Heidi Zimmer is a real estate development professional and creative entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Wild Rice Retreat in Bayfield, Wisconsin, Heidi is redefining wellness travel through nature based hospitality, building and completing the first phase during the pandemic. Heidi is shaping 114 acres of land along Lake Superior with sustainable practices, innovative design, and creative development practices. Wild Rice Retreat has received acclaim as a top destination retreat center in Condé Nast, Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar, Travel + Leisure, and Food & Wine.
In this episode of the Dear FoundHer… podcast, Heidi talks with host Lindsay Pinchuk about her journey to create her all inclusive, adults-only wellness retreat that is changing the way people think about wellness travel. She also shares her thoughts on the benefits of strategic partnerships, the value of creativity for combating burnout, and her experience with successfully fundraising $2 million to make her dream a reality.
“Stay really grounded. Starting a business can be scary. You have to act boldly, but you have to do it with your feet firmly planted on the ground. Make sure you’re coming at that conversation at that moment from a place of being rested and grounded,” shares Heidi Zimmer, founder of Wild Rice Retreat. When Heidi had the first seed of an idea for her sustainable wellness retreat, many people discouraged her and told her that it would never work in the Midwest. Instead of letting naysayers deter her, she went on to raise $2 million through fundraising from 100% women investors, bringing her dream to life by founding the Midwest’s first all inclusive, adults-only wellness retreat right along Lake Superior.
Listen to, or watch, the full podcast interview by Lindsay Pinchuk with Heidi Zimmer on your preferred podcast channel.
In this podcast, the host covers:
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Why Heidi decided to start her business in the Midwest along Lake Superior
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How Heidi raised $2 million in funding from solely women investors
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How Wild Rice Retreat is disrupting the wellness industry with innovative and sustainable practices
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How wellness travel can help to improve travelers’ mental health and heal burnout
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Why business owners should consider strategic partnerships for their businesses
Podcast Quotes:
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“The universe needed this project to exist in the world, and the pandemic almost highlighted even more-so how much we need it.” (21:16-21:27 | Heidi)
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“Stay really rooted in your decision making, always coming back to your original intention. Take it in and find out what speaks to that intention and why you are here in the first place.” (43:17-43:42 | Heidi)
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“Figure out, if you have a seed of an idea, how are you going to grow it into a garden? You do that by not being afraid of how you are going to talk about it.” (43:52-44:04 | Heidi)
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“Stay really grounded. Starting a business can be scary. You have to act boldly, but you have to do it with your feet firmly planted on the ground. Make sure you’re coming at that conversation at that moment from a place of being rested and grounded.” (44:33-45:10 | Heidi)
About the Podcast Guest:
To learn more about Heidi Zimmer visit her website (Wild Rice Retreat).
About the Podcast Host:
To learn more about Lindsay Pinchuk visit her website (Lindsay Pinchuk).
About Dear FoundHer…:
Dear FoundHer... is a weekly letter to female entrepreneurs to inspire, motivate and provide actionable tips for success through thought-provoking conversations with some of the most successful founders and entrepreneurs who have paved the way. Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur, Lindsay Pinchuk, each week she picks the brains of some of her closest contacts, offering them the chance to share their teachable moments as well as business, marketing, content, social media tips and more! Your journey as a founder is the ride of a lifetime, some come on in and join us!
Listen to, or watch, the full podcast interview by Lindsay Pinchuk with Heidi Zimmer on your preferred podcast channel.
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