Welcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. We frequently spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.
This Q & A is with Vanessa Schenck, who is empowering tween girls as the founder of TIA Girl Club and the Co-Founder of Girl32. Vanessa is innovating her field of work with TIA as the program teaches girls to preserve their identities through three pillars: contact with powerful female role models, connecting with other TIA Girls, and reinforcing empowering messages.
1) What was a pivotal moment of reinvention for you?
When my daughter was born. Knowing the struggles I went through keeping my voice as a girl, when Julia was born I knew I had to do something to give her a better experience. I made it my mission to find solutions to help her live an empowered life. From that mission I started TIA Girl Club.
2) Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?
My friends Tracy Chadwell and Fran Hauser have been amazing mentors for me. Both were top executives in their respective fields before deciding to become private investors. Tracy was the one I first told of the idea for TIA Girl Club. She wouldn’t let me off the hook. She emailed and texted constantly, pushing me to see the idea become a company. She saw the value in it, and encouraged me to move forward. And Fran shares her wisdom and contacts, and is available 24/7 to answer questions, encourage and inspire me. With the two of them in my corner, I really do think anything is possible.
Most recently however, my husband Will has been my greatest mentor. He was diagnosed with metastatic stage four prostate cancer in October of 2015 (the same day we launched our Kickstarter campaign!), and the way in which he has approached the challenges he’s had to face has been the most empowering experience to see. Being witness to his strength, determination and love for life, has been the greatest inspiration. If he can do what he’s doing (beating cancer!) surely I can do what I am doing.
3) What is your biggest goal right now?
To reach as many girls as possible and introduce them to TIA Girl Club because when they become members, girls’ lives change for the better. We supply community, mentors and encouragement. When girls know they have an encouraging and supportive community in their corner, they feel comfortable to do whatever it is they dream and they SEE what’s possible with our Trailblazers. When they see what’s possible, they dream BIGGER. I believe that these dreams are the fuel of their futures.
4) How did you feel on your 30th birthday? What were you doing at that time?
I was feeling hopeful. I was finalizing my divorce from my first husband, someone who had been verbally abusive during our relationship. He was someone I married very young, when I didn’t have a voice, and I had finally found my voice again, and was finally saying to myself, “I deserve better.”
5) What was the last business book you read?
Three Simple Steps by Trevor Blake. The three steps to achieving your dreams (business or personal) are super easy, but super hard to implement. Since I’ve been following his advice, my life has absolutely started to flow in the direction of my dreams, so I trust it.
6) What cause do you most want to advance?
The empowerment of girls. The statistics for girls self esteem are devastating. When a girl loses her confidence and her voice in her tween years, psychologists say she is at risk for not getting it back until she’s at least 40 years old. That’s unacceptable. I believe a lot of girls DO lose their voices. That’s why we have so few women, as Sheryl Sandberg says, “leaning in.” They have no voice to lean in with! My hope is to give girls the tools to help her stay self confident as she navigates what we now know to be the most critical years of her development – the tween years.
7) What song can’t you get out of your head?
There’s two that are constantly playing: Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift, and Roar by Katy Perry. It’s when I moved to NYC that my authentic self emerged and I got my voice back, so those songs completely resonate with me.
8) What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
“What you say becomes reality. You speak life into being.” It’s something Oprah said, and it’s TRUE. Your words have creative power. That’s why you always want to speak what you want to see in your life.
9) What is your “keep me going” quote?
It’s from a TIA Girl. Her name is Isabella and she wrote to tell me, “Because of you (TIA Girl Club) my self esteem is off the charts.”
10) What is your secret indulgence?
Cocktail rings.
11) Who on the list of prior Honorees would you like to meet?
EVERYONE. Why limit yourself to just a few?
Check out Vanessa Schenck’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!
Author information
Whitney Johnson
Whitney is the author of the acclaimed Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare to Dream. She has been named on numerous Smart Thinkers and People to Follow lists by major media such as Inc. Magazine, Business Insider and Huffington Post and is quoted in Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fast Company, Forbes and more.
| Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn |