Hi! I’m Gwen - Vice Prez of I*WE :)
I grew up in a tiny river town in Western Wisconsin, where two mighty rivers converge—what we call the Great River Valley. I was blessed to be born to two creatives: my dad, an architect turned banker, and my mom, an interior designer turned home-maker. Both were musicians. Both were seekers of That Which Is Greater, doing their very best to build a life of purpose and creativity for our family of seven.
I’m the fourth of five kids—and yes, that totally shaped who I am.
Growing up, our house was filled with instruments—and a lot of singing. Some might say it was noisy—and it was. The fullest kind of noise. My parents were worship leaders at our small church, and that’s where I first learned to bring song to Most High. To play with others. To be curious about the Divine. To listen. That’s where my love of writing music bloomed.
Throughout high school and college I was part of multiple worship teams and local bands, who shaped my love for the creative community. I’ve never found a more warm home than the world of creatives.
This same time period led me to a love of visual art. My high school art teacher at Minnehaha Academy was the coolest person I knew and I was determined to be a creative for the rest of my life.
Whoa—I’m honored you’re here, reading through our story and curious about I*WE. It’s our curiosity that brings us to this work, and that’s where my story begins…
After high school, I was accepted into the graphic design program at the University of Minnesota—but my loving dad, ever the realist, nudged me toward marketing, knowing my love for writing and visual storytelling.
“Gwen,” he said, “the only jobs for graphic designers are in print shops making brochures.”
I definitely didn’t want to design brochures in a print shop forever.
So, I pivoted to the Carlson School of Management and studied Bio-Based Products, Marketing, and Management—because if I was going to market anything, it had to be good for our earth.
And that’s where I first met Korbin.
We crossed paths on the St. Paul campus where I took my wood & fiber science and environmental policy courses. She was part of my childhood best friend Bailey’s horticulture program. When Bailey introduced us, I was 22—Korbin was spunky, funny, totally cool, quite radical, and I immediately loved her. We walked parallel paths for years, not yet knowing how deeply they would weave together.
After college, I began a 14-year journey in entrepreneurship—building a business, a team, and eventually a global brand.
If you know me from the aquatics world, you probably know the part of the story where I helped build an entirely new product category. Something no one thought they needed, that’s now an industry standard. That season was wild, and beautiful, and totally all-consuming.
Alongside all of that… I walked through some things.
Motherhood. Depression. Divorce. Abortion. Cancer. Chronic pain. A life-altering surgery.
And then the suicide of my little brother.
It was in that grief that Korbin reentered my life. I joined her first Hearthlight Creative Leadership Lab because I was drowning.
If you’ve walked the path of grief, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
I*WE brought me up to the surface. It helped my head bob up above the depths of the deepest sorrow I’d yet encountered.
It helped me remember who I was—not in spite of the pain I had lived through, but because of it.
I began to rewire, to reclaim, to reconnect to my gifts through the lens of everything I’d survived.
I’ve walked many wildernesses.
Divorce, cancer, and suicide have been my greatest teachers—and the most profound invitations to turn inward. That’s why this work is so important. That’s why I whole-heartedly said YES to pivoting my full attention and unique gifts towards building this community with all of you.
So wherever you’re from, however you label yourself—I’m so stoked you’re here. Your curiosity means something.
I know the world feels heavy. Most people are calling this the worst possible time to be alive. But that’s exactly why it’s such an incredible time to be here.
We have an opportunity—a responsibility—to get it together. And we totally can.
And we must.
We each have unique gifts to bring to the table.
We need each other.
We’re powerful together.
I can’t wait to walk home with you over this lifetime.
See you on the I*WE side.
With the sunniest love,
Gwen
Vice President, Steward of I*WE