We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Samantha Schulte. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Samantha below.
Alright, Samantha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Girls Who Walk Milwaukee is a community group in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dedicated to building connections through walking together. We host weekly walk meet-ups where people can gather in a safe and welcoming environment to make new connections, explore different parts of Milwaukee, and boost both physical and mental well-being.
I started Girls Who Walk Milwaukee after being inspired by similar initiatives in other cities, like Chicago Girls Who Walk. After graduating college and navigating the challenges of meeting new people as an adult—especially during the pandemic—I realized how tough it can be to make genuine connections. Plus, as an avid walker myself, I saw this as the perfect opportunity with minimal barriers to entry. The incredible community that has formed over the past year has been a clear sign that this was a much-needed to Milwaukee.
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?
Girls Who Walk Milwaukee is all about fostering genuine connections through the simple yet powerful act of walking. We organize weekly walking meet-ups for people to come together and explore different parts of the city while walking together!
My idea to start this community group stemmed from a personal and observed need for connection. The challenges of forming new friendships as an adult is not a unique experience for anyone. There’s so much advice out there for 20 and 30 somethings that suggests things like “Join a gym” or “Find people with similar hobbies,” and while those aren’t bad recommendations, I wasn’t finding that they resulted in any type of lasting connection. After learning about similar walking groups, I knew this was exactly what Milwaukee needed.
I also know that many women don’t feel safe or comfortable walking alone. Our walks provide a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment. Walking together not only offers safety in numbers but also ensures there’s minimal barrier to entry—it’s free, easy to join, low commitment, and you can chat while you walk, making it a great way to meet new friends without any pressure.
In addition to our regular walks, we also host occasional social events and partner with local fitness gyms and small businesses. This helps us support other small businesses with similar values while giving our participants the chance to engage with different aspects of Milwaukee’s community.
While I didn’t have any doubts about starting the group, the feedback I’ve received has only confirmed the mission—from people struggling with social anxiety who appreciate the accountability to get out of the house, to moms who enjoy meeting new people outside of parenting groups, all the way to newcomers to Milwaukee looking to connect in their first weekend in town.
I’m incredibly proud of how Girls Who Walk Milwaukee has grown in just over a year and how it’s made a positive impact on so many lives. It’s been amazing to see participants not only finding new friends but also gaining confidence and a greater sense of belonging in our community.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Building a strong reputation for Girls Who Walk Milwaukee has truly been fueled by the power of word-of-mouth marketing combined with a focus on social media. As someone with a professional background in marketing and social media, I leaned into my marketing skills to kickstart our outreach.
Word of mouth has been super powerful for us. When people have positive experiences, they naturally share them with others, creating a ripple effect that helps our community grow organically. This personal endorsement from our walkers has been a key factor in our success.
On the other hand, social media has been our only platform for marketing. My experience in social media marketing has given me a lot of insight into how to effectively engage with the community, create informative yet digestible content, and build a strong online presence. By sharing updates, highlighting group photos from our events, and celebrating our community, I’ve been able to tap into the Milwaukee audience and spread the word about our group.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
As I mentioned before, my background in Marketing has been incredibly beneficial in building and promoting Girls Who Walk Milwaukee. However, managing what is essentially a small business was a new challenge for me. I’ve never held a formal leadership role, and I sometimes struggle with what’s known as “decision paralysis.” Navigating solo management has been a new, challenging (and sometimes downright humbling) experience.
I love to read and listen to podcasts to enhance my leadership and management skills, both within the group and beyond. But, the most impactful resource has been connecting with the broader community of walking group leaders across the country. Engaging with these leaders has provided me with invaluable advice and insights that have influenced my approach to managing Girls Who Walk Milwaukee.
This past spring, I had the chance to attend a mini-conference with leaders from similar walking groups nationwide. It was such an awesome experience where we shared tips, best practices, success stories, and challenges. Since many of us manage these groups on a volunteer side-gig type basis, we are all learning and growing together in areas like marketing, leadership, and more. Our shared goal of fostering community connection drives our collective growth and improvement.
The knowledge and inspiration gained from this community have been crucial in helping me manage and grow Girls Who Walk Milwaukee, while avoiding burnout. This sense of connection and shared purpose keeps me motivated and optimistic about our group’s future.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlswhowalkmke
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girlswhowalkmke
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlswhowalkmkeAmazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/CMTPGADMSQK5
