In this episode of to Founders, Future, with host Zach Young, we’re joined by Steph Ward, a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, founder of The Evergreen Academy, and director of Ford Business Solutions. Steph shares her journey from years in the corporate world — including roles at major organizations like McDonald’s and Siemens — to building and scaling her own businesses. After leaving corporate life in search of greater freedom, Steph and her husband built a property business from the ground up, learning hard lessons along the way that shaped her resilience, business acumen, and passion for entrepreneurship.

Steph explains how becoming a mother pushed her to create a more flexible, sustainable income model, leading to the launch of The Evergreen Academy. She walks through her mission to help coaches, trainers, and service-based founders turn their knowledge into scalable, evergreen courses that generate consistent income without trading time for money. The conversation explores evergreen business models, community-driven learning, group coaching, the balance between automation and human connection, and why mentorship, structure, and support are essential for founders at every stage. Steph also shares her long-term vision of helping thousands of new entrepreneurs start their businesses with clarity, confidence, and a framework built for long-term success.