Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in child development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jenna Galloway, founder, and owner of Wymbin, located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Wymbin is a new take on wellness and education for young people. We believe by starting with today's youth; we can change the world.

Our business supports the healthy development of youth ages 3-16 with both digital and in-market components. We opened our first brick-and-mortar wellness and education studio in Inglewood, Calgary, in 2016.

Wymbin's offerings are aimed at building capacity in youth- supporting physical literacy, social-emotional learning, mental wellbeing, and providing children and families with tangible tools and resources they need to succeed and lead healthy lifestyles.

Our physical location serves as our customer touchpoint. It provides a way for us to stay connected & engage with our community to continually innovate and develop solutions that best serve their needs.

Our studio is geared towards children, teens, and families. Offerings include preschool & kindergarten, seasonal camps, comprehensive school wellness programs (delivered off-site in schools and organizations), and Yoga Alliance certified training for instructors.

In response to the pandemic in 2022, we created "Wymbin Online" to deliver innovative education & wellness programs virtually through a VOD platform. After seeing the possibilities of expanding and amplifying our impact through the use of technology, our sights are now set on developing a more refined platform with greater targeted capabilities.

We envision sharing the important tools and resources we have developed and continuing to innovate with a much wider audience.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Jenna Galloway, and I am the Founder and Director of Wymbin. My vision is to build capacity in every child by providing them with the tools and skills they need to navigate the challenges of daily life. By elevating education and wellness for children and youth, we provide innovative ways to address threats to childhood health by using an upstream, preventative approach.

I am an E-RYT 500hr, RCYT 95hr, Specialized Yin Yoga Teacher, and Child Development Assistant. This journey started with my research and studies in Health Sciences at the University of Calgary and experience at the Center for Research & Disability Studies.

After a considerable struggle with my own mental health as a young adult, I found tools and skills which allowed me to shift from a very challenging place to helping others and building an impactful company. Through my own personal experience, I have learned that you can empower and equip any individual to make a change in their lives.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is the anecdotal feedback that our team receives on a daily basis from our clients and partners. There is nothing more gratifying or inspiring than hearing that you have made a positive impact in someone's life.

I also feel so genuinely proud of the team we have cultivated at Wymbin and the culture within our organization. Our values are at the forefront of everything we do. It is a collaborative workplace where we have a lot of fun but are all working towards elevating wellness and education for youth.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is learning how valuable your time is, but balancing genuine connection and relationships with also taking care of your personal needs and the needs of your company. It might sound cliche, but learning how to prioritize and say 'no' to distractions is one of the hardest but most important things I continue to learn and improve on every day.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

The top 3 tips I would give to someone looking to start, run, and grow a business today would be:

  1. Build a strong culture and great environment for your team. Be selective when hiring, even though sometimes you might feel rushed to bring someone on board. Be thorough and think about what your business needs, not what you 'think' you should do.
  2. Go for it. If you have a great idea, have done your due diligence, and researched, start today. It could be a small step, but momentum is momentum, and it will propel you forward.
  3. Work ON your business, and minimize time IN your business. Stay involved and listen to the needs of your team and customers, but try to allocate time to work on strategic planning and how you will grow your business. It is really easy (especially in the start-up phase) to get wrapped up in day-to-day operations. Get your business to a solid place and hire diligent individuals you can trust to run things well when you prioritize time for growth.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

According to the Raising Canada 2021 Report, the second most prominent threat to childhood in Canada is poor mental health. “Poor mental health was an existing concern before the pandemic, and the effects of school closures have accelerated this threat.

Children are facing new or increased stressors, resulting in poor mental health that jeopardizes their survival and development.” (Children First Canada. Raising Canada 2021 - Top 10 Threats to Childhood in Canada: Recovering from the Impacts of COVID-19.)

A large number of children and families do not have access and/or the opportunity to learn these key foundational skills. Barriers to access, such as finances, location (rural or otherwise being unable to connect with others as a result of the pandemic), cultural and societal stigma surrounding mental health, make it extremely difficult to address the current health issues our young people are facing.

Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) has shown that in 2018-2019 there was a 60% increase in the number of hospitalizations for mental health conditions, compared to 2008-2009 data.

Our mission is to democratize access to wellness and education- with a specific focus on mental health through the innovative use of technology. We are taking an ‘upstream’ or preventative approach to health and are committed to reshaping the way in which students, educators, families, and frontline workers supporting youth approach ‘health.’

We envision a connected future where technology is a tool that builds capacity for good. That gives kids the skills they need to navigate the challenges of daily life. So that when challenges come up, and things get tough, they know how to approach it- instead of being crumpled by it. It is time to start thinking innovatively as a society about addressing these challenges on a global level.

Everyone is affected by mental health. Everyone is affected by physical health. How do we find a way to put our best minds towards building effective and meaningful programming - whilst also decreasing the burden we place on our healthcare systems & providers AND helping to build stronger, more supported school environments for our educators.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.wymbin.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wymbin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wymbin/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.