s journey.

2016 – The First Chapter Leadership Team

In 2016, the first PWP leadership team at Penn State was established, enabling the chapter to host events, meetings, and initiatives centered on passion discovery and purpose-driven action.

2017 – The PWP Model Is Created

In 2017, Steven developed the Passion with Purpose Model—a framework showing how inspiration, encouragement, and empowerment can help people find fulfillment and build up inner resilience regardless of life’s challenges. It was at this time that the vision of PWP was no longer about helping individuals find passion - it was about helping individuals build passion. Steven integrated this framework into his undergraduate thesis that featured a study on Addressing Workplace Culture in Construction. He was nominated by his professors to present this model at the 2017 PACE Research Seminar in Washington, DC. This model would become the philosophical backbone of PWP moving forward. It also marked an expansion in PWP's focus to corporate professionals and organizational cultures.

2017–2020 – Growth, Reflection, and Continued Development

Between 2017 and 2020, Steven graduated from Penn State and continued speaking at various events. He also engaged in deep journaling, writing, and brainstorming as he envisioned the future evolution of PWP. The Penn State Chapter of PWP continued for two years after Steven's graduation until it eventually dissolved. The focus of PWP would shift from a university chapter vision to a professional learning & development vision. However, a university or professional chapter model is never off the table. 

2020 – Expanding the Message

In 2020, Steven began producing more YouTube videos, expanding PWP’s reach and sharing its core messages with a broader audience.

2021 – The First Book Is Published

In 2021, Steven published his first book, Passion With Purpose: The Fire Within: Building a Life of Fulfillment, Destiny, & Impact, a faith-inspired non-fiction book that reframed passion not as something to find or achieve but as a way of living and something we build. This cemented the evolution in PWP’s philosophy: The degree to which we experience fulfillment in life is based upon how we steward the health of our passion - our soul's core faculties of intellect, emotion, and will. Shortly after publishing this book, Steven realized that the PWP Model deeply explored in this book, is ultimately a leadership model.

2022 – A Broader Vision Through Graduate School

In 2022, Steven entered graduate school to study ethics and organizational behavior, seeing a wider application for PWP within leadership, teamwork, and the corporate arena. His studies strengthened the organization’s alignment with organizational psychology and ethical leadership.

2023 – Shifted Focus to Leadership & Performance

In 2023, PWP's vision continued its evolution as Steven recognized the foundational importance of self-leadership in not only personal fulfillment but also in organizational impact as well. PWP began positioning itself toward leadership and performance coaching, executive development, and consulting focused on organizational psychology and team effectiveness. This year also marked the launch of The Passion with Purpose Show.

2024 – Master’s Thesis & Academic Recognition

In 2024, Steven presented his master’s thesis on virtue ethics and psychological safety at the University of Reading in the UK. He was later awarded Best Thesis, signaling a milestone achievement in PWP’s academic and leadership foundation.

2025 – Executive Coaching & First Clients

In 2025, Steven began his journey at Brown University’s School of Professional Studies to earn his ICF coaching certification (expected completion Summer 2026). This year also marked the official welcoming of the first coaching clients for The Passion with Purpose Organization.

2026 & Beyond – Introducing the PWP Leadership Academy

In 2026, PWP will launch the official beta of the Passion with Purpose Leadership Academy, an online membership community offering content, community, and coaching. Its goal is to empower individuals to become the best versions of themselves and achieve peak performance in work, leadership, and beyond through the development of fireproof leadership. In the coming years, Steven will continue to expand PWP’s impact through executive coaching, speaking engagements, and leadership consulting.