Hidden Gems: Meet Phaidra Wright of Greater MPower Tutoring

Today we’d like to introduce you to Phaidra Wright.

Hi Phaidra, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
I took the traditional “safe” path, which was to finish high school then college, get a master’s in civil engineering, get married then have kids. I was confident that I had taken all the “correct” steps to create a stable life. 

Welp, life happened. There was the layoff, a failed business, many closed doors, and to top it off, divorce. I never found my way back to the full-time corporate life after getting laid off. When my first child was born, I was still out of the corporate world, and I knew that I wanted to stay home to raise him. The birth of my second child solidified my commitment to that decision. However, having children is expensive, so I began exploring income-generating options that would afford the flexibility I sought. I slowly began to contemplate if, perhaps, I was not called to the traditional corporate life but that I am called to be an entrepreneur. So, after I took inventory of my natural gifts, interests, and experiences, Greater MPower Tutoring was born. 

Greater MPower Tutoring has been in business for over a decade. We have expanded our services to include a variety of classes, clinics, and seminars. I was supposed to interview with you guys last year, but I did not because I was ashamed of the fact that I had not yet achieved a six-figure earning status. And I still have not. However, we have experienced plenty of other celebratory moments as a result of the many lives we have touched. 

We are still learning, growing, and evolving on this journey and have a LOT of exciting projects underway. On a personal level, I will be performing in my second stage play this year, “Tattered but not Broken,” by Tamara Coleman, in July. On a business level, we look forward to expanding our reach with our math clinics, Spanish classes, Entrepreneurship + Financial Literacy class, and the launch of our language learning program! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Heavens, no! It has been a struggle. My vision is WAY bigger than my current reality. So, I sometimes get frustrated when things do not work out. When you run a business, you have to deal with finding dependable contractors, the supply and demand balance, finding the work-life balance, and just feeling alone on this journey. However, I believe that God is working on increasing my “in the fire” level of faith and trust in Him. He has never failed me in the past, and I know He never will. I know things will work out when they are supposed to work out and how they are supposed to work out. That is how I encourage myself during and after the tears and snot fests! 

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Greater MPower Tutoring?
Greater MPower Tutoring, LLC’s mission is to equip youth with the necessary knowledge, tools, skills, and support to become well-rounded, successful community and global citizens. Our programming is founded on the five pillars of Academic Success, Personal Development, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, and Cultural Awareness & Appreciation. 

We offer individualized tutoring, financial empowerment products, math clinics, Spanish classes, and an entrepreneurship + financial literacy class for youth. 

One of our pillars is Cultural Awareness & Appreciation. We believe that we are all part of one race, the human race and that learning about other cultures broadens one’s horizons and view on life. We believe and teach that everyone is worthy and deserving of love and respect. We currently teach a class called Spanish Explorations, where students learn basic Spanish conversational skills and some cultural tidbits. This is just the start. We are developing this curriculum to be commercially available by mid-2025, hopefully earlier. The first language rollout will be Spanish, with future editions to include other foreign languages. 

We are locally owned and operated. I am a Georgia Peach who has returned home after living in various places domestically and abroad. My travels, love of learning, academic background, and an assortment of interests create a unique atmosphere at Greater MPower Tutoring. We are not a one-trick pony. Our programs appeal to those seeking an outlet not just for academic improvement but cultural awareness and appreciation and overall personal development. 

We are proud of the student who was voted the most improved in her school. We are proud of the students who successfully launched their businesses and began generating income after taking our Entrepreneurship + Financial Literacy class. We are proud of every child who has put in the work to be and do better. We are proud of the growth and reach our business has experienced, especially over these last three years since we relocated to Atlanta. 

I take the work we do seriously. I love working with kids and want to see them shine in their unique ways. Your kid becomes our kid because we believe in the power of the village. We are here to connect, empower, and transform. 

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Find a mentor. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Without guidance, a people will fall, but there is victory with many counselors.” (Common English Bible). I tend to work alone, but I do reach out to trusted individuals when I need feedback or advice. I have worked with University of Georgia’s Small Business Administration (UGA SBA) and had positive and productive experiences with them. As for networking, you should promote yourself and your services when and where you can, as appropriate. I have attended a few networking events that have placed me in the circle of my target audience. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.GMPTutoring.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMPTutoring