Growing Your Business as an Elite Woman: Insights from Wendy Frias
In a recent episode of the Social Impact Level Up Podcast, I sat down with Wendy Frias, a longtime friend and fellow alum from Columbia University, to discuss the journey of growing a business as an elite woman. We met while studying social work at Columbia, and our paths have intertwined in inspiring ways ever since.
A Shared Journey of Resilience and Determination
Besides our names, we share many remarkable stories of resilience. We both came from underprivileged backgrounds and faced numerous challenges on their our to becoming successful social workers and businesswomen.
Wendy Frias recalled her early struggles, growing up in an environment with limited resources and support. Despite these challenges, she was determined to change her reality through education.
“Education was my sole focus,” Wendy Frias shares. “I knew it was the only way out of my family’s situation.”
I can certainly relate, our determination led us both to Columbia University, one of the top social work schools in the country. At Columbia, we found ourselves among the few women of color in the program, which further fueled our drive to succeed and make a difference.
We both joined the Latino Caucus and spent time together both inside and outside of school. However, over the years life happened and this podcast episode was one of the first conversations we’ve had in many years.
Finding Purpose and Creating Impact
Wendy Frias’s journey into social work was deeply personal. Growing up with a family member who struggled with mental health issues, she was motivated to help others facing similar challenges. Her experience at Columbia School of Social Work equipped her with the skills and knowledge to make a significant impact in her community.
However, Wendy’s journey didn’t stop there. The pandemic provided her with the opportunity to dive deeper into meditation and mindfulness practices, which she found essential for her own mental well-being. Recognizing the transformative power of these practices, she decided to share them with others, particularly women who, like her, faced significant barriers to success.
Empowering Women Through Meditation and Mindfulness
Wendy Frias founded Elite Like You, a platform dedicated to helping elite women discover themselves through meditation and other wellness modalities. She emphasizes the importance of preventive mental health practices and self-care routines that can help women maintain their well-being and thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Through Elite Like You, Wendy provides guided meditations, workshops, and resources designed to empower women. She also collaborates with Unified TV, offering exclusive meditations on various topics, including finding inner strength and protecting one’s energy. Recently, Wendy has expanded her offerings to include Spanish-language meditations, making these resources more accessible to a broader audience.
The Entrepreneurial Leap
Transitioning from a traditional nine-to-five job to becoming an entrepreneur is no small feat. Wendy Frias shares her experience of balancing her work with children and her entrepreneurial pursuits. While she continues to straddle both worlds, her passion for helping women through Elite Like You keeps her motivated.
For Wendy, the decision to take the entrepreneurial leap was driven by a desire to reach more people and make a broader impact. “It became kind of monotonous,” she says of her previous work. “I wanted to reach more.”
Tips for Aspiring Elite Women Entrepreneurs
- Start Small: Wendy advises starting with small steps, such as incorporating meditation or mindfulness practices into your daily routine. This can help you build the resilience and clarity needed to pursue your entrepreneurial goals.
- Seek Support: Finding mentors and peers who understand your journey can provide valuable support and encouragement. Wendy emphasizes the importance of having mental health workers of color who can relate to and support your unique experiences.
- Leverage Technology: With the abundance of resources available online, use technology to your advantage. Apps, online courses, and virtual communities can provide the tools and connections you need to grow your business.
- Stay True to Your Vision: Remember why you started and stay focused on your goals. Wendy’s dedication to helping women overcome barriers and thrive in their personal and professional lives keeps her motivated and inspired.
Conclusion
Wendy Frias’s journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming an elite woman entrepreneur is a testament to the power of resilience, education, and determination. Through her work with Elite Like You, she continues to empower and inspire women to discover their potential and create the lives they envision.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or looking to grow your existing business, Wendy’s story offers valuable insights and encouragement to keep moving forward, stay true to your vision, and make a meaningful impact in your community.
Tune in to the full episode of the Social Impact Level Up Podcast to hear more about Wendy Frias’s inspiring journey and learn how you can grow your business as an elite woman.
Watch the Full Episode
Podcast Show Notes
Embark on a journey with two extraordinary women named Wendy as they recount their remarkable paths from humble beginnings to empowering others through meditation and social work. From childhood aspirations nurtured by resilient role models to breaking through societal barriers, their narratives echo with resilience and empathy. Tune in to uncover how they’re making a meaningful impact, one meditation at a time.
Key Takeaways:
Draw inspiration from their upbringing and the strong women who shaped their lives.
- Empowering others, especially women through guidance, support, and tools for self-discovery and growth
Challenging stigmas and promoting practices like meditation as essential tools for maintaining well-being and inner strength.
- Offering meditation resources in multiple languages, including Spanish, ensures that individuals from diverse backgrounds can access support and guidance on their wellness journeys.
Inspirational Moments
[00:02:27] – Wendy’s look into the past and unique perspective about using education as a way out of generational struggles.
[00:09:45] – Wendy’s powerful insights into meditation as a process and addressing the stigmas of seeking help from social worker
[00:22:59] – The profound discussion on how Wendy found ways to introduce her gifts as a means to find balance in her everyday life.
Meet Our Guest- Wendy Frias
Wendy Frias, is not just a clinical social worker with a remarkable 18 years of experience in the field, but she’s also a devoted mom to two beautiful girls. Her ability to balance her professional and personal life is nothing short of admirable.
In addition to her role as a mom, she’s been running a blog that focuses on women’s needs, covering topics ranging from mental health to mindfulness and lifestyle. Her blog is a treasure trove of wisdom, offering insights and guidance for women navigating the complexities of modern life.
But that’s not all. She’s also a skilled meditation teacher, and her soothing guidance has helped countless individuals find inner peace and serenity. In fact, her meditation content is so transformative that it’s being exclusively featured on Unifyd TV, reaching a global audience eager to embrace mindfulness and self-discovery.
Website: https://elitelikeyou.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elitelikeyou
Episode Inside Scoop
Wendy Frias shares her inspiring journey from challenging beginnings to academic success at Columbia University, highlighting the pivotal role of education in reshaping her future.
Wendy reflects on the scarcity mindset prevalent in her upbringing, emphasizing the importance of breaking free from limiting beliefs to achieve personal empowerment.
Through meditation and self-discovery, she discovered the resilience within herself, paving the way for her mission to uplift other women. Her experiences as a Latina navigating elite spaces shed light on the importance of representation and community support in overcoming societal barriers.
Wendy uses her experience as a social worker to create elitelikeyou.com, a platform where you can access guided meditations for overall health and well-being. Through meditation, she is able to find balance in her everyday life as a social worker, mom of two girls and wife to her wonderful husband.
By offering actionable strategies and embracing her cultural heritage, she empowers women to embrace their worth and pursue their dreams unapologetically. Her vision of creating a supportive network for elite women underscores the transformative power of solidarity and mentorship in fostering success.
Important Links
Get our FREE Revenue for Impact Guidebook: https://wendieveloz.com/guide
Access our grant writing course here: https://wendieveloz.com/grants
Podcast audio/video management by Podcast Abundance. Find out more at http://www.podcastabundance.com/services
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