Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Wallace.
Katie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ll tell my sustainability superhero-esque origin story. Almost 11 years ago, I was running around some not so great parts of Memphis with some not so great people. I get a phone call from my mom and she says, “There are US Marshalls here and they’re looking for you”. I won’t give all the gory details, but I was struggling with undiagnosed mental health issues and abusing drugs and alcohol to survive. This all led me down a very dangerous road, but I was one of the lucky ones who was given a second chance and avoided going to prison.
From that point, I was able to start to heal in many different ways. Most pertinent to this story, I found so much healing and connection in nature. When my mind was going crazy as I was trying to stay on track, I would go for a run on a trail. I fell in love and from there, I was hooked on getting outside. To national parks, to wherever there were mountains or trees and these experiences fundamentally changed me.
The whole ordeal laid the foundation for me to become passionate about social and environmental issues. I think about all the people that society casts out and know how easily it could be me. That was me. There’s so many people suffering from lack of access to basic needs and we’ve just turned a blind eye. Sectioned off places across cities and turned our backs, even when we have the resources to help. It not only makes financial sense but from a human standpoint to help move these populations from a place of suffering to a place that they can contribute in a meaningful way.
When it comes to taking on environmental issues, these beautiful spaces played a huge part in healing me. They can still quiet my mind like nothing else. I think about the people who are the same kind of messed as me, will these spaces still be there for them? I hope to preserve these places and restore and deepen the connection to each other and nature.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all. The biggest lesson has been learning to ride the wave of not only entrepreneurship but life. Don’t be afraid to be messed up or to have tough conversations, to cry, to feel like shit. Sometimes it seems like people are scared to feel the ‘not so pretty’ emotions, but they are equally as necessary as the ‘good’ ones. Ask for help and build a strong support system of people that don’t co-sign your crap. People that know when to listen and when to offer solution. You need to be called out, but you also need to be loved and have that safety net, knowing that they will catch you when you fall. BUT also, when you’re up, RIDE THAT WAVE.
More specifically to women starting their journey, make it about you sometimes. Be selfish. Up until very recently, I was living a life for everyone around me. I had to buck all of that and get down to what and who I wanted to be. I think as women, we become the emotional caretakers of everyone around us. That burden shouldn’t fall on just us, it’s for us to collectively share as humans.
More broadly, I’ve come to believe that with great privilege comes great responsibility. Use every day to move you closer to the best version of yourself and then go out and serve the world in your own unique way. That’s how real change happens.
Please tell us about Hux Sustainables.
Hux Sustainables is a small consultancy, we work with impact driven companies that have social or environmental initiatives and help them grow, through business development, events, and marketing + digital strategies. I’m most proud of the clients that we have worked with. A lot of the time, they have already made an impact and then couple that with the impact that they stand to make. It’s cool to be a part of that no matter at what capacity, companies like Relationships First, Perot Jain, and eCarra.
We’re in the midst of transitioning into work that we’re extremely passionate about, which is redefining what affordable housing is and doing it in a way that is not only sustainable and aesthetically beautiful but also builds the community residents back up. More to come on this!
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
Facing a lot of adversity early on in life and through my late teens forced me to heal and develop a level of resiliency that I wouldn’t have otherwise. There just aren’t a lot of big deals compared to the dark places I used to be. That’s not to say that I’m successful by the conventional definition. I created my own definition, something like:
Are my and my daughter’s basic needs met?
Am I in control of my time?
Do I get to spend intentional time with my daughter, family, and friends?
Am I contributing to the world in a unique and meaningful way?
Am I enjoying this ride?
If yes to those, then I am pretty damn successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.HuxSustainables.com
- Phone: 901-319-3739
- Email: Katie@HuxSustainables.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/katiewallacehux
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/katiewallacehux
- Other: www.linkedin.com/katiewallacehux
Image Credit:
Bri Crow Photography
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