I Wish I Had This When I Started: Why I Created Foundry & Grit

From an award-winning executive to a consultant with a broader purpose.

Dr. Amanda Holdsworth went from an award-winning career as an executive to a consultant helping schools, nonprofits, and edtech companies worldwide.

Starting my first business was equal parts exciting and messy.

I had vision, determination, and a lot of experience. There were no shortcuts, no secret playbooks, and definitely no one to call when I hit a wall. So I figured it out the hard way.

I made mistakes—some small, some expensive. I took on too much. I undercharged. I listened to the wrong advice. I downloaded every “freebie” I could find and tried to reverse-engineer what other people were doing, hoping it would work for me.

That led to frustration, overwhelm, and a strong desire to throw in the towel.

I didn’t need more noise…I needed real help

I needed someone to say, “Your gut instinct was right. Let’s explore that more.”

I needed tools that were clear and actionable.

I needed a place where I could think out loud, work through problems, and not feel like I was doing it all wrong just because my path didn’t look like everyone else’s.

That’s why I created Foundry & Grit.

This is the resource I wish I had—built for people like you and me: the tenacious, the driven, the doers.

What I’ve learned (the hard way)

Over the years, I’ve worked with startups, nonprofits, schools, creatives, and founders across industries. I’ve consulted, coached, taught, built programs, led teams, and scaled brands.

But the most important things I’ve learned came from running my own business. From sitting in the quiet moments, asking, “Is this working? Am I doing this right? Why does this feel so hard?”

Here’s what I know now:

• You don’t need to do it all at once.

• You can build a business that fits your life, not the other way around.

• You don’t need every tool out there.

• You don’t have to follow the crowd.

• You don’t have to figure it out alone.
  
  

Foundry & Grit is for the ones doing the real work

This isn’t fluff. It’s not hustle culture. It’s not about going viral or chasing trends.

It’s about real tools, real talk, and building something that lasts.

It’s coaching without the jargon. Strategy without the overwhelm.

It’s the honest advice I wish someone had given me when I was just getting started.

If you're building something from the ground up—or rebuilding something that no longer fits—you belong here.

Welcome to Foundry & Grit.  Let’s do the work. Together.