Meet Brynn Vollmer and Chelsea Iversen | Course creators for online coaches

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brynn Vollmer and Chelsea Iversen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brynn Vollmer and Chelsea Iversen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As sisters, we have known each other’s strengths (and weaknesses!) since childhood. We had both been freelancing independently for years — Chelsea as a marketing writer and Brynn as a learning experience designer. But our professional journeys converged a few years ago when we both joined the same company and we had a chance to work together. We were both shocked at how amazing it went and how much we loved it, so when that opportunity ended, we really wanted to get a chance to work together again.

We got that chance when both of us were starting to lose interest in freelancing again and wanted something really inspiring to do every day. We decided that we could really create something meaningful and successful if we combined our experiences and brought them under the same roof. This time, we wanted to make sure it was something we created for ourselves since we both have an entrepreneurial spirit. This is how The Course Forest was born, and we haven’t looked back since!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are two sisters who started a course creation business to support online coaches. This business grew organically from our respective experiences in instructional design and online marketing. Combined, our industry knowledge has been immensely helpful, but we also have the incredible benefit of bringing complementary skillsets and talents to the business. Brynn is super organized and is on every detail in a seamless, flawless way while Chelsea can create and write and make it look easy.

Our business wasn’t just an upward curve from the moment we started, but we have built something solid over time that we hope will be sustainable in the long term. We’ve learned that sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in what others want from you, but staying true to our values has always pointed us in the right direction.

We also have the greatest reverence for trees and nature in general (hence, our business name, The Course Forest). The environment may seem disconnected from our business which is all about creating online courses for coaches, but it’s really not. The natural world serves as an inspiration and reminds us of what is important in this world. So, in a way, our brand commemorates the natural world in this small way, and it’s as much a part of our story as any client or course.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well when Brynn comes to visit Chelsea in the Denver area, the first stop will be to visit our two other sisters who also live here. Then, we would pile into the car and head to Golden, which is a gem of a town, where we could hike and take in the vistas. Also, tubing down the river right next to town is a really fun way to spend a day and have a laugh. The cafes and restaurants in Golden are charming and delicious, too. There’s also more hiking and camping to do in the mountains than we would ever be able to fit into one trip!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We wouldn’t be where we are today without the unquestioning support of our partners. So, shoutout to Brynn’s husband Damian and Chelsea’s husband Ryan, both of whom have given us the space and trust to build this business from the ground up. Starting a business can be hard on families, and they didn’t even blink when we told them what we wanted to do. We received complete trust and encouragement, and we’re so grateful for it.

Website: thecourseforest.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecourseforest/

Facebook: facebook.com/thecourseforest

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGB3Y7I_VlJsb2wzxV3vT4w

Other: etsy.com/brynnandchelsea