In Conversation with Amanda Goetz of House of Wise

Describe House of Wise in a few words?

Helping women take control of their sleep, sex, stress and wealth.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

In 2019 I realized there was still a stigma in the world of cannabis for women like me - trying to "have it all" yet there is no stigma around drinking wine and alcohol (in fact Mom TikTok celebrates it!). Alcohol has such horrible effects on your sleep and stress levels and I knew I could help. I quit my corporate job in the middle of a pandemic with my 3 kids at home and started House of Wise. I incorporated in May 2020, raised a round of VC capital in July and we launched our first product line on December 1st. 

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

Marketing, Former Founder of a wedding tech company and leading brand marketing at The Knot for the past 5+ years.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

It's less about being an entrepreneur and more about making an impact. I love the 0-1 of a new company.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

I brought a group of women along with me. I kept them in the loop every month through email updates and when it was time to tell the world, they helped me do it. I want them to feel just as much a part of House of Wise as I do.

We always learn the most from our mistakes, share a time with us that you made a mistake or had a challenging time in business and what you learned from it?

My most challenging time was deciding what makes me happy vs. unhappy in a role. The Knot was acquired and merged with our biggest competitor, my team doubled in size and we were now global yet my ability to impact the company's day to day decreased...I was more of a manager than a maker...and it was so hard for me to come to terms with that. 

In terms of mistakes, I don't believe in regret. I have gone through divorce, miscarriage, infertility...some of life's hardest moments and I came out stronger and more self aware. I definitely make mistakes but I view them as "growth moments". Life is about framing :)

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

Honestly...raising a round of pre-seed capital in the middle of a pandemic with a full time job and 3 kids at home.

When hiring for your team, what is your go-to interview question? Please share any hiring tips you can share from your experience?

Interviewing is about Culture + Mission + Expertise + Drive. I truly love asking "how will this role help get you to where you want to be in 5 years?" It shows me 1) they are strategic / long term thinkers and 2) they've thought about what they want to get from their role and how our company is positioned to give it.

How has your business or industry been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

The cannabis industry is on pins and needles right now waiting to see what new regulations are going to be passed during this presidential transition.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

My hope is to continue to grow the House of Wise brand, content and product line to help women live lives on their own terms. I'm going to attempt to raise a seed round in 2021!

What is the biggest lesson you have learned in 2020?

Just because you can handle something, doesn't mean you should. 

I allowed myself to break down more times this year. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I needed more breaks and rest than ever before and I didn't punish myself for it like I normally would. A lot more self love came out of 2020.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were first starting your business?

Fill your gaps quickly. I don't know fulfillment, co-packing, packaging, etc. My approach is always to do the things myself the first time so I can be empathetic and a more knowledgeable hiring manager / boss but I could have saved a lot of time if I spent more energy getting help / asking for help vs. trying to figure it out myself.

How have you managed to stay grounded this year?

My kids keep me grounded. When I look at them and realize it's not just my world that has been flipped upside down, I slow down and have empathy for them and meet them where they are...which is usually on the floor playing LOL dolls and Blaze.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

I don't believe in balance but rather intention. Some days I am kick-ass at work and phone it in on the mom-front and some days I let my emails stack up while we go to the park. I set intentions for every day and don't allow guilt to creep in.

What's something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

I'm a first generation college grad and had to be a Hooters waitress in college because I paid for college myself and my marketing internship + group fitness instructor jobs did not pay the bills.

What are your top 3 tips to stay productive each day?

• Own your time (I don't allow any meetings from 8-11am so I can get my work done). 

• Get a good night of sleep (it affects everything).

• Be present and stop context switching / multitasking. You will inevitably lose productivity.

What does being an Entreprenista mean to you?

It means redefining the current stereotype of the Entrepreneur: the 27 year old single tech guy from Silicon Valley. We can be forging our own paths at any stage of life!