Meet Don Wettrick

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Don Wettrick a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Don, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
For 21 years, being a teacher was my world. I thrived on student discussions, community based projects and the lightbulb moments of my students. Then I launched a unique class- “Innovation and Open Source Learning”- and the class (better yet the student outcomes) caught a lot of media attention. Suddenly I found myself leaving the passion-filled challenge of being an educator to the uncharted territory of founding an education non-profit. . Naturally, “CEO” stood awkwardly on my business card, a title as foreign as a new language. Imposter syndrome became my unwelcome companion, filling me with doubt and causing me to question myself.

But I had a mission – to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in young minds. And the irony wasn’t lost on me. Here I was, preaching the power of taking risks, the courage to leap, yet I clung to the safety net of my teaching career. I was an “intrepreneur,” for sure- starting side hustles and investments while not ready to leave the job I loved.

Then, three things became my guiding lights:

1. Mentors who championed the “figure it out” philosophy. Seasoned leaders, with years of experience etched on their faces, shared a comforting secret: most CEOs, even the seemingly self-assured ones, were learning on the fly. Their vulnerability empowered me to embrace the unknown, understanding that growth meant stumbles and scrambles.

2. Recognizing that my “intrepreneur” experience held value. I may not have had the CEO resume, but my side hustles had instilled in me the grit, resourcefulness, and adaptability crucial for any entrepreneur. My experiences weren’t a liability, but assets that shaped my unique leadership style.

3. Building a team that became a force of good. Surrounding myself with talented, passionate individuals (starting with one of my former students) was a game-changer. We learned from each other, celebrated victories together, and shouldered setbacks as a unit. Their unwavering support became a shield against self-doubt, reminding me that we were in this together.

Today, the CEO title still feels a little like a borrowed suit, but it fits better with each passing day. The journey hasn’t been easy, but by embracing my unique path, silencing the inner critic, and leaning on the support of others, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about pre-existing titles, but about the courage to step outside your comfort zone and the commitment to making a difference. And to all those wrestling with imposter syndrome, remember this: sometimes, the most unexpected journeys lead to the most fulfilling destinations.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
The STARTedUP Foundation empowers student innovators and entrepreneurs. We provide immersive experiences, accelerator programs, and seed funding for high school students. We believe that students with entrepreneurial mindsets, those that can see problems as opportunities are better equipped to thrive in a changing world.

What we are excited about:
Our state-wide pitch competition, Innovate WithIN, has served over 6,000 students, and has provided millions of dollars in college scholarships, provided thousands in seed funding, and has matched hundreds of students with mentors that continue to work with the students years beyond the competition.

We have also:
Provided immersive travel opportunities for our finalists to cities like: New York, DC, Austin, Tampa, and Phoenix.
We have two alumni that have recently been added to Forbes 30 Under 30 (they are both 19).
Partnered with 50Cent/ G-Unity Foundation for getting more students in high risk areas to delve into entrepreneurship.
Held community events to get students to provide solutions to local problems.
Launched a first of its kind fellowship of educators dedicated to foster innovation and entrepreneurial mindsets in their community.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Building relationships (and trust) with LOTS of mentors. Mentors for me- and also our students. 2. A willingness to communicate the “learning moments” along with some of the success.
3. Building a team that is in constant communication.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Balancing fundraising and developing more entrepreneurial minds. I know EVERY nonprofit goes thru this, but it is hard to balance between the student impact work- and the work of fundraising.
We made the decision to not charge students, parents, and schools, because we didn’t want entrepreneurship to be for just the few. In fact, we wanted it to be in economically disadvantaged areas more than ever.
BUT raising money takes time.

Contact Info:

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