Today we’d like to introduce you to Judee Guay.
Hi Judee, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have walked in some of these women’s shoes, I understand what it’s like to get a second chance to live the life you’ve always wanted. I personally, found myself in a verbal, mental, and emotionally unhealthy marriage of 24 years that was tearing me down.
I believed I didn’t deserve any better. My broken spirit was only compounded with failing health. At one point due to three different autoimmune diseases, I was part-time in a wheelchair. and pushing almost 300 pounds.
This was not the life I had always dreamed of and often wondered how I got there. I just played small and had lost all hope. day by day, I chose to pick myself up again. Over time, I became healthy, released over 100 pounds, started to love myself, and left the emotionally abusive marriage. I was able to heal myself. But I wanted to do more.
Those dark days are what drive my passion to make a difference for other women. I am now happily married to the man of my dreams who is my best friend and biggest supporter. Once I believed I deserved the love and loved myself enough, that person walked into my life and we adore each other. We are a great team together. Between us, we have three children, two boys, and a girl, and their spouses. Being Nana to two beautiful granddaughters and six adorable grandsons are my real pride and joy!
As an entrepreneur and speaker, I also privately mentor other women so they can have the life they want, rebuilding their belief that they are worthy, capable, and enough. Using many tools to create the life that you are so deserving of. These tools give you crystal clear clarity in areas of your life, allowing you to break the negative chatter in your mind, affirming your goals and positive beliefs as well as understanding who you were truly created to be.
In October of 2011, I put in my own LifeVision that I would like to host an event that empowers women. I envisioned these women walking down a red carpet and leaving the experience a transformed person. That is when the thought of a red-carpet event that honors women and gives them a new beginning came to fruition. Honoring and supporting women on their journey came alive. We have just celebrated our 10th Anniversary of WoW Utah, in supporting and empowering women.
I have been humbly honored with Salt Lake Area Domestic Violence Coalition 2016 Peace On Earth Awards -Courage Award, and in 2017 I received the Heart & Hands Award as part of Utah Philanthropy Day.
Now forming my own non-profit, WoW Utah, Inc. helps women of worth find their voice and rebuild their lives in this year-long program. WoW, Utah gives these Women of Worth a second chance in seeing they don’t have to do it alone. We are a volunteer-run, non-profit, and depend solely on donations from sponsors and the community.
The women return as Volunteers, Mentors, Directors, and even one day as Executive Board Members. We are a family and we stay connected, bonded, and supportive of each other.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was NEVER a smooth road and way too many situations to describe. But, the tears, trials, tribulations were heartbreaking, people becoming involved not to support others or the nonprofit, but to build their own coaching and mentoring business. or to take it over themselves, taking the tools and using them privately to build their own business has definitely been a challenge.
At WoW we chose to look at challenges as lessons what does not kill you make you stronger. Over the later years, those that have the heart connection to serve others, for the right reasons showed up. Those with personal agendas went away.
When you focus on the donut and not the hole, and focus on what you want, it expands. We have expanded into a connected, blended board with the same vision. It is all about the women. It took 10 years to get there, but we are the best and strongest we have ever been!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As an entrepreneur and speaker, I mentor other women so they can have the life they want, rebuilding their belief that they are worthy, capable, and enough. I use many tools to create the life that you are so deserving of.
These tools give you crystal clear clarity in areas of your life, allowing you to break the negative chatter in your mind, affirming your goals and positive beliefs as well as understanding who you were truly created to be. In October of 2011, I put in my own LifeVision that I would like to host an event that empowers women.
Now forming my own non-profit, WoW Utah, Inc., helps women of worth find their voice and rebuild their lives in this year-long program. WoW, Utah is the only program created, that helps those that are not in crisis. Women still need support to continue on their journey of life by, learning tools that create a ripple effect to stop the cyclic patterns within themselves and their children.
WoW helps them do just that.
How do you think about luck?
I do not believe in luck. I believe that you create your own destiny and the things that happen are all lessons to bring you closer or further from your goal. It is hard to realize the bigger plan that is out there for you. Personally, I have overcome many health issues, a past emotional and verbally abusive marriage for 24 years, as well as consistently fighting for the belief that I AM enough.
I was always worried about what people thought of me. I have learned other people’s opinions are none of your business. Through these tough times, challenges, and being knocked down made me stronger, more resilient, and more determined to fight for what I truly wanted in life.
I have had many trials and tribulations within WoW as well.
Your WHY has to be stronger than the trials and challenges. My WHY has always been about our women and having them believe that they are worthy, capable, and enough… They are truly Women of Worth! They will always be my WHY.
Contact Info:
- Email: judee@wowutah.org
- Website: www.wowutah.org
- Instagram: @leowifenanaandsoulmom
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wowutah
Image Credits
Dave Horrock Photography
