Meet Maddie Webb | Operations Manager and Yoga Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maddie Webb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maddie, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
It can be challenging while working for a startup to think about balance, especially when the company has a mission that you really care about. We help students reach their full potential, so when a student calls you and needs help finishing their work or planning their week at 9pm, you answer the phone, even if you’ve already worked a 12 hour day before that.

When I realized that I had to push myself to find a better balance in my life is when I realized that I was not embodying the advice I was giving to students. In order for the students I work with to be happy and healthy and succeed in school, they need to be involved. Being involved can mean volunteering in their community, making time for plans with friends throughout the week, joining clubs or sports, finding a job, or making time for their hobbies and interests. Whatever avenue called to them was fine by me, as long as their whole life wasn’t school. But, for a while, my whole life became work. I couldn’t use my own experience as an example anymore, and my students had started to notice.

I had to take a step back and ask myself: what am I interested in? What do I like to do? What could I do consistently each week or each month? I put this exercise off for a while, but eventually I simply chose something and went for it. I started taking classes I was interested in, like stained glass, got the dog I had always wanted but was worried I wouldn’t put enough time into, started volunteering, and joined a yoga and aerial studio. While each of these steps was challenging, I slowly forced my way into balance.

And what I noticed was that this made my work better. I was more energetic with students and with my other responsibilities, and I could bring an element of creativity back into problem-solving within a startup. Just like we teach our students, adding more diversity into my life made both my work life and my personal life better. And, most importantly, I could lead by example again. I could show the students in our program how to follow your passions, how to have structure in your life, and how to build a community around yourself.

The give and take with balance is still there. There are still periods where there is not enough time to get everything done, and long hours in the office. But, at the end of those periods, I know how to bring myself back to life, fully enjoy my free time, and feel truly relaxed and rejuvenated again.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
After working at Untapped for a few years I decided to complete a yoga teacher training. This was essentially a part-time job outside of work, and if you haven’t done a teacher training before, it is all about personal growth. I had been very ready to show up and takes notes on how to teach yoga and build asana flows, but instead was faced with learning about the ego, my values, and how I can support community building. This was exhausting, and there were many weeks that I wished I could just relax and not worry about any of it.

What I was surprised by, especially since I was already in a teaching position, was that I came away feeling like a teacher. Like I was able to sit with other people’s discomfort or intense emotions and guide them through it, like I knew how to make people feel seen, and like I knew how to build community for myself and for those who need it most.

I have a tendency to get caught up in what’s coming next and in the results, and completing a yoga teacher training helped me learn how to consistently slow down, see the person in front of me, and work through the process with them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Most of my free time is spent outside with my dog! You can paddle board on Standley Lake, take them to the Westminster Hills Off Leash Open Space, go hiking through the flatirons with dogs, or take them to a dog-friendly brewery patio.

Other than than you could see a show at Red Rocks, go skiing, go tubing in Boulder Creek, or check out the Denver Botanic Gardens or zoo. Year round, any activity where I can be outside is where I want to be!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I take constant inspiration from my sister. She is always dedicated to the work she does, and has a clear vision of her future. She always supports me, and knows when to check me on my crazy ideas. I would not be where I am today without her support.

Website: https://untappedlearning.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile

Other: https://urbansanctuary.love/

Image Credits
The professional headshot is done by Mike Dusman from Fix a Fire