Meet Dionne Ybarra | Non Profit Founder/Entrepreneur

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

Hi Dionne, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk taking is everything! I had to take a risk to create an organization based on surfing but I was a beginner myself. I am also a female Latina. A very under represented demographic in the world of surfing. I went in with full imposter syndrome. Would anyone take me seriously enough to follow my lead. Anything ocean based is considered a high risk so I had to take a leap of faith that I could do what I said I was going to do while having the responsibility of having the lives of other humans in my hands. Every time I wanted to pivot in a new direction of programming I took a risk not knowing 100% that people would want to join the program. Everytime I reached out to a new demographic, or organization to partner with. Risk taking is uncomfortable and scary but I have always been willing to feel those feelings where I think they scare some people too much and people won’t ever try. In risk you have to trust yourself and your decisions and be willing to take responsibility if things don’t go the way you hoped. When things go a different way you have to be a quick thinker to make things work.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business is about bringing diverse people together. I am proud that we have worked in so many different countries with the intention to get people connected to the ocean. I got where I am by not seeing any barriers to the work that I want to do. My job is to eliminate barriers and it says that in our mission statement. I’m not afraid to take chances and think as big as possible. When I think of an idea it doesn’t take long for me to move to execute. There are so many challenges to the work I do and the work is continually challenging. The challenge doesn’t go away. Because I am constantly coming up with new ideas there are always new things I need to learn. I am good at being resourceful. This resourcefulness allows me to move forward. I have learned lessons about trusting people and trusting my gut in relation to who I will work with. I am the least likely person who should be doing what I am doing. What I want the world to know is that what every inspires you, whatever is put on your heart to do in the world, whatever your dreams are, those things are possible. My story is built on believing in myself and not limiting myself to what others may have thought was possible for me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to Mexico!! We would road trip through the jungles of Nayarit for 3 days, surf, stop at vendors along the way to eat and drink the local food. Find hot springs off of dirt roads. We would fly over to Oaxaca for the rest of the week and stay a a dreamy hostel and walk the town during the day and shop and look at art. At night we would eat the best ever restaurants where local Oaxacan chefs are making food that takes their local favorites and have elevated them to compete with the best cuisine in the world. I love the Mexican Cultural. It’s my cultural. I feel so proud to have roots in this beautiful country. The people are beautiful and the culture is diverse. It accessibility is unmatched for Americans to dive deeply into history within a few hours flight.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I read a book by Roz Savage called Rowing the Atlantic. When I read the last page I went over to her blog and a post there put me into tears. I closed the book and literally began to write down in a journal the idea for The Wahine Project. I was so inspired by the risks that Roz took that it made me believe I could do something that could change the world.

Website: thewahineproject.org

Instagram: thewahineproject

Linkedin: Dionne Ybarra

Facebook: Dionne Ybarra

Image Credits
Robby Fabry Kelli Udall