Meet The Disruptors: L. Renee Blount Of WndrHaus On The Five Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry
An Interview With Fotis Georgiadis
Be Bold. That was told directly to me once at a lecture. It’s something I take with me.
As a part of our series about business leaders who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewingL. Renee Blount.
L. Renee Blount is a professional adventurer, athlete and creative. She’s dedicated to her work as an athlete with a camera who is making the outdoors way more inviting, fun and filled with flavor. A proud alumni of Harvard University School of Design, she is known for her infectious smile and joyous work in the outdoor space as director & photographer. She has graced the cover of Outside Magazine, featured in Gear Patrol, Nat Geo, Athleta, North Face, Patagonia and more. WndrHaus.com
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
I got my start by inviting myself when I was never invited. This has been my career path. The dozens of coffees scheduled between SF, NYC and Boston until I could land my creative and strategy jobs in innovation & design despite having two graduate degrees. I quickly recognized fancy school names may not overcome my own name, so I had to show up and prove myself. The conferences where I humbly showed up to be the notetaker but relentlessly networked. And when I shortened my name to “L.”, calls began to be returned despite applying previously. Yes — that is very real.
The same is true for the outdoors. I don’t come from money in any way. I never felt fully invited when I picked up a camera out of desire to tell stories like my own. A lot of my work sat on hard drives until tragedy. However, I always believed in my creativity, voice, ability to learn and physical capabilities. I believed in our stories and style long before it became popular.
I am an advocate for women to take big creative risks that bring joy — a calculated bet on yourself because you deserve the chance to see what can happen. We all deserve to take a risk — a big one. And the most successful individuals, take the biggest leaps. It’s something I didn’t see women in my family have the ability to do. That very ability to take a risk is often shorter for minorities and economically who may not have the same options for a fall back.
I’ve always been a creative hustler to make sure I had scholarships, so no one knew my family’s economic situation. When I graduated from Harvard, I thought I’d made it. Turns out, I had not at all. It took me 50 coffees, grit and faith to pivot from architecture to land my first big job working in NYC doing creative strategy. I was asking to be a notetaker at conferences so I could introduce myself to VPs.
At the firms, I was inspired by the CEOs I’d come across — they were gay-identifying and black working companies ideate the most out-of-this-world — NBA to J.Crew to IBM. That power of the visual led me to think, Why not me? And what happens if I can become more aligned and follow my passion projects? Rethinking the outdoor space with more joy, more flavor, more diverse faces.
I decided to take a leap of faith with a career change. I saved up a freedom fund and decided to pursue alignment. I changed coasts and followed my side hustle with the encouragement from Alain Sylvain, a CEO I looked up to and worked for. For a while, I’d take red eyes to do my creative outdoor assignments and still keep my consulting work. And then I decided to go for it. I’ve been training in climbing for the last 10 years. And in my first year photography, I’d already worked with The North Face, Arc’Teryx and Patagonia all while working full-time.
The biggest encouragement was from the black women in my family who hadn’t been allowed to take chances. It was with their cheerleading that I decided to embrace being uncomfortable due to their history of never feeling like they could for it.
When I followed my calling, within just a few months, I made magazine covers, was added to the Nat Geo Adventure Team as the only black woman ever and only the third black person ever; partnered with elite outdoor companies on campaigns and so much more.
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
Showing joy and visuals through creative directing & working directly with brands to tell new stories in a space that is not typically diverse.
Here’s are some snapshot examples:
+ Decided to remake the covers of popular outdoor publications to feature my work of adventurers and athletes of color as a provocation. The outdoor world took notice. An exercise in strategy and creativity.
+ Landed the September/October cover of Outside Magazine after my work was widely seen.
+ Hosted & produced a new video series! Pitched and co-produced a series that celebrates my loves — adventure, innovation and curiosity. The series will feature Cake (the Tesla of electric bikes), OneWheel and more. This was my first time doing any video, and I’ve gone on to do more since.
+ I’m the only black woman contributor to the Nat Geo Adventure Team and as an athlete & explorer, I’ve been pushing into expeditions. Here’s my latest crazy trip that just released with Sony!
+ Since 2020, I’ve worked with Sony and a host of brands to give cameras away to elevate talent in the outdoor space. I deeply know what it is like to have the talent and not have the best equipment. With a host of brands, I’ve been able to do $30k+ in funding for portfolio projects and give over 10 professional camera setups away with gear by spearheading the Elevation & Peak Design grants for underrepresented creatives.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I hired my little brother to be an assistant on my first big shoot while he was early in college. Total fail. LOL. I also hadn’t been on a set before. I’d come from just doing projects on my own & didn’t know all the ins and outs. He complained the whole time and I haven’t done that since. He’s super generous, smart and bright — and he works at Meta now so it’s all good.
We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
Many, many people have had an impact on my journey. Even some who may never know it.
Susan at Ideo — “Just get in the door.” She gave me 10 minutes on a call but it was so valuable.
Toyo Ito — the Pulitzer Prize-winning architect really encouraged me not to be traditional when I spent 3 months in Tokyo while taking his architecture studio. When I got back to Harvard, I super embraced the pivot.
Caitlin Kalinowski — She’s an amazing friend and confidant. And a big deal in the tech world. Since I pivoted at Harvard into innovation & storytelling, she’s known me. We talk often and always share insights. Super brilliant and makes me feel like I’m making the right decisions creatively.
Alain Sylvain — He encouraged me that I could go out on my own. He’s another business savant and I worked for his firm in NYC. I was surprised by his revelation and confidence.
Chris Burkhard — I’m so thankful to him. Just having someone I admire like my work was a huge confidence boost. When I went to Iceland with him, I asked so many business questions. He was so open and honest.
And many more. I like highlighting these individuals because they are also very astute at business. That’s super integral for me. I took entrepreneurship business classes twice at Harvard — one at the Harvard Kennedy School and one at Harvard Business School. And thinking about opportunity costs and ROI are super important.
In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?
It’s a positive disruption when the status quo only exists to serve or elevate the few. For example, Patagonia reached out to me early on. I, like many, deeply very much respect their environmentalism. They are a leader and pioneer. However, I rarely, rarely ever saw myself in their materials. So, when they approached me, I told them I wasn’t privileged enough to work with them and kindly explained every reason why. The email was circulated amongst their team.
They desired more diverse content but their process only allowed for the privileged few to go out and do it. Essentially, it was built for photographers to go out on trips. And then they’ll just archive your images for weeks or years until they have a need. No one gets paid until then.
If you have less access to equipment, the trips, the people that can afford to go, etc., then how can you get supported by them? How will it not only go to the most insular circles who’ve long been able to afford it or have those connections?
They called back. Hopefully, that email opened eyes not only for me but for anyone who’s been an outsider.
It’s negative when I think it’s done without thought or intention. Or the ramifications will be ignored. Just look at FTX.
Can you share five of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
Be Bold. That was told directly to me once at a lecture. It’s something I take with me.
We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?
Out of my triumphs, the world gets to see the most incredible places illuminated with joy outside. And changing the narrative of who exists and who’s doing the most badass things makes me smile like no other.
There’s a couple endeavors — I’m building up my creative studio, WndrHaus. Beyond creative directing, concepting & photographing for amazing brands, I want to continually push as an athlete.
Up next is continuing to push that and making sure I’m on expeditions. It’s still rare to see women with cameras on expeditions teams. And women of color are even rarer.
Highlighting my creative directing, design and consulting efforts. I’ve been behind the scenes working on incredible things. Next year, I hope to amplify those efforts and talk about them.
And most importantly, there’s also altruism initiatives for outdoor inclusivity. I’m bringing back completely free experiences (such as gym takeovers) that give underserved communities the ability to try.
Do you have a book, podcast, or talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us? Can you explain why it was so resonant with you?
I love the Jen Sincero Badass books. They came in heavy at the right time when I knew I needed to pursue something new but felt nervous to dive in. I had started saving up to make it happen. But reading those, I felt that it was possible. They’re books of hope & affirmation that I really love and re-read passages.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“You can’t climb a mountain if it’s smooth. You have to go over the rough spots.” -S. Adams
I love this visual. And it’s helpful for the continual climb.
“Once you know better, you can do better” is something my grandmother always repeats. And I constantly say it to myself. There’s so much that I’ve had to figure out — how to get in the door, how to get to make it when I have less resources, how to maneuver when others put me in a box, how to be first when someone like me doesn’t exist, etc. I tell myself I deserve the chance to take risk, to fail. To allow my pathway to be a gate opener so others can walk in.
I think I can be precious and perfectionist at times. But I’m here to fail forward. If I stumble, it’s okay as long as I can really learn and continually improve.
Like many, I feel like there’s still so much to learn and know. But I’m not here to be a flash in the pan. I’m endlessly curious and love being experimental. So, if I make a mistake, I can improve. And I can share that knowledge & hopefully, inspire.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Reclaim & reclaim with joy. You deserve to be there especially if you haven’t been historically invited.
Making sure that you’re giving more than taking. What are you doing to replenish & nourish? Not only yourself but the community or society. When you visit a place, you can give to it by sharing that experience with others who haven’t been able to go, by volunteering, by donating to a local area. Your presence is powerful. Remember to not just take.
How can our readers follow you online?
IG: @urbanclimbr
Website: www.wndrhaus.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lrblount/
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Meet The Disruptors: L Renee Blount Of WndrHaus On The Five Things You Need To Shake Up Your Indust was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
