The Wild Advantage: Why Your Brain on Nature Is Your Boldest Business Move (WIFI Power Hour Recap)
On October 22, 2025, Women in Flooring (WIFI) hosted a Power Hour that felt more like a mindset reset. Our guest: Jessica DeAngelo—TEDx speaker, founder of Hike to Become™, and now officially a first-time author with her book The Wild Advantage: Why Your Brain on Nature Is Your Boldest Business Move dropping the very hour we went live.
Host Whitney LeGate (WIFI Board & Professional Development Chair) set the stage, celebrating WIFI’s mission to attract, educate, and empower women across the flooring industry—and then handed the mic to Jessica to show us how a daily walk outside can unlock sharper strategy, better leadership, and a saner life.
“I returned to myself. I went for a walk in the woods and I remembered how to breathe again.” — Jessica D’Angelo
The spark: a walk that changed everything
Jessica “grew up” in flooring—Mannington Commercial, then Interface as a Global Account Director. In early 2020, newly a mom and buried under back-to-back video calls, she looked out at Portland’s Forest Park and did the unthinkable: canceled a meeting, left her phone in the car, and walked. That single choice rewired her work and her life.
She didn’t quit because of burnout. In fact, while still at Interface she began hiking daily—and the next year earned Global Account Manager of the Year with double-digit growth. The difference? Focus.
“I wasn’t working necessarily more hours. I was working smarter.” — Jessica
Fast-forward to 2023 as a consultant: the stress pattern crept back. A sunrise hike on December 23rd led to the simple commitment that became a movement: 31 days of hiking, one day at a time—no perfection required. She called it Hike to Become™.
HIKE: the 4 rules that make it work
Jessica’s method is memorable because it’s simple—and because every letter matters.
H — Hike (or walk)
Gentle, rhythmic movement bilaterally stimulates your brain (left and right hemispheres), helping you process emotions and think more clearly.
I — In nature
Nature isn’t only mountaintops. If it’s not man-made, it counts: tree-lined streets, parks, a patch of grass, open sky.
K — Keep technology off
No phone. No earbuds. No smartwatch. This is what most people skip—and it’s why their “walks” don’t create breakthroughs.
“It looks just as silly when we do it—standing in epic places, glued to our phones, missing the waterfall.” — Jessica
E — Every day
Aim for 30–40 minutes daily for 31 days. If you miss a day, you do not start over. This is about intention, not perfection.
Why it boosts business (and your sanity)
Leaders are chronically interrupted—by notifications, responsibilities, and the invisible mental load. Jessica explained how your best problem-solving lives in the brain’s Default Mode Network—but you can’t access it with constant inputs. Around minute 30, something shifts: clutter falls away, priorities sharpen, creativity clicks.
“If you give me 30–40 minutes, I can give you two hours back. You’ll see most of your to-do list doesn’t matter.” — Jessica
Host Whitney put it to the test—and didn’t mince words about the discomfort and the payoff.
“It was difficult to be alone with myself for 30 minutes every day… and then I started craving that time.” — Whitney LeGate
Safety & real-life logistics (especially for women)
Traveling, late days, city living—WIFI members asked the practical questions. Jessica’s approach:
Safety first: Carry your phone on airplane mode/Do Not Disturb if needed. Bring mace/bear spray where appropriate. Choose daylight and familiar routes.
Neighborhoods count: If your Wednesday night looks urban, the sky still counts.
Do it alone—mostly: The method is designed for solo time, but life happens. A kid on a scooter beside you is still a win if your intention stays intact.
“Do your best. Most days alone. Some days your kids join—and those tech-free conversations can be gold.” — Jessica
Accountability helps, too. Whitney suggested a buddy text (just a ✅ or “tough one today”)—no need to hike together to keep each other honest.
A story we loved
Jessica shared Rick’s transformation (featured in Chapter 4). After a demanding group hike, he didn’t blame the mountain—he used the mirror it offered.
“I thought I was mad at you. I was mad at me.” — Rick (as shared by Jessica)
A year later, his life looked different—because he did.
Join the (free) 31-Day Challenge
Start tomorrow. Don’t overthink it.
Text HIKE to 33777 to join.
Do 30–40 minutes outside, tech-free, every day for 31 days.
Miss a day? Show up the next day.
Want the deeper science and stories? Grab the book—on launch day it was $0.99 for the e-book.
“What if we didn’t have to wait to be the people we ultimately want to be? What if we just worried about showing up on Day One?” — Jessica
Final word
This Power Hour wasn’t another pep talk. It was a permission slip: put your phone down, step outside, and let clarity find you. Your calendar may be packed—but your next breakthrough probably isn’t in your inbox.
“We aren’t burnt out—we’re lighting ourselves on fire.” — Jessica
See you on the trail—one intentional, tech-free minute at a time.
About WIFI (and what’s next)
WIFI continues to attract, educate, and empower women across flooring—with Power Hours, mentoring (new matches begin February 2026), scholarships (over $30,000 awarded to 16 recipients), and our new WIFI Book Club. Sign up for the 2026 mentoring cohort at https://www.womeninflooring.org/mentoring, and join the book club at https://www.womeninflooring.org/book-club. Join Friends of WIFI to help support programming, mentorship, and scholarships! Individual donations start at $15/month, with corporate levels beginning at $1,500/year.