Innovative NVL Solutions Fuel Anam Cara’s Growth and Community Engagement
A Sanctuary for Meditation and Healing in Spokane
Anam Cara is a meditation and healing studio in downtown Spokane owned by Hannah Talbot. Hannah built Anam Cara to be a space that she felt she needed and what she felt others around her and in the community needed.
From Corporate Stress to Community Healing
She was working in the corporate atmosphere as a manager of operations and experienced copious amounts of stress from this position.
Her main goal with Anam Cara is to create a space where people can gather, individually and collectively, and provide what they may need at that time, through different modalities.
A Shift in Plans Leads to a New Beginning in Spokane
She originally was in the process of opening a similar space on the West side of Washington when the pandemic hit, and everything that was lined up for the opening shifted out of place. Her inspiration to move to Spokane and start Anam Cara in this city was the community aspect that drives her mission. She shared that Spokane is so unique in the sense that it is a city with thriving people, but it also has a small-town feeling that promotes community. When describing the type of people that live in Spokane, Hannah says, “The people here take care of each other and are collaborative and supportive, adding to that small-town feeling.”
Early Impact on the Spokane Community
When asked to describe how Anam Cara has impacted the people in Spokane, Hannah shared that she feels as though her impact is just getting started, since their services have been open for two and a half years. She continues to hear from clients that “Anam Cara has changed my life” and “This is the safe space I have been needing,” which contributes to her drive and desire to keep impacting through working hard and engaging the community.
Partnering with New Venture Lab for Business Growth
This engagement with the community motivated her to work with the student consultants of New Venture Lab. She originally sought out the services, in her words, “To dial in membership and analyze what is working, what is not working, and how we can grow and impact membership specifically.” She first heard about NVL through different community members who were attending Anam Cara and recommended their services.
Solutions Tailored to Unique Clientele
In terms of the work done by the consultants, Hannah shared how extremely well the (above) problem was solved. This solution was given through research of the different demographics represented in Anam Cara’s client base, editing and offering feedback on the website, and creating different surveys for the customers and community members about their experience.
Gradual Implementation of Student-Driven Insights
The implementation of some of the projects worked on is something Hannah is still in the process of coordinating with her business. She shared that one of the best takeaways from New Venture Lab is the flexibility with implementation, meaning the tangible projects the students work on do not have to be implemented into the business right away. Hannah explained that the deliverable that is given to the entrepreneur is an incredible resource, as she continues to implement little by little into her business. As they continue to execute new projects and ideas, Hannah emphasized that the deliverable “is a great springboard for us, whether for right now or two years down the road.”
The Impact
The student interaction was what Hannah was most impressed with during the semester. She shared that the maturity of the consultants, specifically her Project Manager Izzy May, was beyond her expectations and experiences with other adults. She shared that “Composure was held so well during intense conversations,” as the students provided flexible support through respectful listening and understanding.
Insights and Future Aspirations for Collaboration
When asked if there was anything she would’ve liked to have done differently, Hannah shared that she would have liked to be more involved with the students. This included bringing the students to the physical space, taking a class, and having the member experience. The students did get to visit the brick and mortar, but towards the end of the semester. She says it would have been extremely helpful for the consultants to see the space right from the start and decrease the possible disconnect.
Advice for Future Entrepreneurs Working with New Venture Lab
For entrepreneurs, she shares, “It is such a win-win, only if you are clear on what you are wanting to work on, as well as realistic about the desires of your scope.” In terms of concern about student interaction, Hannah emphasized her joy over the management of the consultants and how her role as an entrepreneur did not include those aspects.
Final Thoughts: The Importance of Clear Goals and Open Communication
Hannah’s experience emphasizes the importance of being clear and direct when utilizing New Venture Lab’s services, as her experience was positively impacted by this mindset.
Anam Cara is a meditation and healing studio in downtown Spokane owned by Hannah Talbot. Hannah built Anam Cara to be a space that she felt she needed and what she felt others around her and in the community needed.
From Corporate Stress to Community Healing
She was working in the corporate atmosphere as a manager of operations and experienced copious amounts of stress from this position.
Her main goal with Anam Cara is to create a space where people can gather, individually and collectively, and provide what they may need at that time, through different modalities.
A Shift in Plans Leads to a New Beginning in Spokane
She originally was in the process of opening a similar space on the West side of Washington when the pandemic hit, and everything that was lined up for the opening shifted out of place. Her inspiration to move to Spokane and start Anam Cara in this city was the community aspect that drives her mission. She shared that Spokane is so unique in the sense that it is a city with thriving people, but it also has a small-town feeling that promotes community. When describing the type of people that live in Spokane, Hannah says, “The people here take care of each other and are collaborative and supportive, adding to that small-town feeling.”
Early Impact on the Spokane Community
When asked to describe how Anam Cara has impacted the people in Spokane, Hannah shared that she feels as though her impact is just getting started, since their services have been open for two and a half years. She continues to hear from clients that “Anam Cara has changed my life” and “This is the safe space I have been needing,” which contributes to her drive and desire to keep impacting through working hard and engaging the community.
Partnering with New Venture Lab for Business Growth
This engagement with the community motivated her to work with the student consultants of New Venture Lab. She originally sought out the services, in her words, “To dial in membership and analyze what is working, what is not working, and how we can grow and impact membership specifically.” She first heard about NVL through different community members who were attending Anam Cara and recommended their services.
Solutions Tailored to Unique Clientele
In terms of the work done by the consultants, Hannah shared how extremely well the (above) problem was solved. This solution was given through research of the different demographics represented in Anam Cara’s client base, editing and offering feedback on the website, and creating different surveys for the customers and community members about their experience.
Gradual Implementation of Student-Driven Insights
The implementation of some of the projects worked on is something Hannah is still in the process of coordinating with her business. She shared that one of the best takeaways from New Venture Lab is the flexibility with implementation, meaning the tangible projects the students work on do not have to be implemented into the business right away. Hannah explained that the deliverable that is given to the entrepreneur is an incredible resource, as she continues to implement little by little into her business. As they continue to execute new projects and ideas, Hannah emphasized that the deliverable “is a great springboard for us, whether for right now or two years down the road.”
The Impact
The student interaction was what Hannah was most impressed with during the semester. She shared that the maturity of the consultants, specifically her Project Manager Izzy May, was beyond her expectations and experiences with other adults. She shared that “Composure was held so well during intense conversations,” as the students provided flexible support through respectful listening and understanding.
Insights and Future Aspirations for Collaboration
When asked if there was anything she would’ve liked to have done differently, Hannah shared that she would have liked to be more involved with the students. This included bringing the students to the physical space, taking a class, and having the member experience. The students did get to visit the brick and mortar, but towards the end of the semester. She says it would have been extremely helpful for the consultants to see the space right from the start and decrease the possible disconnect.
Advice for Future Entrepreneurs Working with New Venture Lab
For entrepreneurs, she shares, “It is such a win-win, only if you are clear on what you are wanting to work on, as well as realistic about the desires of your scope.” In terms of concern about student interaction, Hannah emphasized her joy over the management of the consultants and how her role as an entrepreneur did not include those aspects.
Final Thoughts: The Importance of Clear Goals and Open Communication
Hannah’s experience emphasizes the importance of being clear and direct when utilizing New Venture Lab’s services, as her experience was positively impacted by this mindset.