Brandy and Shenandoah “working” remotely in 2016
Today, we celebrate our 10th anniversary, or as we jokingly refer to these milestone dates within our team, our 10th “AN-niversary.” To celebrate today’s momentous occasion (and the birthday of our founder Brandy, which not-so-coincidentally shares this special day with us), our CEO and co-founder Shenandoah has some words to share.
Last week, I was fortunate enough to visit La Segrada Familia, a basilica in Barcelona designed by Antoni Gaudí that has been under construction since 1883. At the time of initial design and construction, Gaudí was already aware that for the project to reach the full scale and magnitude of his intentions, it would continue to be built long after his life had ended.
Shenandoah in Spain 2022
As business owners, we are often asked about our intentions for the future of our businesses – whether we are creating them to build and sell, or if they are a “lifestyle” business, one that we will continue to run until our eventual retirement. In the six-plus years I have been fortunate enough to grow and collaborate on this business with many remarkable people who have come and gone throughout the years, I have never been able to answer the “where are you headed” question with any sense of certainty. However, when peeking into La Segrada Familia, I realized that Adventure Nannies is also a constant work in progress. This basilica has survived the Spanish civil war and has been touched by thousands of architects, designers, bricklayers, and construction workers. Our team has seen pandemics, recessions, departures, frustrations, successes, and heart-breaking failures.
Our team recently traveled to Mexico to see each other in person for the first time since March of 2019 for our “annual retreat” and I was touched to receive messages from the current team at Adventure Nannies sharing “I can’t believe I get to work here.” Today, I share the same. Our team has undergone tremendous changes, both personally and professionally – marriages, divorces, births, deaths, losses, moves, illnesses, and so much more – and we have come out stronger.
I owe lifelong gratitude to Brandy Schultz, who created this company ten years ago to support her “struggling musician boyfriend” when he was a busboy at a sushi restaurant, to Wesley Schultz, who gave Brandy the gift of the first Adventure Nannies website on her birthday (May 24th, 2012) and has been an ardent supporter of Adventure Nannies, even in the moments that Brandy and I considered abandoning this wild idea, and to Meghan, Brandy and Wes’ amazing nanny who has been to nearly every continent with them and their two beautiful children over the past three years.
I’m incredibly grateful to the mentors and supporters both inside and outside of our industry who have helped illuminate both our brightest and darkest moments and encouraged us to push through. There are too many of you to name, but to Lisa Pierson Weinberger, Rachel Lawrence, Ryan Jordan, Louise Dunham, Austin Macfarlane, Katie Provinziano, and Laura Chandra – thank you for welcoming me into this industry and sharing your abundance mentality from our inception. Ann Dorgan has been a phenomenal coach and mentor to myself and our leadership team over the past few years, and Andrea Heuston, Dr. Kristin Kahle, Fran Gross, Effie Bar-Caspi, Rhino Julie, and other Women of Entrepreneur’s Organization have made a lifelong impact in how I consider success, longevity, and leadership.
To the team at Adventure Nannies, both current and past – my heart is filled with gratitude for the hustle, the grit, the leadership mentality, and the passion for inclusivity you all bring.
At Adventure Nannies today, ten years later, the construction cranes are still up. We often laughingly refer to “fixing” Adventure Nannies, while reminding ourselves that nothing is broken. May new lights continue to stream in, both to spotlight our highest moments, and to illuminate areas that need attention, care, and time. To the thousands of families, nannies, newborn care specialists, private educators, and amazing humans who have trusted us over the last ten years – none of this would exist without you. Thank you for your support and criticism – it has all helped us grow, and we hope you will continue along in our journey.
Keep scrolling to check out some behind-the-scenes photos of Adventure Nannies throughout the last several years!
Brandy and our Candidate + Marketing Director Danielle in Portland, OR – 2016
Shenandoah, Brandy, Danielle, and Operations Director Emily at the International Nanny Association conference in Chicago, IL – 2017
Brandy and Adventure Nannies in Greenland – 2018
Brandy and baby Lenny on tour with The Lumineers – 2019
Brandy, baby Lenny, Adventure Nanny Meaghan, Meatball the rabbit, and Client Director Christina in a work session at Shenandoah’s house in Tacoma, WA – 2019
Brandy and Shenandoah yukking it up in Brandy’s backyard in Denver – 2020
Brandy in her natural state at a party for Newborn Care Solutions’ Elite and Master students in Denver, CO – June 2021
Most of the AN team hanging out in Playa Paraíso, Mexico – April 2022
La Segrada Familia – 2022
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