Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Annise Montplaisir. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Annise, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s talk about innovation. What’s the most innovative thing you’ve done in your career?

Developing a formalized mentorship program. In my industry, organic mentorship has been highly utilized as an entry point for newcomers to get involved – You happen to meet someone who takes you under their wing, helps to educate you, introduces you to others which can lead to a job, and then you’re on your way! But I wanted Amplify to provide a more structured first step into the highly traditional Thoroughbred racing industry. So I did heaps of research and learned about the “Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring,” which outlines best practices in youth mentorship for recruiting, training, and supporting mentors and mentees. I was also able to access resources to help me through the process of creating a new mentorship program. By understanding the needs of my industry and working with a mentoring consultant, I was able to develop a structured and strategic program to connect youth and young adults with mentors in the Thoroughbred industry, which has helped to make the industry more accessible.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up near Fargo, North Dakota, and fell in love with horses as a child. I was determined to pursue a career that would allow me to be around them all the time. I discovered the horse racing industry as an early teen by visiting a small, lower-level racetrack near my family home called the North Dakota Horse Park. I began volunteering as a “racehorse ambassador,” standing near the front gate of the track on race days with the track’s mascot, a retired racehorse named Barracuda Boy. I would educate the public about his racing career, and also discuss the importance of “aftercare,” which refers to the second home or career that former racehorses go on to once they are no longer racing.

While there are various forms of horse racing, I was most attracted to Thoroughbreds – the specific breed of horse that are most popularly used for horse racing around the world. I was captivated by the history of the Thoroughbred breed, the close relationship they have shared with humans for centuries, and the prevalence of Thoroughbred racing around the world. The process of breeding, raising, training, racing, and retiring a Thoroughbred requires the work of hundreds of specialized people.

THIS was the industry that I wanted to be part of, and this captivation inspired me to dream bigger. I traveled across the US and eventually around the world, taking part in a specialized leadership program called Godolphin Flying Start to learn about the Thoroughbred industry in five different countries.

While horse racing is the most widely televised equine discipline in the US, the industry as a whole did not have an introductory organization to teach youth how to learn more, be involved or pursue a career. This is where the idea for Amplify Horse Racing started. The goal my co-founder, Madison Scott and I had in creating the organization was to develop pathways for youth to be involved, and remove any barriers to that involvement. I started working on the business plan for Amplify while I was on Godolphin Flying Start as my capstone project.

Presently, less than four years after our formation as a 501(c)(3), our mission is to “amplify” Thoroughbred industry education, mentorship, and career opportunities with horse programs for youth and young adults. We create pathways to involvement for newcomers, highlight existing initiatives, and create new resources to lead the Thoroughbred industry into the future. Horse racing is called “the sport of kings,” but it isn’t just a sport for the wealthy – it’s a sport for everyone!

The vision that drives the mission is to leverage the Thoroughbred industry to connect youth, families, students, and educators with opportunities to learn about and engage with horses. We strive to serve as the first step for newcomers to Thoroughbred horse racing to learn about the industry and discover opportunities for involvement, and create pathways to vocational training, employment, and continuing education. Finally, we seek to generate positivity, share knowledge and experiences, and collaborate with others to create a thriving industry.

I feel the most proud and fulfilled through my job when I’m able to make an amazing match through Amplify’s Mentorship Program, knowing this will result in opening doors to incredible opportunities for the youth or young adults involved. Ultimately, I want other youth to have the same opportunities that I have had as a result of being involved in this industry.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

My own winding path to be involved in the Thoroughbred industry was part of what inspired me to build Amplify and make a more straightforward pathway for other youth to be involved. This in turn has helped me relate to the youth and families I work with. I was once in their shoes, searching for opportunities in this highly nuanced industry.

I also identify that even though I came from a working, middle class family, I was still highly privileged in that I got my own pony at a young age, and my parents were able to help pay for and facilitate my involvement in extracurricular activities. I recognize that many youth aren’t in this same position, and might not even be able to fathom that horses are something they can be involved with. For this reason, it’s important to me that Amplify’s programs remain as affordable as possible, that we continue exploring ways to become more accessible, and strive to reach new audiences.

Overall, the warm welcome, support, and positivity that our team provides the youth we work with is authentic, which has helped to build trust in the organization.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I love the podcast “How I Built This,” by Guy Raz. The show interviews innovators and entrepreneurs “about the movements they built,” which are frequently companies we’ve heard of or are part of our daily lives because they’ve had an amazing social impact with consumers. The podcast does a beautiful job of highlighting the challenges each guest had to face on their way to finding success, and how they identified solutions. The show usually starts by painting a picture of how and where the guest grew up, what sparked their ingenuitive idea, and what contributed to its growth. This podcast has particularly helped me in times when I’ve lacked confidence in myself or feel like I have no idea what I’m doing – because the guests often had those same moments! Running an organization or a company, and especially pioneering a new concept, means that you will be learning, pivoting and adapting throughout your journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amplifyhorseracing.org/
• Instagram: @amplifyhorseracing
• Facebook: Amplify Horse Racing (https://www.facebook.com/amplifyhorseracing/)
• Twitter: @AmplifyRacing
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrOZsGF0nnES2aowA2ZvruQ

Image Credits
Photo labeled “Photo by Richie Wireman” (girls in paddock with Annise observing a horse) is by Richie Wireman. All other photos are cell phone photos.