We had the good fortune of connecting with Casey Myers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Casey, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I believe life is about taking risks and trusting your gut. In 2016, I left my job as a manager in the admissions department of a university to backpack the world for a year. The trip transformed my life and led to me volunteering in the largest refugee camp in the world and eventually earning my Masters degree and founding my own nonprofit. Personally, taking risks also pushed me to invest in my first home at a young age, take in senior dogs, and this summer I will marry my best friend who I convinced to visit me in Greece only 2 months after meeting me. Risk is about trust. How much do you trust yourself? Do you trust that you have the foresight the take advantage of what opportunities lay before you and the knowledge or the stamina to overcome what obstacles and issues may arise? If you do your due diligence to prevent disaster and accept that some things are not in your control but you will handle it to the best of your ability when things go wrong, then you are ready for greatness that few will ever be brave enough to seek.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the founder and Executive Director of One Digital World, an international nonprofit that prepares refugees and asylum seekers to integrate and become self-reliant in a new country and culture. We do that by connecting them with virtual educational, legal, and health information. While I was traveling and volunteering with different refugee crisis throughout Europe and Central America I noticed that there were many amazing organizations assisting with emergency services like food and shelter and even some that provided immediate educational services to displaced children but when adults were resettled outside of the camps, they lost access to those services and a sense of community. Many adults struggled financially, emotionally, and professionally and when the parents struggle, the entire family does. That’s why I wanted to use the months and years that they are waiting to be granted asylum as an opportunity to change this living-in-limbo to a time to grow, learn, and prepare for a future they want and deserve. When I decided to expand my project into a company I didn’t do it alone. I attended a entrepreneurship incubator, attended classes, read books, and networked with other young entrepreneurs. Sometimes I have found I don’t even know the questions to ask, so putting myself in an environment where I am around (even virtually) other likeminded, driven, and positive people pushes me to seek answers, share my mistakes and learn from others, and find motivation over and over again.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Tacos and margaritas in Old Town San Diego Happy Hour at Liberty Station Public Market The view at Mount Soledad (this is where I got engaged!) A stroll through Balboa Park – I love the trails here and checking out the food trucks on Fridays. Plus there is just something sweet about wandering around and peeking in museums and having an ice cream cone. Tapas and catching live music at Cafe Bar Europa Grilling your own steak and having a stiff cocktail at Turf Supper Club Enjoying some tiki drinks at The Grass Skirt Watching the surfers dodge the pier and the performers on the grass while eating lunch at Wonderland Ocean Pub Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to give a shout out to my mother, Vicki Tilton, who has supported my wild and crazy ideas and never held me back from trusting my instincts and to my fiance, Devon Doane, who makes sure that I drink water and find balance and last but not least to Jenna LaBranche and Blair Jimenez who are my travel tribe and inspired me to travel more and learn about the world by experiencing it first hand.

Website: https://www.onedigitalworld.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onedigitalworld/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onedigitalworld

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OneDigitalWorl1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onedigitalworld.net

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