Meet Emily Wheeler, Program Manager for Empower by GoDaddy
At GoDaddy, we are relentless advocates for inclusive entrepreneurship and believe that anyone, no matter their age, race, gender, or socioeconomic background, should have the opportunity to pursue their dreams of owning and running a successful business.
That’s why in 2017, we used our expertise in building websites, establishing a digital presence, and helping small business owners to launch Empower by GoDaddy. Through Empower, we partner with diverse nonprofits around the world to reach entrepreneurs who otherwise haven’t had access to opportunity, and provide them with the tools, resources, and networks needed to achieve their dreams.
“We created Empower because we recognized that entrepreneurs have different, unequal access to resources, and some entrepreneurs are being routinely excluded from growth opportunities,” says Emily Wheeler, program manager for Empower by GoDaddy. “I think of my dad who, after relocating to Arizona at age 60, struggled to find a job in the industry he had worked in for nearly 40 years, all because of his age and the assumptions that were made about his capability to perform work. He took initiative in starting his own pool-cleaning business and is now a solopreneur who works seven days a week to successfully support himself and our family.”
Empower by GoDaddy would not be possible without the work of individuals like Emily Wheeler, who as a program manager, works one-on-one each day with community partners across the U.S. and Canada to coach entrepreneurs on how to successfully grow their businesses online.
Emily’s job is to work with Empower’s nonprofit partners, listen to their needs, evaluate resources, and coach them through any challenges they’re experiencing when delivering the Empower program.
Emily notes that each day brings something new, and she is constantly inspired by the talent and commitment of the entrepreneurs in the program, as well as the knowledge and passion of community partners she has the opportunity to work with through Empower.
Interested in starting a small business? Emily offers three tips for success:
- Create networks: “You are not alone on this journey. Search online for city programs that support entrepreneurs in developing new skills for success or contact your local Better Business Bureau for resources. There are likely people in your community who are passionate about helping entrepreneurs start and grow a business. You don’t have to figure out everything on your own. Connect with people and organizations who can guide you.”
- Be kind to yourself: “It’s easy to think of companies that you admire only in their present state – only as they are today and not where they came from. GoDaddy is a global presence. And we started as a small business operating out of a house, using a discman to play hold music.”
- Everyone has their own path: “Be proud of your journey with all its ups and downs because you are on the path that is uniquely yours and you are charting your path to success.”
Photo: Empower entrepreneurs participating in Made in America Empower workshops
Empower by GoDaddy Spotlight Series: By partnering with diverse local nonprofits around the world, Empower by GoDaddy aims to reach those who haven’t otherwise had access by offering skills training, resources, and mentoring to help accelerate their business journeys. This article is part of the Empower by GoDaddy spotlight series that shines a light on the individuals who make this unique initiative possible.
