Meet Lori Spicer Robertson..Founder of Wundher

Lori is a Chief of Communications & Engagement by day and the founder of Wundher by night…

Name: Lori Spicer Robertson

Hometown: Memphis, TN

Daytime Job: Chief Communications & Engagement Officer at United Way of the Mid-South

Age: Thirty-Great (38)

Fun Fact: I was a background dancer for Beyoncé at the Essence Festival - there’s a story!

So tell me about your passion project and what led you to create something like this?

My occupassion is called Wundher and it’s a digital media and experiential production company to reconnect mothers and women to their joy. This fempowerment platform includes a vlog series, curated events, brand activations, career opportunities, and a membership community. Wundher informally began six years ago when my closest friend - Erika Conley - and I started a supper club with diverse moms with the intent to build connection. That same group pushed me to do more, and this year Wundher was birthed out of my necessity to draw nearer to the things and people that brought me joy. In order to show up as my best self, I am most fulfilled when I see mothers and women make themselves a priority.

When did you know it was time to launch your project? 

I knew it was time to pursue my passion of connecting when I read an article that showed the average working mother is clocking in at least 98 hours a week and is exhausted as a result. It was alarming because that was me, and this affirmed I wasn’t alone. Putting in that kind of time meant many women experienced this same self distancing - where a person moves away from self so much they begin to lose their identity and can’t recognize what brings them joy. The world needs mothers and women to show up as their best selves because that’s when the real magic happens, and this is when the world of Wundher began...

What was the most fulfilling part about the journey to creating this event? And what are you most proud of post this event?

Wundher had big plans for 2020, and we still do, we’ve just had to pivot. One of our focus areas was offering in-the-flesh experiences to breakup the monotony of life for mothers and women, but as chance would have it we were thrown into the land of virtual reality. Initially fear of the unknown almost kept me from moving forward, but that was also my sign to propel forward and create Joymaker 2020. Much like with the creation of Wundher, so many people around me were not showing up as their best selves when COVID began and as someone who subscribes to a joy perspective, I knew we had to do something to recalibrate people. Joymaker was born and I was fulfilled by stepping into uncharted territory and planning a virtual event and by receiving the gift of yes from so many speakers. I really wanted to tap national voices to set a foundation for future growth nationally. Also, 98% of the attendees were engaged the entire time and that was confirmation we created something people wanted to see.

How has this project not only helped others, but helped you in the process?

Joymaker 2020 helped people at a time that could only be attributed to divine timing. We were all reeling from the demands and social isolation of COVID, then we were forced to witness a modern day public lynching. Enriching our hearts and minds with joy was the fuel we all needed to persevere and determine a new way forward. For me personally, I walked away with the same renewed perspective but also with much more intention to how I showed up to my boys, who were watching us and learning how to cope with strife from us.

What was the most challenging part about this event?

The most challenging part of Joymaker 2020 was the timing. I took on the bulk of this work alone, because my committee was overwhelmed with life, parenting and working from home. It was tough because my primary day job was being responsive to COVID and was nonstop. I spent a lot of time developing digital content and compromised lots of sleep to get it done, but I was very happy with the product.

Tell us about some other related projects that you have in the works?

I’m so excited about this year. Despite the chaos of COVID and now a moral reckoning of our nation, I’m claiming the start of this decade as a blessing season. Movement is happening all around us and so I’m going to kick open doors to manifest a year of overflow. After our mothers march/rally Our Now, Our Future: A Movement for Black children - we have a number of women and mothers looking for more, so Wundher will launch a series of conversations on race topics to leverage this interest and season of learning. In tandem, we will identify what laws and policies that directly impact women and children we can work with legislators to support, and also direct mothers in ways they can support the educational system. Following our summer of content, we will host Renaissance Weekend where will invite Renaissance mothers, women and girls to gather October 1-3 for a remote panel, virtual scavenger hunt, and public service awards. Then we will close out the year with the launch of our membership community and Wundher Land of Wellness, where we will help mothers and women close this year with a self care plan uniquely designed for them.

Do your events speak to the Black Lives Matter movement? And if so, what message are you trying to get across to other mothers?

As a Black mompreneur, my experiences will always speak to Black Lives Matter the philosophy and the movement. When you support Wundher, you are supporting the vision of a Black woman who realized her joy, her life, mattered too much to not live with more intention. And this is what’s being uplifted in our world right now - the power of slowing down to be more intentional. For so long, we have normalized and ignored trauma that we never slowed down to see problems that were right in front of us or doing more to change them. As mothers, acting with this intentionality is what will ensure we create the next generation of understanding and healing. Diversifying friends for you and your kids, unpacking racism in your home, pushing for culturally relevant pedagogy in all schools, choosing to care deeply about the Black and brown kids you have play dates with, advocating for thriving futures for Black children, and speaking with your vote for leaders who exercise progressive change is being a mother with intention during this movement, and not for the moment. All mothers want better for their children so they have to believe Black Children Matter and All Black Lives Matter.

What advice would you give other women to take on a similar event such as this?

Let fear be your driver to move forward versus backward. So often fear is our limiter for progress but in the world of unknown, let fear guide you. Trust your intuition, trust the process and when all else fails, trust Google.

How do you find the time for your passion project and your 9 to 5? And please share tips on how to juggle the two.

Sacrifice. Finding the time for double jobs, is not easy. My first job is pretty demanding and time-consuming, so when I decided to take the entrepreneurial leap, I committed to sacrificing time dedicated solely to Wundher. From 3-5 a.m. and 8:30-10:30 p.m., I put in the time to grow the business. These times are important because they are around my work schedule and family time. Finding the time requires you to determine how bad you want to pursue your dream, and then set boundaries for success around your lifestyle.

Share tips on what keeps you going and motivated to keep this project afloat

I’m motivated by drawing nearer to the things that bring me contentment and joy. The smile of my boys motivates me, pillow talk with my hubby about changing the world motivates me, being still and taking in the things I’m grateful for motivates me, creating memorable experiences motivates me, and living out God’s assignment to ensure mothers and women thrive motivates me!

Where can people go to find out more information about upcoming events?

You can start to live a life of joy by design by visiting www.wundher.com, following us on IG/Twitter @Wundher and joining our Facebook Wundher page.

Photography: Eric Smith-@smith.cr2