We were lucky to catch up with Jess Rice recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jess, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

If I could go back in time and start wildHERness sooner, I would. No question about it! It took me a long time to find my passion, with an incredible number of stepping stones along the way. I realize that each step took me closer to the idea of wildHERness. I was raised in nature; it has always been an enormous part of me. We respected nature, we took nothing more than we needed from her. In middle school, I began to entertain the idea of becoming an educator. In college, I explored biological sciences from both a medical and an animal perspective. Studying all life as it exists is fascinating to me. As a graduate student of Zoology, I was able to teach several science subjects. I loved it, but it wasn’t ultimately fulfilling. As time progressed, I knew I could never be a classroom educator.

Once I began to explore more facets of outdoor recreation, like backpacking, birdwatching and hunting, I realized my love for the outdoors and teaching were not so far removed from one another. Without me even realizing it, most of the important lessons in my life were learned from time spent in nature. Thus, the idea of introducing women to the outdoors in a safe, skill building environment was born. I didn’t just want to show Mother Nature to the world, I needed her to impact women the same way she had me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am the Founder and President of wildHERness, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that aims to involve women (or anyone who identifies as such) in the outdoors. Our motto is that the outdoors are for everybody and every body. We teach women skills that show them they CAN, so that nobody can ever tell them they CAN’T. Ultimately, the confidence gained empowers women to challenge themselves to see what else they are capable of.

Our mission is to connect women with skill-building opportunities, no matter how peripherally related to the outdoors a subject may be. Events and workshops cover a myriad of topics – everything from hunting and fishing to camping and Dutch oven cooking to beekeeping and self-defense!

As a nonprofit, we are all volunteers (for now), but I like to say we get paid in smiles. It makes me incredibly proud to see women walk a little taller and hold their shoulders a little higher after a wildHERness event.

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

Authenticity. Women crave it. Whether it be underhanded comments behind ones’ back, trust betrayal or constant competition, many of us have been scarred by our female friendships. wildHERness is a place where all the trauma, history, differences, and problems a woman may have just fall away. Women are encouraged by one another to step out of their comfort zones to try something new. We focus on one thing: a passion for the outdoors.

This lends to an incredibly vulnerable yet safe space for community to grow together. The reason wildHERness is so successful is because we ARE the women we are trying to reach. Some of us started in the outdoors at a young age, some are trying one new skill, some are just looking for like-minded humans to friend. Because we are our authentic selves and unabashedly serious in our pursuit for new knowledge, the women who flock to wildHERness feel like their most authentic selves, too.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Dare to Lead by Brene Brown How Women Lead by Laura Henderson and Sharon Hadary

I have taken a lot from ineffective leadership that I’ve observed throughout the years. Having the opportunity to learn from the mistakes other people in the outdoor industry have made has been an incredible blessing. I may not always know what I am doing as a leader, but I from these experiences, at least I know what not to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wildherness.org
• Instagram: @_wildherness_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildHERness
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wildherness7917