We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wendi Cleckner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Wendi, thanks for joining us today. Innovation comes in all shapes, sizes and across all industries, so we’d love to hear about something you’ve done that you feel was particularly innovative.
In my midwifery career, one of the most innovative things I’ve done is build services that support other midwives beyond clinical care. Through Midwife Mentor Consulting, I created a way to help midwives succeed with business setup, mentorship, and practice tools. Instead of only working directly with families, I focused on strengthening midwifery as a whole by empowering the people who serve them.
In my legal career, I found a unique way to blend my legal expertise with my real-world midwifery experience. I use my knowledge to protect and advocate for birth workers in a way that most attorneys cannot. By understanding both the clinical and legal sides of midwifery, I’m able to offer advice and services that truly meet the needs of midwives and the birth community. Now, I’m expanding that support by offering estate planning services—a crucial tool to help midwives and birth workers protect their assets, their businesses, and their families in an increasingly litigious world.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Wendi Cleckner. I’m a midwife, an attorney, and a business owner who is passionate about supporting birth workers and families alike. I have dedicated my career to both the art of midwifery and the power of strong business and legal support.
I became a midwife because I believe deeply in the strength and wisdom of birthing people. I started three different midwifery practices, including a birth center. Freedom and the Seed, my current midwifery practice, provides personalized, evidence-based care to families throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Along the way, I realized that midwives often face business and legal challenges without the support they deserve. That realization inspired me to become an attorney and open Cleckner Law, PLLC, a law firm focused on protecting and empowering midwives, birth workers and birthing families.
Today, I’m proud to run three businesses that reflect my mission: Freedom and the Seed for midwifery care, Cleckner Law, PLLC for legal services, and Midwife Mentor Consulting for mentorship and practice development. I help midwives and birth workers with everything from launching and running successful practices to navigating legal risks with confidence.
What sets me apart is my ability to bridge two important worlds: birth and law. I understand firsthand what it’s like to attend a birth in the middle of the night — and to worry about charting, compliance, or licensing issues the next day. My clients trust me because I bring real experience, real solutions, and a deep respect for their work.
I’m most proud of helping midwives, doulas, and birth workers feel seen, supported, and strong. If you are looking for compassionate care, smart legal advice, or mentorship to build the practice of your dreams, I’m here to walk that path with you.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Managing a team and maintaining high morale starts long before any real work begins — it starts with setting the stage. From the very first interaction, I make it clear that being part of the team is a priority, not an afterthought. Everyone is seen, everyone is valued, and everyone is expected to contribute. There is no hierarchy where one person is “better” or “more important” than another. We create an environment where every voice matters and every opinion, idea, hope, and dream is welcome.
If you build that foundation from the beginning, the rest becomes about investing in the relationships. Like any important relationship, it takes ongoing work — regular check-ins, open conversations, and quality time spent together. I believe that strong teams aren’t built by accident; they are built through consistent effort, listening, and making space for people to show up as their full selves.
High morale doesn’t come from one-time events or quick fixes. It comes from the culture you create and the way you maintain it every day. I make sure my team knows they are supported both personally and professionally. I celebrate their wins, help them work through challenges, and encourage their growth inside and outside of work.
In the end, good leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating a safe, welcoming environment where people can grow, contribute, and feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves. If you invest in your team as people first, the business success will naturally follow.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been focusing on relationships. Just like building a strong team, building a strong client base is about cultivating trust over time. It’s not about quick wins or fast sales — it’s about investing in the long game.
Every person who comes through my door is a real, living human being with their own story, experiences, hopes, and fears. I never forget that. Taking the time to truly connect, listen, and honor each individual creates a foundation of trust that marketing alone can’t buy.
Word-of-mouth referrals and long-term loyalty grow naturally when people feel seen, heard, and valued. My goal has always been to make sure every client knows they are more than just a number. That kind of connection doesn’t happen overnight — it takes presence, consistency, and genuine care.
In the end, relationships are the heart of everything I do. When you invest in people, they invest back in you.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Clecknerlaw.org www.freedomandtheseed.com www.midwifementorconsulting.com
- Instagram: @wendilady74 @midwifementorconsulting
- Facebook: @Wendi Cleckner @midwife mentor consulting
