Modernae Woman: Meredith Walker, Co-Creator of Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls
Modernae Woman: Meredith Walker, Co-Creator of Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls
As executive director of Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, an organization dedicated to helping young women cultivate their authentic selves, Meredith Walker leads workshops, service days and volunteer teams based on the Smart Girls manifesto: Change the world by being yourself. Launched in January 2008, the online community has more than 1.3 million Facebook fans, 195,000 Twitter followers and 300,000-plus Instagram devotees. Walker, who is the site’s co-creator, Poehler’s best friend and former head of the talent department at Saturday Night Live, lives in Austin, Texas, with her boyfriend, Tom, and two dogs, Banjo and Farris.
How would you describe a “smart girl”?
Someone who is as curious about other people as they are about themselves. Someone who pursues knowledge and seeks to understand perspectives other than their own. Someone who seeks out what fascinates them. Someone who bases their opinions on facts and not “facts.”
Were you always the smart girl at the party?
I was in some ways, and I was a late bloomer in other ways. I was always a reader, and I was raised to be aware of injustice — I thank my parents for that. But when I felt weird or out of place, I wasn’t quick to embrace it as a strength. I hope my work can help someone skip a few steps.
You’ve said your plight to be heard as a girl influenced your passion to create Smart Girls. Why do you think we need to encourage girls to share, speak up and be heard?
There is a phenomenon known as the adolescent fantasy. It is that idea you get as a teenager that you are all alone and that nobody knows how you feel; nobody understands you at all. It is a fantasy only because you aren’t really alone, and there are people who understand you if you listen and look for them. We know that girls are often moved and motivated best by a desire to help people, to help fight injustice. When they feel connected to others, when they feel heard and understood, then they are more confident to share their stories, become better versions of themselves and the world is a better place for it.
You’ve said that being unconventional doesn’t make you a weirdo. What does that mean and why is that important?
The culture we live in tells us what is normal, what success looks like, who to be if we want to fit in. That doesn’t make it right or true. Because of that, it is incredibly brave to make choices based on what is true for you — just you. That can look like a lot of things: having short or long hair, riding a bike instead of driving a car, being interested in the macabre, not feeling drawn to marriage and children as your idea of family, being silly in public. It is important because we all matter, whether or not we are fitting into convenient categories. We are all human. It reminds me of the asinine use of the term “real Americans.” What a harmful term to use. We are all Americans, and we have more in common than not.
What do you think are the most important words someone can say to a young girl?
The most effective words to say to a young girl are, “Tell me more about it.”
What is your typical day like?
I wake up and read the newspaper. Then I look at all of our social media. I scan the comments to make sure we are protecting our community and keeping it safe for young minds. I look for story ideas and content inspiration. I head to the office and work with my team there on our “Smart Girls Roadshow,” our toolkits and downloadables. I talk with people who want to collaborate with us (lots and lots of conference calls). I talk with our team in L.A., going over all the day-to-day tidbits. I mentor some girls in real life and others via cyber mentoring. Everyday, I try to read about adolescents and issues affecting them and topics they care about. Throughout most days, I am probably preparing to get on a plane to give a talk somewhere.
What is the hardest part of your day?
Time management, boundaries and trying to be present in the moment.
What are the challenges of living in a different city than your business partner, Amy Poehler?
That’s a tough one to answer because she is my best friend first. We didn’t sit down together to start a business; we sat down together and talked about helping girls. I miss the everydayness and easy hang out times of living in the same city. But her schedule is mine times 1000, so I don’t know that we’d see each other that much anyway. The tough part about having our Smart Girls baby together is not being able to celebrate it in person with each other.
Is there anything you’ve automated or hired out to make your life easier?
The biggest change for me came when we were able to hire a social media director. A lot of business people still don’t get it about social media. It is a big job, and it eats your life. If you have a social media person on your staff, thank them, give them a bonus — better yet, give them a raise. They do more for your company than you probably give them credit for.
Do you have a quote or motto that you live by?
Get your hair wet!
What do you do to relax?
I love to read, and I love to hike. Being in nature is really good for my psyche. I love to “get my hair wet” in a lot of ways. I sign up to try things even if they make me nervous. I took a dirt bike lesson the other day. That doesn’t mean I was on a killer-looking bike doing wheelies around the track. The reality of that is, I was on a pee-wee bike going about 4 miles an hour for 30 minutes then worked my way up to 7 miles an hour. But I did it, and I felt like the version of me I want to be.
What is the biggest life lesson you’ve learned so far?
Finding yourself interesting is the thing to strive for.
What is something that you wish you had that would make your life easier, real or make-believe?
Anything to keep my email managed. And my own animal sanctuary, so I could adopt shelter dogs on a regular basis.
This article originally appeared on Modernae.com a pop culture-free website for 21st century women.
