Meet Francesca Reicherter | Founder and CEO, Author, Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Francesca Reicherter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Francesca, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I started Inspiring My Generation, I wanted to do something that would help people who were struggling with their mental health. I was hospitalized in a psych ward after struggling with severe depressive episodes when I was 20 years old. I recognized how few preventative resources and conversations were available to me throughout my life up until that point. Thus, I felt compelled to make those resources available so other people could get the support they needed before they need it.

I was honestly terrified to launch it and went back and forth for three months on whether it was a good idea. Why weren’t there many resources, specifically targeted at youth and young adults? What would success mean in this industry? How do I convince people that my nonprofit has the power to make a difference? How do I bring in enough money to sustain myself? I had so many questions, but eventually, I recognized that my desire to do something outweighed my fear of failure. Putting yourself out there, especially at the age of 21 while in graduate school, is not easy. There’s always this fear of failure, so throughout the entire process over the past almost three years now, I have constantly reminded myself of why I started.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Inspiring My Generation Corporation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization on a mission of suicide prevention through awareness, conversation, education, and support. We accomplish this through three main programs: 1. Podcast: Normalize The Conversation is a podcast to amplify the voices, information, and stories of people around the world. We have over 100 episodes available with new episodes released every Wednesday.
2. Encouragement Card Program: We share emotional support by donating hundreds of handmade cards of encouragement to patients hospitalized in psych wards. We routinely serve three psych wards in South Florida and have donated over 6000 cards.
3. Education Program: Our Education Program is two-fold, including our workbooks and workshops based on the workbooks.
3a. “You Are Not Alone: The Workbook” is a guide to help youth build affirmations, learn self-love, express emotions, host a supportive mental health conversation, and build coping skills.
3b. “I AM” is a guide to help the reader learn how to identify who they are, how they are feeling, what support they want, and how to advocate for themselves.
3c. “How Are You? The Workbook” is a 30-day check-in to help the user connect with how they are feeling and build encouragement.
3d. Workshops are built based on the workbooks. Our standard workshops include Mental Health Conversations: Learning to Support Others and Reach Out for Support; Learning Positive Self-Talk and Coping Skills; and Learning to Love Yourself: A Guide to Building Affirmations and Self-Love Statements. Custom workshops are adapted to the audience’s age range and specific needs. FREE virtual workshops coming soon in 2023, hosted by PSCFL.

I am most proud of the community we have built, from podcast guests and listeners to encouragement card donors to workbook buyers and workshop attendees. It is amazing to see how far the idea of wanting to help people has come over the past three years. It was not easy, especially in the beginning trying to get donations, volunteers, and an audience. I have constantly worked to improve myself and my credibility in the space by engaging in more conversations, attending grad school for psychology at night, and throwing myself into the industry supporting other similar organizations.

I learned that not everyone will be willing to hear you out and that is ok. As a young female, people often want to write me off as a child with a passion project. It has nothing to do with my work. As long as I keep putting myself out there, working as hard as I can, continuously being willing to learn, and advocating for myself, I will get where I want to be – step by step.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friend was coming to visit, I would have to take her to dinner at Nobu Miami and Serafina in Aventura Mall. These are my go-to Miami restaurants. I love the food and the drinks!

I also would take her to Key Biscayne. The views are incredible and there are so many cute spots to have a picnic. I really enjoy picnics at Crandon Park; the beach is beautiful!

I would also hope to catch a concert at Miami Heat’s home arena (formerly known as FTX Arena and American Airlines Arena), if there are any good shows going on. Grabbing a drink at Bayside beforehand is always fun!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my Uncle Marc whom I lost to suicide in 2019. Everything I do is in honor of him.

Website: https://www.inspiringmygeneration.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiringmygeneration & https://www.instagram.com/freicherter

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-reicherter/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiring-my-generation

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/inspiringmygen & https://www.twitter.com/freicherter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspiringmygeneration

Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJOhi4oo-CEczvZLumpm6zaiFBwQVDtWB

Image Credits
Francesca laying down and words are written on her arms – credit to Creative Klick. Francesca sitting in red chair and speaking – credit to When The Music Stops.