What happens when investing in an entrepreneur means investing in an entire community? In this episode of Healed & Chilled, I sit down with Shannan Herbert, CEO of Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF), to talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, access to capital, and what it really means to create opportunity. With more than 25 years of experience across banking, community development finance, fintech, and nonprofit leadership, Shannan has dedicated her career to expanding economic opportunity and strengthening the systems that help entrepreneurs thrive. Before joining WACIF, she served as Executive Vice President of Inclusive Credit at Stratyfy and Chief Credit Officer at City First Bank, where she helped lead the deployment of more than $100 million in capital to under-invested communities. But this conversation goes beyond titles and accomplishments. Shannan is someone I genuinely consider a pillar of the community. Her willingness to share knowledge, make connections, and pour into others is a powerful reminder that leadership isn't just about what you accomplish. It's also about how you help other people move forward. We talk about what happens when business, finance, innovation, and community impact intersect, why entrepreneurs need more than just money to succeed, and how investing in one business can create a ripple effect that reaches families, employees, and entire communities. Because entrepreneurship doesn't happen in a vacuum. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, community development, access to capital, or simply learning from someone committed to creating meaningful impact, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. https://wacif.org/ https://www.instagram.com/ceoshannanherbert https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannan-herbert-5b6863/ --------------------- About the Host - Coach Yana Coach Yana is an educator, coach, speaker, and creator of interactive learning experiences designed to help children, young adults, parents, and communities navigate real life with greater confidence, connection, and practical life skills. Through The Laptop Life Coach, Coach Yana creates interactive workshops, speaking experiences, and school field trips that turn important life lessons into experiences people can actually participate in. Her work explores topics including entrepreneurship, communication, decision-making, parenting, confidence, leadership, life skills, and navigating major life transitions. Her interactive experiences include The Entrepreneurial Mindset Experience, The Life Skills Decision Game, The Mom Shift, Roblox & Minecraft: Helping Parents Keep Kids Safe, The Foundation, and Freshman 15, with programming designed for students, young adults, parents, families, schools, colleges, and organizations. Coach Yana also provides personalized coaching and mentorship for young people as they navigate important milestones and transitions. She is the host of Healed and Chilled, a podcast centered around honest conversations, real experiences, and giving guests the space to tell their stories in their own words. Whether she is leading a workshop, creating a school experience, coaching a young person, or sitting down with a podcast guest, Coach Yana's goal is to create spaces where people can learn, reflect, grow, and see themselves differently. Explore Coach Yana's interactive experiences: The Laptop Life Coach | Interactive Experiences
