An unexpected investor with a duffle bag of money

Have you ever had a moment that completely changed the trajectory of your life? One that threw out all your plans and put you on a new path? Mine came in the summer of 2016. I had just come back from an internship in Madrid and was gearing up for my junior year at Vanderbilt. When I felt like the world was at my fingertips, I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and watched it all slip away.

Forced to take a medical leave of absence, I felt called to use my newfound free time to wander the streets of Nashville, befriending people experiencing homelessness. The ensuing conversations and friendships convinced me of the need for more employment opportunities with wrap-around services to address barriers like lack of housing and transportation.

I began talking about the idea with one of my friends from Vanderbilt, leading to weekly discussions of the viability of co-founding a company. After healing enough to return to school, I began fasting and praying about whether I should pursue this unnamed company.

Around that same time, one of my dear friends, Ray, was diagnosed with cancer. Ray and I had met a few years back while I was volunteering at a local transitional home. He had been homeless for decades before moving into the complex, and we formed a quasi-grandfather-granddaughter relationship. As my health continued to improve, Ray’s sharply declined. One evening that spring, Ray called and simply announced, “I’m dying. You need to come to the hospital.”

Moments later, I found myself perched beside Ray’s hospital bed, listening to him reflect for the last time. When I got up to leave, Ray leaned in closer and matter-of-factly stated, “Alexis, I have a storage unit. And in this unit, I have a duffle bag of money. I want you to have it when I pass.”

And just like that, a man who didn’t even own a mattress became the primary investor in a company meant to employ other people experiencing homelessness.

After graduating Vanderbilt, my Co-Founder, Corbin, and I began working full-time on our start-up, naming it “Unlocked” as a nod to Ray’s storage unit and the opportunities we hoped to unlock (we later changed the name to “Resera” for SEO reasons). Through partnerships with local nonprofits, we provided housing, therapy, career counseling, financial training, and community events.

In the summer of 2021, I officially left my role as Co-President and joined Resera’s Board of Advisors while Corbin remained at the helm. I still consider my four years growing the company as some of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of my life. I felt privileged to watch women move into their own housing, buy cars, regain custody of their children, and “graduate” into their dream jobs.

My time at Resera taught me that difficult times can be incredible catalysts for growth. Although I often felt like Lyme Disease was stripping me of my identity and my future, I have since found that it gave me the freedom and confidence to explore my passions, and for that I’m thankful.

If you're facing a difficult situation right now, whether personal or professional, take note of the ways that new opportunities may be presenting themselves. Could you use this as an impetus for growth? Don’t be afraid to ask hard questions and find answers in unexpected places.

This applies more broadly, too. As many experts warn of slowed economic growth, how could you consider strategies that provide future value, not just minimize harm? For example, I’ve seen clients prioritize automation in response to the labor shortage, a decision that will increase efficiency far beyond this economic period. Similarly, decreased consumer spending highlights the need to stand out among competition, causing many to seek customer experience improvements through loyalty programs, omnichannel presence, and real-time feedback. Your strategy could turn a potential downturn into a period of growth.

Interested in talking more about it? Shoot me a message on LinkedIn or reach out to InfoWorks here , and I’d be happy to join a call with you and one of InfoWorks ’ lead strategy consultants to discuss your organization’s opportunities. With a focus on practical strategy, our team can support you from ideation to execution, ensuring you’re ready for whatever this year may bring.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a great week!

Alexis

PS- The top photo is with my Co-Founder, Corbin, and two of 20+ women we’ve worked with. You can learn more about Resera here .