We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emma Anderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Emma, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

The most significant risk I’ve taken was leaving a comfortable sales job to venture into business ownership. Despite excelling in sales and enjoying job perks, I felt an absence of personal fulfillment. To address this, I saved and planned for a year-long transition. Alongside my partners, I had started Walk With Me Impact, not just as a business endeavor, but as a platform for youth mentoring solutions and positive impact.

Embracing entrepreneurship was challenging after years of stability, but I was drawn to the prospect of creating tools that empower youth and mentors. The journey wasn’t without difficulties, but I’ve used setbacks as stepping stones, adopting a growth mindset. I’m ready to return to corporate life if necessary, valuing adaptability.

Currently, I’m fully engaged in our social impact work, finding immense satisfaction in making a tangible difference. This risk-taking experience has been transformative, showing me the power of risk in fostering personal growth and aligning work with passions. I’ve come to understand that risk isn’t just about changing paths; it’s about discovering purpose.

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?

My personal journey, having aged out of foster care in San Diego County, fuels my dedication to social work. It’s driven by a desire to comprehend my own background and the circumstances that led my siblings and me into foster care. This desire to understand the effects of addiction and the choices made by a parent inspired me to pursue a path aimed at positively impacting the lives of at-risk youth and mentors. While I occasionally moved away from social work over the years, I was drawn back into this space due to a wonderful innovative approach to youth mentoring developed by one of my partners, Armand King.

In its creation, Armand King noted a common reflection that often crosses our minds: ‘What would I say to my younger self if given the chance?’ It’s this very contemplation that sparked the concept of taking a walk to address the toxic challenges that young people are navigating. This spark led to the creation of the Walk With Me Impact (WWMI) youth mentoring curriculum. WWMI stands as a distinctive youth mentoring solution, specializing in tailored in-school presentations, curriculum development, and training programs designed for at-risk youth and their mentors. Committed unwaveringly to tackling the urgent issues that confront today’s youth, from fentanyl poisoning and substance abuse to gang affiliation, youth incarceration, and human sex trafficking, WWMI is dedicated to empowering both young individuals and their mentors. Through an encompassing approach that combines mentorship, lived experience, and impactful education, WWMI nurtures self-awareness and instills core values, thereby fostering the growth of resilient community members, future leaders, and cohesive families.

In response to the pressing fentanyl crisis, the WWMI team takes pride in introducing the “Stop Fentanyl Parent & School Guide to Understanding and Addressing the Fentanyl Epidemic with Their Youth.” This comprehensive guidebook serves as an educational resource for parents, youth advocates, and school staff, shedding light on the dangers of the fentanyl crisis and equipping them with crucial prevention and intervention tools. Within its pages, readers will discover invaluable insights into the nature of fentanyl, its physiological effects, and its far-reaching impact on communities nationwide. This indispensable guidebook is currently available in both paperback and Kindle versions on Amazon.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Securing the startup capital for our business was a pivotal chapter in our journey. With a clear vision but a determination to avoid debt, we turned to Kickstarter. Our campaign aimed to raise $25,000 for a 3-book curriculum series with music and videos as instructional aids.

Launching the campaign was a mix of excitement and nerves. We needed others to believe in our vision and back us financially. Friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers rallied behind our cause. Surpassing our goal was humbling – it highlighted the belief people had in us.

Our friends’ support went beyond money. They allowed us to barter to reduce curriculum development costs. Learning new skills along the way, we avoided outsourcing expenses.

Kickstarter was more than just raising funds. It built a community around our mission and displayed the power of collective efforts. We learned the significance of storytelling, engagement, and authenticity.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

In shaping my management and entrepreneurial mindset, several resources have significantly impacted my journey. In the early stages, the allure of returning to a conventional job crept into my thoughts regularly. Balancing the challenges of entrepreneurship, I began to realize the comfort of having an employer. To counter this, I sought consistent motivation and tools to confront these doubts head-on.

During the first year, I adopted a practice of listening to audiobooks in the morning, providing me with a solid foundation to start each day. Notably, several titles stood out for their profound influence on my thinking and philosophy.

Brian Cagneey’s ‘The 7 Laws of Positive Thinking’ challenged my perspective and inspired a more optimistic outlook. Mel Robbins’ ‘The 5 Second Rule’ offered practical advice to overcome hesitation and take decisive action. ‘Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice’ by Dennis Kimbro and Napolean Hill provided insights into wealth creation and success, while Curtis Jackson’s ‘Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter’ encouraged a more strategic approach to my endeavors.

These resources weren’t just intellectual fuel, they formed a camaraderie between me, and the struggles faced by others on similar paths. They reminded me that challenges are common and there are ways to navigate through them. Negative thoughts needed consistent challenge and removal, sometimes hourly, to maintain focus and resilience.

Through these resources, I discovered techniques to silence doubts, reframe challenges, and foster a resilient entrepreneurial mindset. They served as beacons of inspiration, empowering me to persevere in the face of uncertainty and grow both personally and professionally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wwmimpact.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwmimpact/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WalkWithMeImpact/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walk-with-me-impact-30274b240/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/wwmimpact
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=walk+with+me+impact
• Other: Emma J. Anderson personal LinkedIn page https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajeananderson/

Image Credits
Profile photo of Emma J. Anderson, photo credit is Robin Harris Images.