Stoke is so excited to welcome to the 2026 CWE Accelerator Cohort! Over the next few months, we’ll be highlighting the amazing entrepreneurs who are participating this year. First up is Courtney Douangdara of Heddi Strategies. Heddi partners with nonprofits, local governments, and purpose-driven organizations to help leaders turn good intent into clear strategy and measurable action — so people, communities, and organizations all benefit.
What inspired you to start your own business?
After ten years in nonprofit and local government, I kept noticing patterns in community services. There is so much expected of nonprofits and community organizations to solve problems and an incongruent expectation that they do so with as little resources as possible. At the same time, as I've seen systems change initiatives launch and evolve throughout my career, I've learned a lot about the power of vulnerability, relational leadership, and intentional investment in strong backbone support to help communities achieve their goals together. I was inspired to start Heddi by the beief that communities and the organizations that serve them can truly thrive, and by my desire to have more flexibility and variety in the work that I do.
What’s your background? Could you tell us how each of these disciplines emerged in your work?
My background is in people. My degrees are in Sociology and Community Organizing and I have always been motivated by what connects us as humans and how we can harness our collective intelligence and energy to make the world a better place for everyone. From a young age, I knew whatever work I ended up doing would be community and people oriented. I carry my passion for pragmatic community solutions and making the world an equitable place into everything I do.
What led you to take your work from an idea to pursuing it as a business?
At every stage of my career, I have learned new and different things about myself - what I want and what I am capable of. As I have learned to tune into myself and develop my confidence over the past ten plus years, I have learned to listen to the voice inside that says it's time to lean into change and build the next thing. Ultimately I reached a point where my thoughts and ideas around successful community organizations and collective impact initiatives converged with my wants and desires as a mom and an experienced professional. I am also very inspired by my 'big C' community - family and friends who believe in me and want to see me achieve my dreams. I had told enough people about my dreams and ideas that I eventually got to a point that I wasn't the only one excited to see how things would develop.
How did you find your brand identity?
My husband is my biggest supporter and is part owner in Heddi. We had been brainstorming ideas for a business name together and he tapped into his Lao heritage. We knew we wanted doing good to be at the forefront of the work. We named Heddi like we've named our two kids - once we came across the name we couldn't stop thinking about it and smiling and knew that was it. Ultimately, we wanted Heddi to be known for intentionality at its core.
Do you have a personal and/or professional motto or mantra that you call upon during tough times? What is it and what does it mean to you?
I've been getting Heddi off the ground for almost the same amount of time I have made the transition to 'mom of two', so my mantras for surviving parenthood and general life transitions have blended with my business mindset. Lately I have been inspired to 'take it simple', and not overcomplicate my motivations or strategies for building new things or solving problems. Stepping into the world of entrepreneurship has been a crash course in trusting my gut, and I've been telling myself it's okay to not be an A+ student right out of the gate.
How do you pick back up on moving your business forward when perhaps feeling uninspired?
I have thoroughly enjoyed embracing the 'woo woo' and celebrating the small things as I build out a new foundation for myself. I completely underestimated how overwhelming it would feel to sit down at my computer on my first day 'working for myself' and not have any idea where to start. Finding community at Stoke and with other entrepreneurs has been more impactful than I expected. It means a lot to know there are folks who believe in you.
What have you gained so far from being a part of the Accelerator cohort?
From a basic human nature standpoint, it has been very validating to connect with other entrepreneurs in similar lines of business or at similar points in their careers and know we are feeling and experiencing very similar things. Just a few weeks in, I have also been wildly inspired to be surrounded by other women making dreams happen for themselves. I can already tell we have a special group and I'm excited about growing and learning with and from each other for the next few months.