How I Built A $178M Movement with Zero Experience with Wendy Steele
#18

How I Built A $178M Movement with Zero Experience with Wendy Steele

There can be times where we trick ourselves into believing that to make a real impact in the world, we need unlimited resources or a lifetime of experience.

But my guest today proves that the only thing standing between you and a global movement might just be a notebook and the courage to ignore the voice in your head that says, 'Who am I to do this?'

I think the more important question is 'Who are you not to?'

Wendy Steele is the visionary founder of Impact100, a global movement that has disrupted traditional philanthropy.

Wendy realized that the old systems of giving were leaving people on the sidelines, specifically women, so she designed a new model. What started as a simple idea she sketched out on a family vacation has now grown into a worldwide movement that has granted over $178 million to local non-profits.

In this episode, we break down the exact process she used to take an idea in her notebook to a scalable, global movement. Wendy shares her journey of pushing past Imposter Syndrome and the remarkable story of how she navigated launching her organization in the shadow of a national crisis.


In This Episode, You Will Learn:
  • The benefits of giving yourself space to think and how it's often the catalyst for your most novel and transformative ideas.
  • Why surrounding yourself with smart people who push back is more valuable than those who always say yes.
  • How to take a simple concept and scale it into a global movement by focusing on the problem your solving.
  • The biology of giving and how it triggers a flood of oxytocin while reducing cortisol, making it a scientifically proven tool for stress reduction.
  • Why taking care of yourself is the only sustainable way to have a long-term impact on others.

What We Discuss:
0:00:00 - Episode Opener
0:00:55 - Podcast and Guest Intro
0:01:32 - Meet Wendy Steele
0:03:17 - Impact 100 Explained
0:05:19 - Why Women Opt Out
0:08:02 - Democratized Giving Model
0:13:04 - Grant Process and Voting
0:16:11 - Empowerment Stories
0:19:41 - From Fear to Solutions
0:25:22 - Notebook Origin Story
0:32:06 - Stillness Fuels Creativity
0:38:12 - Protect Your Calendar
0:48:00 - Idea to Action Steps
0:54:35 - Power of Big Numbers
0:56:38 - From Idea to Action
0:57:12 - Beating Imposter Syndrome
0:57:40 - Finding the Right Advisors
0:59:42 - Dad’s Hard Questions
1:03:19 - Handling Naysayers Wisely
1:04:27 - 9/11 and the Go Moment
1:07:10 - People Magazine Spark
1:08:11 - What She’d Change
1:12:08 - Origins of Giving Back
1:15:52 - Strategic Philanthropy Lesson
1:22:57 - Giving and Receiving Balance
1:26:55 - Oxytocin vs Stress
1:31:47 - Assuming Positive Intent
1:36:19 - Rapid Fire Values
1:37:53 - Floating Meditation Ritual
1:40:52 - How to Get Involved
1:42:20 - Final Thanks and Signoff


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