Meghan Mueller

What makes Meghan Wildly Capable?

Meghan has the biggest heart for community of anyone I know. It’s a gift to be her friend and see her shine in her new role as Executive Director of Homeless Alliance. PERRIN DUNCAN 

What makes you feel proud? 

I am proud to be a working mom. Working after having kids was never really a question for me – I believe the best version of me is the version that is following my passion at work, and I am proud that my girls get to see me thriving at work and at home. 

What keeps you up at night? 

I love my job, but it does keep me up at night. As a social worker in the homelessness response space, I am confronted with the tension of my own privilege daily. It is hard to see human suffering and reconcile the reality of driving past people who are sleeping outdoors each day as I go home to my house at the end of the workday. I feel a real sense of urgency with my job, which definitely drives me to be better but can also keep me up at night. 

What’s been the biggest obstacle in your life so far? 

I think I am my own biggest obstacle. I am a person who lives with anxiety, and I tend to have unrealistically high expectations for myself. I have spent way too many hours of my life replaying awkward social interactions, rehashing emails I already sent, and just generally focusing on my mistakes rather than my successes. Sometimes I wish I could get out of my own way! 

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? 

Leslie Knope says “We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn’t matter, but work is third.” It is so easy to get caught up in the chaos and hustle of life. I love this reminder that work is important – maybe even top three in terms of priority – but it is not more important than the people we love and the sweeter things in life!