Meet Wendy Van, an CEO at Open Window Solutions (openwindowsolutions.com).
Tell us a little about your business. – Open Window works with mission driven professionals to tell their stories and rally their teams to be great messengers of the mission. I work with businesses, scientists, associations, non-profits and entrepreneurs to get the message right so their audiences not only understand, but put their new ideas into action. Additionally, I help non-profits position themselves engage stakeholders and donors.
How did you get started in the business? – This has been a joy of mine for 30+ years. I’ve worked with a few clients here and there, mostly doing media training. It was when Randy Bretz asked me to be a speech coach for TEDxLincoln that I knew I found a real passion. In my early career, I was a journalist and PR professional working in video, radio, TV news, film, production management and more. Then, I had a long and fulfilling career in non-profit leadership and management, serving 5 different community non-profits over the last 25 years and ending that chapter as the President of the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools. In September 2024, I left the non-profit world and dove into a solopreneurship, where I get to bring all of my experiences and skills together by working with extremely bright visionaries who have cutting edge ideas that are truly world changing. A few months after I launched, I got the chance to thank my high school speech and theater coach, Terry Peterson, on his 80th birthday. I was a shy kid, and he helped me find my voice, and the confidence to share bold ideas about important topics. It really cemented how fortunate I feel to start a second rewarding career changing lives and building meaningful conversations in my community.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – In 2021, I was going through some personal struggles. It was then that I chose to live large. To attract the people and the life that I wished for. As my favorite poet, John O’Donohue said in his poem Morning Offering –To postpone my dream no longer, but to do at last what I came her for and waste my heart on fear no more.” It was then that I started really owning what I was good at and letting go of what I wasn’t. There’s some great perspective in your early 50’s. Things just seemed to fall into place when I started to live with curiosity and authenticity. Since then I’ve taken a 12 day solo camping trip, traveled Europe, bought an old house, leaned into friendships, found love and made time to adore my grown children.
What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why?– After being on the staff side of non-profits for so long, it feels great to get involved with causes that intrigue me. They all share the theme of connection, story and community. I’m the incoming chair of the Angel’s Theater board. (Lincoln’s best kept secret) Angel’s focuses on new plays, with relevant modern topics. It’s magic when the theater brings conversations out in the open, in safe spaces where we can all learn about the human condition. angelscompany.org I also love leadership development and community. I serve on the Leadership Lincoln Board and am a proud alumnus of class 17. Most recently have joined The Foundry Board. Both organizations serve to build community through education, support and common goals. Great people all around! leadershiplincoln.org and thefoundry.co.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – Please give me a call! My website is theopenwindowsolution.com or I can be reached at 402.540.6906. Open Window provides a secret sauce that serves many purposes.