Gain the Freedom to Be Yourself in Business The Wilde Way

A Conversation with Vanessa Elle Wilde

What’s your company name and your title?

I’m Vanessa Elle Wilde, an educational consultant and course creator.

What services or resources do you provide to your clients and students?

I create courses and challenges which help participants get over their fears, vanities, and insecurities — all the things that hold them back from fully expressing themselves and engaging in their business with confidence. Participants are guided to shift their mindset and develop practical strategies for navigating a fulfilling and successful business.

Available courses include the 30-day LIVE Video Challenge, 30-day Creative Writing for Business Owners Challenge, Improv for Women, and the 10-week virtual Mindset Reset course.

How would you summarize your Mindset Reset virtual course that's offered with the San Diego & Imperial Women’s Business Center?

This Mindset Reset online course is an all-encompassing, low-cost 10-week program exclusively offered through the San Diego & Imperial Women's Business Center.

It’s designed to create awareness around beliefs, habits, and values, as well as empower participants with a new mindset that empowers their finances, confidence, and overall vision. In addition to the course itself, participants are invited into a thriving community with like-minded business owners.

This course was originally offered in person. Due to the pandemic we decided to offer the course online. Little did we know, it would become a huge success, making it accessible to a much wider range of business owners.

I’m passionate and dedicated to bringing people together and creating communities which thrive online. You might wonder how it’s possible to do this, but I’ve found it’s quite easy. Past participants rave about the experience and appreciate the space to be truthful, vulnerable, and genuine — which helps everyone feel more connected and empowered to grow beyond what they thought was possible.

As a result of the 10-week course and community, participants have the opportunity to reset their beliefs for success, feel financially empowered, develop lasting friendships, and more confidently engage in their business.

Which do you think are a woman’s biggest challenges in being a business owner?

The biggest challenges I see women facing are lack of self-trust and lack of confidence, which often results in imposter syndrome, a negative money mindset, overwhelming schedules, not having strong boundaries or strategies to prevent burnout, and operating without a clear vision. Many women business owners find themselves expending so much time, energy, and effort, yet are not experiencing the success they hoped for. They often bump up against personal beliefs which hold them back from achieving success and also feel unable to enjoy the results of all their efforts.

We’re not toddlers or tweens; for lack of a better phrase, how do you teach an old dog new tricks?

Humans are designed for growth. We’re built to thrive and strive for better within ourselves, our families, business, communities, and ultimately the world around us.

Regardless of age, or time in a career, anyone can learn and grow beyond what they thought was possible, if they’re willing to nurture their curiosity and stay open to new ideas.

Have you ever heard the phrase “beginner's mind”? It alludes to what it takes to learn something new, and it has nothing to do with age. It simply means being open, curious, and willing to take a risk to help you get you to the next level.

Remember when you first learned how to ride a bike? Take a step back in time and try to remember what it required of you. Most likely, you were excited and a little scared, curious about how it worked, asked questions, had a guide (training wheels and/or caretakers helping you), and experienced a few crashes. However, with practice you learned to ride a bike.

This is a great metaphor for what’s involved for anyone learning something new.

If you’re willing to crash-test a new idea, launch, or grow a business, write a book, nurture a passion project, or increase your income, the trick is approach it with an open mind, be curious about the process, focus your attention, and be willing to take a risk that supports you reaching the next level.

So in the spirit of the beginner’s mind, I believe it’s never too late to learn, grow, and achieve a vision.

What inspired you to pursue this line of work?

A few years ago, while conducting a year-long consulting job for a local business, I noticed their clients — regardless of education, experience, or drive — were dealing with similar issues I had personally dealt with in my early years of entrepreneurship.

I started my entrepreneurial journey soon after my son’s high school graduation. It was exhilarating to have time and financial freedom to pursue my dream of being a business owner. It was also frustrating and overwhelming. At times, I wanted to give up. It definitely wasn’t always the sunshine and rainbows I had envisioned.

When my business didn’t reach the level of success I had hoped for, it was time to boldly go where I hadn’t dared before: my subconscious, where beliefs of worthiness, ability, and success lived. I quickly recognized it was time to make a change.

Now, in partnership with the Women’s Business Center, I have created a course specially designed to address these common challenges women business owners face, and provide an experience where they’re able elevate their mindset and business to new, exciting, and achievable heights.

What’s something you think women don’t know about “The Wilde Way”?

The Wilde Way was largely inspired by my experiences in business, as well as years of guiding other women, and surprisingly, from improvisational comedy.

As an improv performer and teacher, I gained so many practical and tangible lessons which were also applicable to entrepreneurship.

Ultimately, entrepreneurship, like improv, is all about accepting what is and infusing your vision through actively listening, creative collaboration, being in the moment and daring to take risks, and having a little fun along the way.

Learn more about Vanessa Elle Wilde and “The Wilde Way”, as well as find out how to attend the next virtual Mindset Reset course!