We’re looking forward to introducing you to Mandy Vang. Check out our conversation below.
Mandy, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of running and operating my chapter, Hot Mess Express Dakota County, I also own and run a small cleaning company, part time. What truly brings me joy outside of this work is being able to spend time with my three young children. I homeschool them and I am grateful to be self-employed with flexibility. It allows me to adapt my schedule to my needs. They are my absolute world!
With this non-profit, it’s so rewarding to be able to help other women within our community who are going through a hard time. I was once there when I was newly postpartum, I was drowning. It’s enlightening to be on the other side of that phase in life. To be in position to help others is an honor. I am so happy I am able to represent this chapter and bring joy to others. Cleaning and organizing are some of my passions, and I’m glad I can share my skills with others in need. Bringing joy to others, brings joy to me and my team. I have an amazing team that brings their skills and wisdom to each rescue mission and to this chapter. They are the best and bring me so much joy. We are light in a dark world, a helping hand, not a handout.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hot Mess Express was founded in North Carolina and has many chapters across the United States. I started out as the Affiliate for the Twin Cities chapter, then moved out and created my current chapter, Dakota County. Hot Mess Express is a group of women here to rescue each other when we can’t seem to get ourselves out of the day-to-day funk. Through nominations, we dispatch ourselves to the homes of fellow women who need some help. We aim to help with laundry, dishes, organizing meal prep and restoration of household balance. Twin Cities is under a new chapter affiliate now and there is another chapter in Rochester, MN
So far, our chapter has done 6 rescue missions since opening earlier this year. We have passionate and dedicated volunteers and are getting new inquires every day. We are always looking for more volunteers to help us serve the community as we grow. What makes our chapter interesting and unique is the team.
I am a professional house cleaner and postpartum doula. I specialize in working with women in many walks of life within the home. I also am a co leader for a girl scout troop, so… Girl Power! I am a natural born leader and personable. I am able to resonate and connect with people in hard times under difficult circumstances. I assure others, that they’re not alone and we are in this together. When I heard of Hot Mess Express on Tik-Tok, my jaw dropped to the ground. This is something I’ve always wanted to offer within my own company, I just didn’t know how. I was shocked there was something like this in our state! At the time, there was only one chapter, Rochester, MN. While other states have at least four plus chapters, Minnesota had one. I didn’t hesitate to become an affiliate; the world needs more of these kinds of things.
On the team, we have the wonderful Anne. Anne is a professional organizer for Dakota County. Her company name is, OrgANNEizer. She brings her expertise and connections (personal and business) to this amazing chapter. She is the one who recommended our chapter to Canvas Rebels. She is full of positive, vibrant energy and is so passionate is making a space better in life, work and business! She is also my friend and so lovely to be around. She is so considerate and thoughtful, funny and outgoing.
We have the amazing Erin. Erin works in sustainability and performs quality inspections. She has the “go getter” drive to help others in time of need. She is determined and hardworking. She’s worked with other nonprofits and used to write grants, so non-profit work is kind of her thing! She is able to put things in perspective and give many ideas to best organize and execute everything within our chapter. She also is very personable and great at validating women when they are expressing their feelings and situations. She’s a great listener and helps keep the team on track.
These ladies are primarily the ones who will conduct calls, walk throughs and execute rescue missions, I handle the behind-the-scenes things, the admin stuff. But most of the work we do together, is a trio effort. The three of us work together and come up with solutions and ideas to best serve others in their homes while also spreading awareness. We have created a lasting bond. I’m so beyond grateful for them and couldn’t ask for a better team.
Right now, we are working on spreading awareness for our chapter. We are looking for more volunteers and members to come join our Facebook group and hopefully join in on a rescue mission with us! We also just finished an open house event and will be working on more marketing opportunities and advertising to gather more help as we grow. ln the future, we would love to do a fundraiser and get more involved with other small businesses and non-profits. Our main goal is to increase our volunteer pool and create partnerships!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I have struggled with believing in myself and what I am capable of pretty much my entire life. I used to fall in the pattern of self-doubt, and negative talk, even depression. This really shifted my reality. I went through a lot of trauma as a kid and in my younger years. It really tore down any confidence I once had. In college, I essentially had lost my sense of identity that only got worse after having my first child. Simply put, I lost myself.
The person who helped me see myself authentically is my current partner. Now, I have been with my partner for going on 8 years, We share three beautiful children together. He has always accepted me for exactly who I am, with all the good and bad from day 1. He always knew and told me I can achieve anything I put my mind to, even if others don’t like what I am doing, or had something negative to say about me. He saw all my flaws and loved me through them. He gave me something nobody else was able to, unconditional love.
He recognized my hard work and has always supported me in anything/everything I wanted to do, including my Hot Mess chapter! He’s never criticized me and always took interest in things I was passionate about. Others would always think in selfish ways, while I was the opposite. I thought that was a defect of some sort. Turns out, I just have a big heart. I enjoy helping other people when they are feeling low. Because when I was low, nobody was there for me. He spoke the words I needed to hear then and now. I didn’t have someone by my side cheering me on, back then. My partner has seen my potential before I could even see my own potential. Took me over 20 years to have a different set of lenses to see myself authentically and what I am capable of.
I remember when I got my first certificate for becoming a postpartum doula, my partner hung it up right away for display. He was so proud of me. In turn, it became my mindset and again, shifted my thought process for the better. I know myself, I see my potential, and it is clear and understood. Now, I instill these words and motivation into my children and teach them how to love themselves like their dad did during my own personal rough patches.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You are worthy, loved, kind and you matter.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say, “What matters most to Mandy is her family and friends. She makes sure everyone feels supported and loved. She puts 110% effort into everything she does for her own children and goes above and beyond for others as well. She loves to see others smile. She can transmute energy in a room and bring the best out of others and situations.”
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
People think that I have it all together, all organized, a clean home, structure and routine figured out, pure perfection. In reality, I am still trying to figure it out, I put on quite the balance act in everything I juggle in life. I am far from perfect. When people say these things, I remind them that I am human and just like any other person, I’m doing the very best I can. It’s definitely difficult to keep up with all the “hats” I wear. I get stressed, burnout, disappointed, discouraged, and I get stuck and stagnate at times. I have three young children and I’m still in the younger-age stages with them and that can be stressful and tiring. I go through hard times, but I have motivation to keep going and to not give up. I always strive to do better than yesterday. I don’t strive for perfection.
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Image Credits
Mandy Vang, Anne Messerli, Erin Woodword, Holly Pinkerton
