Community Highlights: Meet Amy Smathers of The Well Initiative

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Smathers.

Hi Amy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My career has taken me all over the world, from LA and Washington, D.C. to Europe, Asia, and Africa, working with organizations like the U.S. State Department, U.S. Institute of Peace, Atlantic Council, and Human Rights Watch, as well as advising celebrities and major corporations on global philanthropy and social impact.

I’ve had the privilege of engaging with presidents and heads of state, congressmen, human rights leaders, and some of the world’s most influential changemakers. But some of the most influential lessons about leadership that have shaped my career have come from women whose names most people will never know.

I think of sharing tea with female members of parliament in Afghanistan, or sitting across the table from a young woman my own age in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who had been abducted and forced to become a child soldier. I think of political prisoners I’ve met who risked everything for democracy and religious freedom, aid workers navigating complex humanitarian emergencies, and nonprofit leaders addressing issues like human trafficking on the frontlines.

These conversations deeply moved me, and their courage, determination, and hope in the face of extraordinary challenges were unlike anything I’d ever seen. And over time, I began asking myself a question: What would it look like to use my own life, opportunities, and influence to help create that kind of change?

That question became especially personal while I was living in India in 2013, where I encountered the realities of human trafficking firsthand. I had a conversation there that changed my life as I found out that many women who had been rescued from trafficking were returning to it because they didn’t have any other work. From that point on, I began to imagine what it might look like to create an organization that didn’t just respond to women’s immediate needs, but invested in their long-term potential, leadership, and ability to build a different future for themselves and their children.

That vision eventually became The Well Initiative, a nonprofit I founded to empower vulnerable women globally through leadership development and economic opportunity. Today, we operate an Academy in Uganda where we invest in young leaders who have experienced significant adversity. In partnership with the nonprofit Bringing Hope to the Family, we equip our students with the tools to become leaders in their own lives and communities. At the heart of everything we do is a conviction that has shaped my entire journey: every person has God-given dignity, purpose, and potential.

More recently, storytelling has become an important part of my journey. It’s my outlet to share some of the real stories behind the human rights issues I’ve worked on around the globe.

This year I launched The Justice Table, a podcast where I interview inspiring changemakers who are making a global impact. Through candid conversations about their work, leadership journeys, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way, I hope to inspire others to consider how they, too, can make a meaningful impact. It’s been so much fun, and we’re now working on season two!

In 2025, I also published my first book, Teacups in the Ashes, which weaves together my personal story of loss during the Los Angeles fires, my journey in leadership, and the experiences in India that ultimately inspired me to establish my nonprofit and advocate for survivors of human trafficking.

If there’s a common thread through all these experiences, it’s a belief in the extraordinary impact that individuals can have on the world around them. I’ve seen how one person’s courage, conviction, or willingness to act can change the lives of others. Those are the stories I want to tell—not simply because they’re inspiring, but because I believe they have the power to challenge how we see the world and move us to do something about it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road! One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that purpose rarely unfolds exactly the way we expect it to. Sometimes one season simply provides the tools, relationships, or perspective we’ll need for the next. I never could have mapped out this exact career when I was starting out, but I’m incredibly grateful for where the journey has taken me.

In my case I spent so many years building a career in Washington, D.C., including getting my master’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. I love that world, so choosing a less traditional path and eventually building something of my own as an entrepreneur came with plenty of uncertainty. There were moments when friends and colleagues seemed to be advancing along clear career trajectories, working in the West Wing or on Capitol Hill, while mine felt much less linear. I had to learn that just because my path looked different didn’t mean it was the wrong one. Ultimately, I decided to create an entirely new path, founding an organization that allowed me to continue working in global affairs from the West Coast while creating opportunities for others to do the same.

There have been personal seasons of disappointment and change, too. My family lost our home in the Palisades fire just days after I legally established my nonprofit. My Christian faith has carried me through those moments, teaching me to loosen my grip on my own timelines and definitions of success and trust that sometimes what feels like a detour is actually God preparing us for what’s next.

Becoming a mother this year has added another layer to that journey. It’s interesting because I work with so many female founders, yet this year was the first time I really had to consider what it looks like for me personally to balance motherhood with this amazing work I’ve felt compelled to do since I was young. Motherhood has been the greatest gift of my life, and it’s been empowering to think more deeply about what matters most, how I really want to be spending my time, and the example I hope to set for my son and the next generation. He motivates me every day.

Ultimately, as a leader I’ve learned that a meaningful life isn’t necessarily a perfectly planned one. Some of my most difficult seasons of transition have ultimately led me toward the work and life I value most today. I often tell young leaders that if you keep coming back to a particular passion, there’s probably a reason. Often, when we see a problem, we’re meant to be part of the solution, and that’s where we’re invited to lean in and do something spectacular that can change the world.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I founded The Well Initiative at the end of 2024 to equip and empower vulnerable women globally, particularly those who have experienced poverty, exploitation, human trafficking, or circumstances that have limited their opportunities.

One of the things I’m most proud of is our Academy in Uganda, where we invest in young women through spiritual formation, leadership development, mentorship, and practical opportunities for growth. In partnership with an incredible local organization, Bringing Hope to the Family, we offer a year-long leadership curriculum that culminates in students creating action plans to use their gifts to impact their communities and work toward launching their own small businesses.

What sets The Well Initiative apart is our deeply personal and holistic approach. We believe meaningful change begins with seeing the whole person. Economic opportunity matters, but so do identity, confidence, faith, and a sense of purpose and belonging. Rather than defining these leaders we serve by what has happened to them, we want to recognize what’s already within them—their ideas, gifts, resilience, and capacity to lead. Our hope is not only to help them build sustainable livelihoods, but to experience profound personal transformation, recognizing that regardless of their circumstances, they matter, they are created in the image of God, and they have the potential to transform their communities.

Our students are truly extraordinary, and it’s one of the greatest joys of my life to play even a small role in their stories.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
One of my favorite podcasts, “How’d She Do That?” was started by my friend Emily Landers and features interviews with female founders asking that question. Hearing the stories of so many amazing female founders has been so encouraging in my own journey, and I highly recommend it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wellinitiative.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellinitiative/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewellinitiative1
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amylsmathers/