We were lucky to catch up with Jodie Rodriguez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jodie, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Finding my purpose has been a journey filled with discomfort, difficulty, and immense fulfillment. Ever since graduating from college, I have often felt lost, disappointed, and terrified that I would never discover a true purpose.
The journey was challenging because I had no clear guidance and often let other people’s opinions influence my direction. Reflecting now, I realize that my purpose was right in front of me all along. I was too distracted by societal expectations and the need to prove myself.
From middle school, I was set in pursing a career in the medical field, pressured by my parents to choose a “prestigious” career. In high school, I decided to pursue becoming a pediatrician and was focused on achieving high grades. However, after shadowing a labor and delivery doctor and nearly passing out, I knew I couldn’t be a doctor.
Determined to stay in the medical field without dealing with blood, I chose occupational therapy. I worked hard in undergraduate school, maintaining high grades and an impressive resume. My love for music and community kept me heavily involved in my college music department, where I was a flute section leader in a 300+ member marching band. This experience, along with my roles in a service-based band organization, provided me with valuable leadership and communication skills. I held positions such as Corresponding/Alumni Secretary, Vice President of Membership, and President, which were incredibly rewarding and helped me develop a strong sense of responsibility and teamwork.
Towards the end of my junior year, I realized that occupational therapy might not be for me. Graduate school applications required hundreds of hours of shadowing occupational therapists in different settings, which gave me a clear view of what the career entailed. I noticed that the occupational therapists didn’t seem very lively or happy with their jobs, and I didn’t want that to be me for the rest of my life. However, being stubborn and not wanting to start from scratch by switching majors, I decided to finish my degree but spend some time after graduation reflecting on what I truly wanted to do. This left me feeling lost and disappointed, realizing I had not explored other interests or career options during my undergraduate career.
After college, I decided to try out things that interested me, and one of those was teaching. So, I decided to try substitute teaching while still working full-time as a server. However, I realized that having a career in education wasn’t in alignment with what I wanted. I continued working as a substitute teacher while serving, but eventually, the pressure I felt from my parents and comparing myself to my college peers led me to give occupational therapy another try so that I could feel like I was going somewhere in life.
I applied to graduate school for occupational therapy and was accepted. However, after just one month, I knew this wasn’t what I was supposed to do. I didn’t feel challenged in the program, nor was I excited to jump into this career, so I made the difficult decision to leave the program. This was incredibly difficult, as I had sacrificed so much to get there, but I knew I couldn’t spend my life doing something that didn’t excite me. It was tough because I had been incredibly focused and determined to maintain high grades in school and build an impressive resume, only to have it all feel like it was gone, leaving me to start from scratch.
Deciding to leave graduate school left me feeling lost and uncertain. I made a conscious choice to release myself from others’ expectations and explore my own interests. To support myself financially, I worked at Amazon, and intrigued by the potential of a career in computer software, I enrolled in a degree program at Austin Community College. However, after a few semesters, I realized I was pursuing this path primarily for its perceived financial rewards and to impress my parents and peers. I felt impatient with the prospect of committing another two years to studies that didn’t genuinely fulfill me.
For many years, I had a yearning to try out something on my own and build an online business of some sort. One of my passions was fitness, and with my degree in Exercise and Sports Science, I decided to take on the challenge of building my own online fitness coaching business. I was incredibly excited to start my own business. I began this venture in 2020 on top of my full-time job at Amazon.
At Amazon, I advanced quickly to an Area Manager role but eventually felt burnt out after 2 years. I moved to a real estate start-up as an Operations Manager, seeking better work-life balance.
As I was managing both my fitness business and gaining more experience in operations management, my desire to take my fitness business full-time kept growing. I finally made the jump to pursue my fitness business full-time in April 2022. It was incredibly exciting, and I loved it. However, after several months, I realized that fitness coaching wasn’t my true calling. So, I made the hard decision to let it go and returned to the corporate world, taking on a logistics and order fulfillment coordinator role at a telecommunications company.
While leaving my fitness business was disappointing and surprising, I was glad that I made the leap and finally tried it full-time. At that time, I faced the reality that maybe I wasn’t meant to have my own business and should accept that I belonged in a regular corporate job. I convinced myself that the job I had didn’t matter as much, and I could find fulfillment in doing things I love outside of work.
Rewinding back to May 2021, I moved to Austin, Texas, seeking a fresh start after breaking up with my boyfriend. I found myself in a new city where I didn’t know anyone. Making new friends, especially as an adult, was surprisingly difficult. After settling into the new city and my new promotion at Amazon, I was ready to prioritize making friends. In January 2022, I posted in an Austin women’s Facebook group to see if anyone would be interested in meeting up once a week to explore new spots around the city or planning fun hangouts. To my surprise, the response was overwhelming. Acting quickly, I created a Facebook group to simply post where we would try to meet every week for those interested in coming and seeing if we can be friends.
I created a poll to determine the best date for our first meet-up, found a place for us to gather, and we met up the following week. We hit it off quickly and started hanging out almost every single week. I was so happy that I finally found my friend group after months of moving to Austin.
I initially named the group “ATX Girl Hangouts” without much thought, intending it to be a way for me to find my own group of friends. However, as more women joined and shared their own struggles with making friends, I realized that I was not alone in this struggle and wanted to see how I could help. The group started growing and growing. Since I found my own friend group through just one meet-up, I slowly started organizing regular meetups to help other women connect and form friendships. Seeing how well it worked for me, I believed that these hangouts could help other women meet in person and find friends too.
Seeing the positive impact these meetups had on others was incredibly rewarding. Women shared stories of finding lifelong friends, gaining confidence, and feeling more connected to the Austin community. This encouraged me to put even more effort into being consistent with these meetups. I started hosting a variety of events, ranging from casual happy hour meetups to larger social gatherings, workout sessions, and craft events, all while balancing my full-time job and figuring out my career path. Each event was designed to foster genuine connections and create a supportive environment for women to thrive.
The group continued to grow rapidly, and today, ATX Girl Hangouts has over 26,000 members on Facebook and 20,000 followers on Instagram. Managing this community became a significant part of my life, something I did with joy and dedication even while working full-time jobs. It was a labor of love, driven by my passion for building connections and helping others.
I finally realized that community and leadership had always been my passions. From my roles in high school and college bands to managing teams at Amazon, and now leading ATX Girl Hangouts, I found my purpose in fostering community and connection. These roles taught me the importance of building relationships, understanding people’s needs, and creating inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and supported.
In March 2024, I decided to make ATX Girl Hangouts my full-time career, leaving my corporate job in the telecommunications company. Reflecting on my journey, I see how each step brought me closer to this realization. Now, doing what I love every day, I truly believe I have found my purpose. Each event I organize and each connection I help facilitate reminds me why I started this journey. It’s not just about finding friends; it’s about building a supportive network that empowers and uplifts women.
Looking back, the path was anything but straightforward. It involved numerous pivots, moments of self-doubt, and a lot of soul-searching. But every experience, whether it was leading my flute section in band, working in various jobs, or starting my own business, contributed to my growth and understanding of what truly makes me happy. Today, I am proud to say that I am living my purpose by creating spaces for women to connect, share, and thrive.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the Founder and Event Director of ATX Girl Hangouts, a vibrant community dedicated to fostering friendships among women in Austin, Texas. What started as a personal endeavor to find friends in a new city has grown into a thriving community with over 26,000 members in our Facebook Group and 20,000 followers on Instagram.
ATX Girl Hangouts hosts a variety of events each month, catering to diverse interests and preferences. We organize all-women walks in different areas of Austin, social hours at local bars, workshops such as flower arranging and painting, workout events in collaboration with studios around Austin, pool and boat parties, craft events, and everything in between. Our mission is to create an inclusive environment where women can connect, share experiences, and build lasting friendships.
What excites me most about ATX Girl Hangouts is the positive impact it has on our members’ lives. I’ve witnessed countless friendships form, women gain confidence, and newcomers to Austin find their place in the community.
Recently, we launched a private membership to further enhance our offerings. Members enjoy exclusive benefits such as monthly private events, discounts on regular events, access to a private Facebook group and group chat for deeper connections, reserved spots at events, early access to event registrations, and personalized support from me as the founder to organize smaller, more frequent hangouts tailored to our members’ interests and preferences.
Looking ahead, we are focused on expanding our event offerings and partnering with local and large brands that share our values of community and female friendships. We are actively seeking companies that understand the importance of fostering connections and supporting women in their personal and professional lives. By collaborating with such partners, we aim to create even more meaningful and memorable experiences for our community.
For those interested in joining our community or learning more about our events, you can find us on Facebook Groups as ATX Girl Hangouts and on Instagram under @atxgirlhangouts. Whether you’re new to Austin or looking to expand your social circle, we welcome you to join us at one of our upcoming events.
Thank you for allowing me to share the journey of ATX Girl Hangouts and our commitment to empowering women through meaningful connections.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, I believe three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are resilience, authenticity, and community-building skills.
Resilience: Throughout my journey, I faced numerous challenges and unexpected turns. Whether it was changing career paths multiple times or navigating personal doubts and external pressures, resilience kept me going. It’s crucial to develop resilience by cultivating a mindset that embraces setbacks as learning opportunities. Practicing self-care, seeking support from mentors or peers, and maintaining a clear vision of your goals can help you bounce back stronger.
Authenticity: Embracing my true passions and values has been key to finding fulfillment. It took courage to acknowledge that my initial career choices were driven by external expectations rather than my own passions. Authenticity involves self-reflection, being honest with yourself about what truly matters to you, and aligning your actions with your values. Authenticity attracts genuine connections and opportunities that resonate with who you are.
Community-building skills: Founding ATX Girl Hangouts taught me the power of community and the ability to bring people together around a shared purpose. Building a supportive community requires empathy, effective communication, and the ability to inspire others. It’s essential to actively listen to community needs, foster inclusivity, and create spaces where individuals feel valued and supported.
Advice for Early Journey Seekers:
Explore Widely: Don’t be afraid to explore different interests and career paths. It’s okay to try new things and pivot based on what resonates most with you.
Build a Support Network: Surround yourself with mentors, peers, and supportive communities. They can provide guidance, feedback, and encouragement during challenging times.
Stay Resilient: Embrace setbacks as learning opportunities rather than failures. Develop resilience by maintaining a positive mindset, learning from adversity, and adapting to change.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
At ATX Girl Hangouts, we are always open to partnering and collaborating with individuals and organizations who share our commitment to fostering community and empowering women in Austin, Texas.
We are particularly interested in collaborating with:
Local Businesses: We seek partnerships with local businesses that value community engagement and female empowerment. Whether it’s hosting events at unique venues or collaborating on themed workshops and activities, we are eager to create meaningful experiences for our members.
Brands with Shared Values: Brands that prioritize inclusivity, authenticity, and women’s empowerment are ideal collaborators for us. Together, we can amplify our impact and support each other’s missions through joint events, sponsorships, and co-branded initiatives.
Community Leaders and Influencers: We welcome collaborations with individuals who are passionate about building connections and supporting women’s social initiatives. Whether through guest speaking engagements, co-hosted events, or social media partnerships, we aim to expand our reach and inspire more women to join our community.
If you are interested in partnering with ATX Girl Hangouts or have ideas for collaboration, we would love to hear from you! Please reach out to us through our email, [email protected], or connect with us on Instagram (@ATXGirlHangouts).
Together, we can create impactful experiences and opportunities that empower women and celebrate the strength of community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://direct.me/atxgirlhangouts
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atxgirlhangouts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/atxgirlhangouts
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-k-rodriguez/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/atxgirlhangouts/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
