Mandy Teefey her rise to becoming CEO of Wondermind is not straightforward. For example, Teefey had to overcome societal barriers as a teen mother, face personal mental struggles and successfully guided her then-teenage daughter through international stardom.
What you’ll find in this article is how Mandy Teefey discovered her purpose in life:
1. being a the best parent she can be; and
2. advocating for young people’s mental well-being
She does this through storytelling, breaking taboos and being open about her own challenges. I wholeheartedly admire Mandy Teefey. Enjoy reading this inspirational post!
Mandy Teefey’s rise against all odds
Mandy Teefey gave birth to Selena at the age of 16 years. People around her no longer expected much of her. Because she wanted her daughter to have a better start in life than she herself had, Teefey did not give in to the popular opinion. And that as a 16 year old! It appears that Teefey has enormous inner strength that helped her push through.
Mandy had acting ambitions and took her daughter along on various acting jobs. Seeing her mother in front of the camera, Selena told her mother: “I want that too”. And with “that” Selena meant “being on TV”. Sticking to her wish to make her daughter thrive in life, Teefey managed to arrange auditions at Disney for Selena. That’s how Selena started her TV career at the age of 10.
Many separated parents struggle to be in the same room together. Although Teefey and Brian Gomez (father of Selena) surely had their differences, they did succeed in a much bigger task together: managing their daughter who quickly rose to international stardom, while at Disney. Behind the scenes, there were undoubtedly struggles the young parents had to overcome privately and professionally. On the outside it can be objectively said that they managed to keep Selena on the good drug-free path.
“Just keep your focus on your goals, your empowerment and your voice. You can’t make everyone happy so, at least live in peace with yourself”, Mandy Teefey wrote on her Instagram.
Making your own voice heard
In her early 30s Teefey became the CEO of Kicked to the Curb Productions. This company produce the hit Netflix series “13 Reasons Why”. Mandy her focus was on creating meaningful storytelling and adolescent female empowerment. In that she succeeded. The series addressing teenage suicide became both a cultural controversy as a discussion starter about this hush-hush topic.
I have not met Mandy Teefey myself, for me it is clear that Mandy Teefey was not in it for the money. Teefey seems to have an internal drive to bring taboo topics to the table. Above all for adolescents and young people.
This drive is so strong that I suspect it was her own inner struggles that lie at its heart. For example, Mandy teefey said in a Forbes interview:
“I use to be so insecure about my ADHD and when I would have a moment I would just tell people to ignore me or I would over explain an action that I didn’t even understand. I eventually went to treatment to learn to take care of myself too. Why is that one of the hardest challenges of my life? ”
And also Teefey’s current project is another step of breaking barriers.
the more push back and the more obstacles presented to you are signs of you breaking ground! You are doing something right. Just keep your focus on your goals, your empowerment and your voice.
“You can’t make everyone happy so, at least live in peace with yourself.” Teefey wrote on her Instagram.
WonderMind Promoting mental health care for all
Teefey has been open about her personal battles with mental health, and this vulnerability is a core strength of her leadership. Together with Selena who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Teefey co-founded WonderMind. WonderMind is a mental health ecosystem that’s designed to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness, offering a safe, supportive community for people to openly discuss their mental health journeys.
WonderMind stands out as a female-founded, values-driven project. Teefey, Selena Gomez and their business partner Daniella Pierson shared goal is to provide accessible resources for anyone dealing with mental health challenges.
“You can’t make everyone happy so, at least live in peace with yourself.” Mandy Teefey wrote on her instagram.
I’m sure that as a single teen mother Teefey’s found little time for herself. Was Teefey even taught prioritising mental well-being? I personally doubt it. All the more I admire Mandy Teefey for finding this out by herself and now paying it forward with WonderMind.
Reinventing Leadership and Career at Any Stage
Mandy Teefey’s journey isn’t linear. And that’s what makes it so powerful. She has transitioned through various roles without much guidance, I presume. Her ability to continually evolve and show her vulnerability, demonstrates a leadership model that’s flexible, resilient, and unafraid of reinvention.
For senior women looking to make career pivots, Teefey’s story serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to chart a new path, tackle new industries, or drive change in a meaningful way. Her journey exemplifies the power of leaning into one’s unique story, particularly as a female leader who has had to overcome societal and industry biases.
Lessons from Mandy Teefey’s natural leadership style
Mandy Teefey’s approach to business and advocacy offers valuable lessons for women in senior roles:
- Lead with Authenticity: Teefey’s transparency about her mental health journey builds trust and creates space for others to be open and vulnerable.
- Commit to Purposeful Storytelling: Her focus on projects that elevate women’s voices and underrepresented stories exemplifies a mission-driven approach that resonates with modern, conscious consumers.
- Embrace Reinvention: Her career pivots showcase that reinvention can be empowering, whether you’re entering new industries or creating new platforms.
Empowerment through Reinvention
Mandy Teefey’s career is a testament to the power of resilience, purpose, and leadership. Don’t let other get to you. Her journey serves as a reminder to women that, with courage and adaptability, reinvention is not just possible—it’s empowering. In an industry known for its volatility, Teefey has used her influence to make a lasting impact on mental health advocacy and storytelling, inspiring a new generation of female leaders.