A legacy of hard work, quiet strength, and unseen potential in a world that never showed her what was possible.
HeyWilma is named after my grandmother, Wilma—a woman whose intelligence and work ethic were never matched by opportunity. As a young girl, she lost her hearing and grew up believing it made her less than others, in a world that never showed her what was possible.
She spent her life working, first in a shirt factory, then cleaning corporate offices on weekends. Sometimes she brought her granddaughters with her, quietly giving them their first glimpse into workplaces they didn’t yet know they could belong in.
Wilma worked hard, gave generously, and believed deeply in people, even when the world underestimated her. HeyWilma carries her name to honor that legacy.
HeyWilma envisions a world where education and industry work hand in hand to prepare students for meaningful, attainable futures, while strengthening the communities they come from.
Through strategic partnerships with businesses and industries, HeyWilma equips teachers with access to real-world learning experiences that deepen educators’ understanding of how classroom instruction connects to the real world and empower them to guide students in exploring career pathways aligned with their strengths, interests, and aspirations. As part of our commitment to long-term impact, HeyWilma reinvests 50% of its profits into educational access and community-centered initiatives, ensuring that the success of our business directly fuels the success of the learners and communities we serve.
HeyWilma’s mission is to partner with businesses to create real-world, classroom-ready, standard aligned lesson plans, provided at no cost to teachers, so that educators can use them to introduce students to how companies work, why they exist, and the wide range of roles within them.
By providing early, age-appropriate exposure, when curiosity is forming, HeyWilma helps students begin to understand real careers, company purpose, and how learning connects to life beyond school. At the same time, HeyWilma helps businesses build early awareness of their organizations, values, and opportunities by bringing their stories, people, and work into the classroom through teacher-led instruction.
W — Wonder First
We believe career awareness should begin with wonder, questions, and exploration—when curiosity is sparked, not rushed.
I — Integrity in Action
We operate with honesty, transparency, and accountability in every partnership, lesson, and decision.
L — Learning with Respect
We honor teachers as professionals and classrooms as trusted spaces by delivering standards-aligned, teacher-ready resources at no cost.
M — Meaningful Connections
We bridge classrooms to real work by creating ethical, purpose-driven partnerships that connect education to opportunity.
A — Accountable Stewardship
We steward our influence and resources with care, reinvesting 50% of profits into educational access and community-centered initiatives.