Professional Launch - Simone Wai

In this episode, Ricot Aladin sits down with Simone Wai, a community builder and the visionary force behind Folkways, a Fargo-based nonprofit, who shares how her background in marketing evolved into a mission to foster connection, belonging, and economic vitality.They dive into Campus FM, an innovative mentorship and media program connecting college students with the community through paid content creation, helping them build skills, find jobs, and stay rooted locally. Simone also reflects on the power of mentorship, the courage to start imperfectly, and the importance of letting go of projects when their time has passed.This episode is a masterclass in social impact, creative risk-taking, and the beauty of bringing people together.Themes: Community building, mentorship, arts + gathering, career launching, social entrepreneurship, student engagement, nonprofit leadership🎙️ “Running events is like opening and closing a business in one day.” – Simone Wai