In this powerful episode of the Second in Command Podcast, co-host Sivana Brewer sits down with Brittany Dunn, COO and co-founder of Safe House Project, a national nonprofit dedicated to eradicating human trafficking in the United States.

Brittany shares the remarkable story of how she and her co-founder built Safe House Project from an idea into a nationwide movement, launching a full organization in just 90 days while balancing motherhood, military life, and a mission to save lives.

She discusses how her background in international business and M&A shaped her operational mindset, and how she’s using corporate systems to solve one of the world’s most complex humanitarian challenges. From developing Simply Report, a tech platform helping identify trafficking cases, to fostering a trauma-informed team culture, Brittany offers a masterclass in leadership under pressure, emotional resilience, and purpose-driven innovation.

Timestamped Highlights

[00:01:00] – Brittany shares the mission behind Safe House Project and how it began.

[00:02:15] – Only 100 safe house beds existed for 300,000 trafficked kids—why resources were so scarce.

[00:04:26] – How two military spouses built a national nonprofit in 90 days.

[00:06:01] – Why they launched nationally instead of locally (and how it changed everything).

[00:08:00] – A day in the life: policy, survivor support, sting operations, and leadership.

[00:10:20] – The corporate skills that transferred and the ones that didn’t.

[00:12:17] – Balancing strategy with empathy: why people aren’t “projects.”

[00:13:01] – Hiring survivors to co-create programs that work in real life.

[00:15:27] – The emotional weight of leading in trauma-informed work.

[00:17:14] – Launching Simply Report, a new tech platform for anonymous trafficking tips.

[00:19:00] – The behavioral algorithm behind Simply Report and how it works.

[00:21:17] – The power of partnerships and why Brittany took every call early on.

[00:22:41] – Preventing burnout: clarity, communication, and individualized care.

[00:25:37] – Inside her relationship with her co-founder and how they model healthy conflict.

[00:29:23] – Building a culture of trust, ownership, and open dialogue (“Cuss and Discuss”).

[00:34:05] – How Safe House Project hires intentionally and why cultural fit matters most.

[00:36:10] – The art of letting go: why firing fast protects mission and morale.

[00:37:30] – A recent setback and how the team turned disappointment into innovation.

[00:40:18] – Choosing integrity over comfort: giving back salaries during COVID to keep promises.

[00:42:01] – Daily rhythms that keep Brittany grounded in hard seasons.

[00:43:23] – The next big challenge: state-level adoption of Simply Report.

[00:44:13] – A hopeful look ahead: documentary, podcast, and shifting public awareness.

Resources & Mentions

Safe House Project
Simply Report App (iOS & Android) – Anonymous reporting tool for human...

Ep. 523 - Safe House Project COO Brittany Dunn Talks About Remarkable Resilience and Building Hope in 90 Days

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