Lindsey Wander, Valedictorian of her high school, originally enrolled at Cal State Fresno to study Biomedical Engineering. In just four years, she graduated with a Bachelor’s in Biology, a Bachelor’s in Chemistry, and a Minor in Mathematics. Several domestic and international internships later, she discovered her passion for teaching and re-enrolled in college to earn her teaching credentials.
For several years, Lindsey Wander taught STEM in the low-income neighborhoods of California, making it her mission to create a learning environment that was so engaging that it motivated her students to come to school. They explored, questioned, innovated, learned, laughed, and loved – all within her classroom walls. However, time and financial restraints, added to endless bureaucratic red tape, prevented Lindsey from being able to dedicate the 1-on-1 time to her students who needed it. Thus, many of her “kids” fell through the cracks – and there was nothing she could do about it.
So, when Lindsey Wander moved to Chicago at the age of 29, she decided to start her own tutoring business, which later became WorldWise Tutoring. Lindsey Wander’s mission was to help students of all abilities to not only improve their grades and scores but to also learn the skills to become confident and independent lifelong learners and grow into competent and conscious leaders. Lindsey Wander sought to empower our youth with the tools to succeed in school, work, and life – so that they were in a powerful position to be agents of change in their own lives and in the lives of those around them.
Lindsey’s methodologies were so effective that her business quickly grew beyond what she could handle alone. So she started to “teach the teachers,” guiding tutors dedicated to her mission of empowerment through education with her best practices. Now, years later, Lindsey Wander’s business has 100+ tutors providing online services worldwide and in-person services in Illinois and Texas to students of ALL ages and ALL abilities in ALL subjects. She has seen their students grow into accomplished, self-sufficient adults who are still eager to learn more.
With the widening achievement gap due to COVID-19 school closures, Lindsey Wander combined her passion for serving underprivileged students with her expertise as a tutoring business owner to form the nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity Educate. Radiate. Elevate. This organization is focused on providing high-quality 1-on-1 instruction in academics, enrichment, test prep, and learning and life skills to underserved students. The goal is to strengthen the educational achievement of our youth in order to provide economic, social, and mental stability for us and future generations.
Lindsey Wander found a career that she loves and that makes the world a better place. Her goal is to inspire her students to do the same.
Empowering Lifelong Learners: WorldWise Tutoring’s Mission
Students of all ages and skill levels can receive individualized, comprehensive tutoring in any topic from WorldWise Tutoring. Our mission is to provide quality instruction in academics, enrichment, and test prep that is deliberately intertwined with lessons in metacognition, executive functions, and interpersonal skills. Our highly educated and experienced tutors provide effective lessons to help our students grow into confident and independent lifelong learners who become competent and conscious leaders. We teach our students how to be agents of change in their own lives and the lives of those around them – so that they no longer “need” a tutor.
Facing Challenges and Embracing Change: Lindsey Wander’s 2024 Reflections
Lindsey Wander: 2024 has been a challenge for my business and others in the industry. While this is likely because of circumstances out of my control, like the uncertainty surrounding the economy and the election, I have used it as an opportunity to re-evaluate my business approach and offerings. As a result, I have made several improvements over the past several months that I believe will make 2025 a much better year for my business.
Standing Out in a Competitive Market: WorldWise Tutoring’s Unique Approach
Lindsey Wander: With specific, personalized verbal and nonverbal methodologies, our instructors foster students’ innate motivation, interests, and voice so that they can lead more meaningful, self-directed lives. Our expertise and flexibility are more important than ever in assisting families and schools in adjusting to our quickly evolving By giving our students a more active role in their learning and by coaching them in the critical skills of metacognition, executive functions, and interpersonal skills, our students have not only easily adapted to these changes, but have even excelled beyond their peers by becoming agents of change in their own lives, communities, and the world.
WorldWise Tutoring’s educators interweave into content instruction lessons designed to also:
- Provide the framework for students to think about how they think
- Give students the opportunity to explore personal interests, think critically, creatively problem-solve, and innovate
- Encourage students to think beyond the curriculum
- Encourage pupils to take the initiative and discover their voice.
- Teach the timeless skills necessary to function in our ever-changing society.
WorldWise Tutoring has been taking a “Personalized Approach to Lifelong Learning” since its inception. Our goal has always been to help students with the underlying learning and life skills so that they grow into competent and conscious leaders. Now is the time to bring this methodology to light and share it with others. Imagine a world in which our children advocate for themselves, take initiative in their lives, enjoy and seek out new learning opportunities, and constantly question and self-reflect.
Rather than only treating the symptoms of low grades and scores, WorldWise Tutoring focuses on the holistic, long-term development of our students by employing specific methodologies to solve the root of the issues. We actively interweave into our content instruction lessons that foster our students’ development of metacognition, executive functions, and interpersonal skills.
The Power of Conscious Leadership: Fostering Teamwork and Unity
Lindsey Wander: Under the guidance of a competent and conscious leader, employees and organizations can thrive. Possessing the knowledge and skills relevant to the field are one thing, but having the self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and growth mindset to be able to effectively inspire others is quite another. Yes, “knowledge is power;” but with that power comes heavy responsibilities to society that only conscious leaders can wield successfully. Leaders with the right mindset successfully guide their employees and organizations towards success through teamwork and unity.
Achieving Work-Life Balance: Strategies from a Business Owner
Lindsey Wander: I compartmentalize my brain to separate personal time and work time. When I am with loved ones, I am fully present. I do not try to multitask by checking emails. I give them my full attention during their dedicated time. If something work-related comes up while I am with them, I first gauge it is urgent before acting. Most “emergencies” can wait. If it is urgent and needs my immediate attention, I explain the issue and step away. In the same way, I am totally productive when I am working. I avoid social media or texting breaks, for example. I find that when I cut out the time-wasting distractions, I don’t need 8 hours a day dedicated to work to achieve the same productivity. Sometimes I put a sign on the door when I absolutely cannot be interrupted, but allowing others to enter my workspace otherwise. I set work hours and stick to them. I have a hard stop at the end of the day. I avoid the temptation to “just check my email one more time.” I see my work-life balance as just that – a scale with work on one side and my personal life on the other. I keep them separate because if I put them both on one side, the whole device topples over.
Essential Tips for Startups: Finding Passion and Staying Focused
Lindsey Wander: Owning a business that you are passionate about makes work enjoyable. Sure, there will be challenges and lows, but even the difficult parts are more endurable when it is your own business. Being able to create something that you truly believe in and to build a legacy that expands beyond just you provides an extreme amount of self-satisfaction that is unlikely when working with someone else.
To cut overhead costs, consider avoiding purchasing or renting brick-and-mortar buildings. Find ways you can conduct your business without an actual location. Our workforce has become accustomed to working remotely and customers have been flexible in how they receive services. Take advantage of these recent changes and come up with creative ways to minimize your costs for a physical location.
A successful business owner must be focused, resilient, and innovative. It is easy as an entrepreneur to want to attempt many new ventures, especially if they appear lucrative. However, it is essential that business owners remain focused on their main goals and put their focused energy only into those. Once those initial goals are met, then additional ventures can be pursued. Thus goal-setting is an essential part of staying motivated, especially amid personal or public chaos. It reminds entrepreneurs to stay true to their intentions and to not be distracted by external noise. It also serves as an inspiration during particularly dark lows to keep pushing through in order to reach the target. Personally, rather than dwell on the negatives, I remind myself of why I started this business in the first place. I wrote out my main purpose – “To help others discover their authentic selves and empower them to pursue their unique passions” – and I display it on my desk where I can see it every day. With this reminder in plain sight, I am motivated to continue to work towards this goal, even on especially formidable days. So my advice to entrepreneurs who are struggling with feelings of helplessness and overwhelm is to remember why you started your company in the first place. Remain focused on that purpose when deciding on new ventures and when faced with challenges. Goal-setting will help keep you centered and motivated during difficult times.
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