IAM988- Founder Helps Students Grow to Be Competent and Conscious Leaders

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00:21 – Intro

Are you ready to hear business stories and learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and level up your business from awesome CEOs, entrepreneurs, and founders without listening to a long, long, long interview? If so, you've come to the right place. GRESTS values your time and is ready to share with you the valuable info you're in search of. This is the I AM CEO podcast.

00:48 Gresham Harkless

Hello. Hello. Hello. This is Gretch from the I Am CEO podcast, and I have a very special guest on the show today. I have Lindsey Wander from Worldwise Tutoring. Lindsey, it's awesome to have you on the show.

00:58 – Lindsey Wander

Nice to be here.

00:59 – Gresham Harkless

Definitely super excited to have you on. And before we jump in, I want to read a little bit more about Lindsay so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing. Lindsay is the founder and CEO of Worldwise Tutoring as well as the founder and president of the nonprofit Educate, Radiate, and Elevate. Worldwise Tutoring provides services to students of all ages and abilities in all subjects. Educate, radiate, elevate provides complimentary tutoring to low-income students of color.

With both businesses, her mission is to provide quality instruction in academics, enrichment, and deliberate test prep, inter inter inter intertwined with lessons of metacognition, executive functions, and interpersonal skills. Her sixty-plus highly educated and experienced tutors provide highly effective lessons to help their students grow their confidence, independent lifelong learners who become competent and conscious leaders. They teach our students how to be agents of change in their own lives and the lives of those around them so that they no longer need a tutor. Lindsay, are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO community?

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01:55 – Lindsey Wander

I am ready.

01:56- Gresham Harkless

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Your bio got me all choked up for all the awesome work that you're doing. So, I wanted to kick everything off by hearing a little bit more about how you got started with your business and your nonprofit. Could you take us through a little bit more about that in your CEO story?

02:08- Lindsey Wander

Yeah. Well, I didn't grow up saying I wanted to be a business owner. That's for sure. I went to school originally for biomedical engineering

02:16 – Gresham Harkless

Wow.

02:17 – Lindsey Wander

And had these degrees and was like, yeah. I just don't like being in the lab. And so I did a bunch of internships throughout the US and abroad to try to figure out what am I gonna do with these science and math degrees. And one of my jobs involved education, and I fell in love. So I went back to school and got my teaching credential, much to a lot of people's surprise. Like, how are you going from being an engineer to being a teacher? And then added to that, I started teaching in South Central, which is a low-income neighborhood of California. So there were a lot of naysayers in the beginning until they saw me teach. Then it was like, okay. This is where you're supposed to be. I loved it. I loved my students. I loved my classroom. I loved the freedom and the creativity it gave me.

But it was really hard to not be able to give that one-on-one attention to the kids who needed it. And so I was tutoring on the side the entire time as well. And when I moved from California to Chicago, I decided, to go ahead and just do it full time, the tutoring full time. So basically my goal was to help the children where the current traditional system just wasn't working for them, whatever reason that was. I quickly outgrew myself and was forced into having to hire people because I was either doing that or turning people away. And here I am a decade later with two businesses, in two different states with tutors in two different states, and then helping students across the world. So I love it. I'm still able to have that creativity and that impact, but I feel like it's more deeply with, the kids that just really need that one on one.

03:54 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah. That makes so much sense. And I love how you've been able to kinda grow that and to be able to service those students and help them out and meet them where they are. It sounds like you were saying as well too because I think so many times we, and I think from an education standpoint, it's always like this is the curriculum. This is what we do, but we don't necessarily just like in business, I think, a lot of times serve the people that we are trying to help, and we forget that aspect of actually meeting them where they are, having those, you know, opportunities for them to do that. So I commend you for being able to do that and build that and take that pivot, you know when all the naysayers might have been saying something different?

04:26 – Lindsey Wander

Well, and it's funny that you bring that up because a lot of the basis of how I teach now is from an entrepreneurial mindset.

04:33 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah.

04:33 – Lindsey Wander

And I also teach from the place of thinking like a scientist, which I am at heart. And so the idea of meeting people where they are, being an active listener, having empathy, being able to be resilient through the ups and the downs and the challenges. That's all things that are part of the entrepreneurial world, which are skills that aren't necessarily taught. And I feel like school age is the perfect time to teach those skills in a situation where the stakes are much lower. You know, it's a math test, I get it, but you're gonna learn these valuable skills. If you fail it, there are lessons to learn from failure. I'd rather you learn that lesson now than later in life, whether you're an entrepreneur or not.

And then in terms of, like, thinking like a scientist, like, I take an experimental approach. You know, let's try this, let's see if it works, if it doesn't work no big deal. Let's question things, let's wonder, let's come up with creative ways to problem solve this, let's let's hypothesize things that might work. Bringing the joy into learning again, that, that inquisitiveness that a lot of kids lose when we kind of say to them, here's the answer, get to it, you know? But it's a lot of our kids have another way to get there, and we try to, embrace that and empower them to find their paths to get the right answer, whatever that might be, because that's, a skill for life, that creative problem solving and that innovation.

05:49 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah. And I appreciate you for sharing that because I know you said that entrepreneurial part, but I feel like that is something that you use in every different aspect as all of us have experienced, you know, this past year where things have not been as they normally were, and you had to be resilient. You had to look at things differently. You had to adjust and change. And those are foundational skills that I appreciate you for sharing. And I've taught in the past too, and one of the things that I've always appreciated is the ability to like you said tap into that entrepreneurial spirit to help these kids, whether they become scientists, whether they become doctors or lawyers or, attorney, whatever that might be, but you need to have those foundational skills. So I appreciate you for doing that so much.

06:25 – Lindsey Wander

Yeah. I mean, it's a lot of fun. So you're welcome, but it's fun for me too.

06:29 – Gresham Harkless

Yes. Win-win situations are always great.

06:31 – Lindsey Wander

Totally. Exactly.

06:33 – Gresham Harkless

So, I wanted to drill down a little bit deeper. I know, I read a little bit about, you know, how you work with your clients and any your students, and I know you did as well too. Could you drill down a little bit deeper, tell us a little bit more about that for both the nonprofit and the business?

06:43 – Lindsey Wander

So in both cases, we take a personalized approach, and it kinda goes back to what I was saying with that think like a scientist. Start from a place of questioning and trying to figure out with hypothesizing what's going on with this kid. Yes. Okay. They're failing a class, but it's not because they're not incapable. There's something else going on, whether it be anxiety, whether it be trauma, whether it be not having appropriate skills shown to them. Whatever it is, there's something else that's preventing them from achieving this great appropriate curriculum that's been geared toward their age group.

And so I dig and try to figure that out. I also work hard to bring in similar mindset teachers. I feel like that's a big superpower of mine, I can spot, and I think you know what I mean, you can spot those teachers from a mile away where they have that heart and they're willing to go the extra mile because, honestly, a lot of our tutoring companies won't touch the stuff we touch. They're just gonna sit there and do homework with them, and that's not what I'm trying to do. My goal is to get the kids off of tutoring, like you said in the bio.

So, it's so much more than just sitting there and being a crutch for them. We're more of a coach. And so once I have those great together, and I present those options together and I present those options to the families and they make the final decision. And from there, it's just magic. I always follow up with the families, follow-up with the tutors, and I get the same response every time. It's great, a perfect match. I'm like, Yeah, because that's my superpower.

So it comes down to getting to know my students personally, getting to know my educators personally, finding who they are beyond those surface value grade scores or resumes, and trying to figure out how can I best put them in a place where they're mutually happy. You know, like I said, I check in with the tutors as well and they're like, oh my gosh, I love this kid. I'm like, yeah, I know. It's just like you guys blend.

So, I think that the magic potion is going a bit deeper with everyone. And while it does take a little bit of time in the beginning, the time saved with having to fix mistakes and problems later on, keeping clients, and they refer people, and not having to spend so much time with marketing and all of that, it's worth it and it's so much more enjoyable, and rewarding. So I think that's a big key to what makes us successful.

09:05 – Gresham Harkless

I appreciate that. And and so I wanted to switch gears a little bit, and I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO hack. So this could be like an Apple book or or a habit that you have, but what's something that makes you more effective and efficient?

09:15 – Lindsey Wander

So one of the things that I've been working on, especially in this past year, is improving my, excuse me, my online presence, especially because that's where a lot of my clients are. I have a lot of my parents who are on social media, you know, expressing their grievances. A lot of them are looking online for tips and advice. And so trying to find a way to get them engaged has been a big part of what I've been working on. Again finding where they are, meeting them where they're at. And I found originally this whole social media blogging to be really overwhelming. While it is helpful, it does bring people in, it's extremely time consuming.

And I tried a bunch of different resources for that, and I finally came across Content Studio, which I'm obsessed with. It's less than a hundred dollars for the whole year and publishes on all your social media, including your blogs and everything with no limitations. Other ones had limits on what kind of LinkedIn account you had, or went into your Google My Business, or, certain things. There are no limitations on this. It'll post everywhere. Super user-friendly. I'll give you guys a discount code for it that we'll put in the show notes, but it has been a major game changer.

10:25. – Gresham Harkless

Yeah. Absolutely. Always looking for that easy button to to make it a little bit easier for us to stay in our zone of genius. And and so now I wanna ask you for what I call a a CEO nugget. So that could be a word of wisdom or a piece of advice. It might be something you touched on already, but it might be something you would tell a client or if you hopped into a time machine, you might tell your younger business self.

10:43 – Lindsey Wander

Probably if I was gonna tell something to myself years ago that I wish I had done sooner, is to be more open to networking. I hate that word, but I'll use it because it's understood, but forming relationships, with people who aren't in my field. I thought that people, the only people who would understand my business were other tutoring companies, and when it comes down to it those are my competitors, so they're not going to be there for advice and a sounding board. What I've noticed the past several years is it's often people in totally different fields that have this advice that I can then mold for my business that would have never come to, my con conclusion. And it's totally different than what the other tutoring companies are doing because they're kind of stuck in their lane.

11:30 – Gresham Harkless

I definitely appreciate that. And so I want to ask you now my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be CEO, and we're hoping to have different quote, unquote CEOs on the show. So, Lindsay, what does being a CEO mean to you?

[00:11:41.29] – Lindsey Wander

It's a great question. I'm no wonder it's your favorite. I would say, you know, people have this idea of what a CEO is. They think, oh, you just you're your boss. It's amazing. And you make your schedule. Yeah. Right. The point of being a CEO is you're doing something you love, but it's not easy. It's not a walk in the park. There are still a lot of challenges and a lot of ups and downs, it's a roller coaster. It tests you in terms of your self-worth, and you tend to intertwine who you are as a person into the business you own, and when your business takes a hit, you take a hit.

And so it is a very, complicated role to take on, but I would say the best part of it, is a role to take on, but I would say the best part of it, is being in a position where I can help bring out the best in others. And that's something I didn't foresee. I mean, I'm a teacher, and I see myself as a teacher first before I am a business owner, and I do that with my students, try to help them find their strengths and help them bring out, I call them their glows and grows what are they good at and what can we grow at. What I found now is I'm in a unique position of teaching the teachers and bringing out the best in them.

And it's been interesting, you know, I didn't anticipate this, but the feedback I've been getting from them is often, you know, more, empowering to me than sometimes the feedback I get from my kids. It's been life-changing for a lot of my tutors to be able to be in the positions they're in and to feel empowered to do what they do.

And a lot of it is doing that work, that leg work, in the beginning, to make sure they feel like they have everything in place to do their job well, supporting them along the way, but also having high expectations for them, but supporting them to meet those expectations. The same things I do for my students, I'm now doing for these adults, and, it's been a cool side effect of being a CEO. So I would say being a CEO is really about being an effective leader and bringing out the best in the people that you're leading.

13:45 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah. Absolutely. Well, Lindsey, truly appreciate that definition, and I appreciate your time even more. What I wanted to do is just pass you the mic, so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional you can let our readers and listeners know and, of course, how best they can get a hold of you and find out about all the awesome things you and your team are working on.

13:59 – Lindsey Wander

So I guess as you're passing the mic to me, the biggest thing I would say, especially in times that are going on right now where we have a lot of kids home because of the pandemic, and I feel like education is just gonna be altered, you know, from here on out, is to encourage parents and educators to consider the other part of learning. Think about, what's vital for our kids to know beyond just math and language arts, think more about the social and emotional, think more about the deeper the soft skills we call them, and understand that unless those are addressed the other things are going to continue to be challenging.

So embracing those, and I would say that as well for business owners, you know, it's not just that's why I say competent and conscious leaders. It's not just about what's on their resume and what skills they have on the surface, It's about those deeper attributes, that you can either help bring out of them or that you should be seeking when you hire them. So, I encourage everyone to look beyond that surface and go a little deeper into who that person is. And if you can, you know, bring out those positive attributes that you know are there, because it really will make everything a lot easier.

Whether you're a business owner, a parent, or a teacher, it'll make things a lot smoother. In terms of finding us, for World Wise Tutoring, which is my for-profit, you can go to Worldwisetutoring.com. And like I said, I have a robust social media, so you can find World Wise Tutoring on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest even, LinkedIn, Google My Business, we're all over. And then my nonprofit is called Educate Radiate Elevate. You can find us at educateradiatelevate.org, it'll take you to the same place, and we're also on social media to educate radiate elevate. And that's where both places you'll find a lot of resources and advice for parents and students and educators, long as well as some things for business owners, and a lot of free events. So I encourage people to to check those out.

16:00 – Gresham Harkless

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Well, thank you so much, Lindsay. We will have the links and information in the show notes as well as your hack that you mentioned as well too. And, I think it's just so important to be able to build, you know, that foundation when we're talking about business.

But as you said so well, it's even more important to build it for us as individuals and as humans to be able to have some of those soft skills that are so important over this past year and will be even more important as we move on and figure out what the new normal ends up being. So I definitely appreciate you for reminding us of that, for playing a part in that in so many lives, and I hope you have a phenomenal rest of the day.

16:29- Outro

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes Google Play and everywhere you listen to podcasts, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a five-star rating grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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