Hidden Gems: Meet Amber Harris of Bridgn Gaps, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Harris.

Hi Amber, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story really starts with my own experiences growing up, experiencing trauma, and searching for a sense of belonging. I know what it feels like to want to be seen, heard, and accepted. Those experiences shaped how I connect with people and why creating spaces where others feel valued is so important to me.

Being a mother, a foster parent, and an adoptive mother has deepened that understanding. So has experiencing grief and the loss of siblings and parents. Those losses have shaped who I am and how I show up for others. They’ve taught me about the importance of connection, making room for people’s pain, and understanding that we all carry things others may never see.

My education gave me a foundation in early childhood development, psychology, social work, and human development, but the people I’ve worked with over the past 30-plus years have taught me just as much. That includes 20 years supporting children and families impacted by foster care and adoption. Through those relationships, I’ve seen how trauma can shape us, how deeply we need to belong, and what can happen when someone consistently shows up and reminds us that we matter.

Bridgn Gaps grew out of those personal and professional experiences. I wanted to create spaces where people could learn, connect, and get practical tools to move forward. The foundation of my business is to educate, encourage, and empower, and I often say, “Relationships are life-changing.” That includes the relationship we have with ourselves.

Over time, my work has expanded into youth programming, mentor training, wellness coaching, support spaces, and leadership development. Today, I work with everyone from young people finding their voice to leaders learning how to communicate, support their teams, and take care of themselves. I describe myself as a motivational educator because I want people to leave feeling encouraged and knowing what they can actually do with what they’ve learned.

My own growth and healing have also shaped this journey and my writing. I’m learning right alongside the people I serve. One thing I continue to learn is that pouring into others has to include making time to pour back into myself.

Getting here has been a combination of education, lived experience, relationships, and being willing to keep growing—even through grief and change. Through all of it, the heart of my work has stayed the same: helping people recognize that their voice matters, their experiences matter, and they deserve spaces where they can belong and grow.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been challenges, and one of the biggest starting out was learning how to manage my expectations of myself. I had to work through imposter syndrome—questioning whether I was doing enough, whether I was ready, and whether I could build something sustainable. Even with years of experience helping others, stepping out on my own required a different level of confidence and trust in myself.

There’s also the practical side of working for yourself: securing enough contracts to support yourself while continuing to build the business. I’ve navigated medical issues and surgeries, along with grief and the loss of loved ones. When you work for yourself, taking time to recover or grieve can also mean going without income. That’s especially difficult when you’re still getting established and haven’t built that financial cushion yet.

I’ve had to find resources, ask for support, adjust plans, and figure out how to keep the work moving while also taking care of myself. That has been a lesson in itself. Being able to push through doesn’t always mean that’s what you need to do. Sometimes you need to pause, heal, or give yourself permission to approach things differently.

Something my mom used to ask me has stayed with me: “What can you do about it?” I come back to that question when things feel overwhelming. It helps me acknowledge what’s happening and then identify a step I can take. Sometimes that step is making a connection, exploring another opportunity, or asking for help. Sometimes it’s giving myself time to regroup.

The grit I’ve developed through my life experiences has helped me navigate those moments. The challenges have pushed me to be creative, resourceful, and more compassionate with myself. That’s also part of what I explore in my writing: healing while life is still happening, giving yourself grace, and finding your next step even when you don’t have everything figured out. I’m still learning, but I’ve learned to trust my ability to figure things out and to recognize when I need support along the way.

As you know, we’re big fans of Bridgn Gaps, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Bridgn Gaps is a trauma-informed agency built around three things: educate, encourage, and empower. At the heart of our work is the belief that relationships are life-changing—including the relationship we have with ourselves. We create spaces where people can feel seen, heard, and supported while learning practical ways to grow.

I design curriculum and facilitate workshops, trainings, and programs for youth, adults, families, schools, and organizations. My work includes social-emotional learning, youth leadership, mentor training, wellness coaching, support spaces, and professional development. Some of the topics I focus on are communication, belonging, emotional awareness, boundaries, healthy relationships, and trauma-informed leadership. I also support organizations and entrepreneurs with strategic planning and turning their ideas into meaningful programs.

What sets Bridgn Gaps apart is how I bring the information to life. I describe myself as a motivational educator. I want people to feel encouraged, but I also want them to understand what they’re learning and how they can use it. I create experiences that include conversation, reflection, creativity, and hands-on activities. Whether I’m working with young people or a room full of leaders, I make space for what they bring—their experiences, their strengths, and the challenges they’re navigating.

Creating curriculum is an important part of that. I think about who is in the room, what they need, and how to make the learning connect to their everyday lives. That might mean helping a young person practice using their voice, giving a mentor tools to build trust, or helping a leader recognize how their stress affects communication with their team. The goal is for people to leave with something they can actually use.

What I’m most proud of is when someone takes what we’ve explored together and makes it their own. When they say, “I tried that, and it helped,” or “I never thought about it that way,” that matters to me. It could be setting a boundary, approaching a conversation differently, or recognizing a strength they hadn’t seen in themselves. To me, that’s empowerment: people recognizing that they have a voice, choices, and the ability to take a next step.

I want readers to know that Bridgn Gaps brings both professional knowledge and lived experience to this work. With more than 30 years of experience, I continue to learn from the people I serve. Whether we’re building a customized curriculum, facilitating a training, or creating a support space, my intention is the same: to help people connect with themselves and others in ways that support meaningful, lasting growth.

What are your plans for the future?
Looking ahead, I’m excited about creating more ways for people to connect with this work and use it in their everyday lives. For me, growth means being intentional about where I can make a difference and building something that can continue to serve people.

One project close to my heart is *Healing in Real Life*, which I’m developing with the possibility of becoming a series of books. The first focuses on relational healing through a 30-day journey of reflection and practical exercises. It explores how our experiences shape the relationship we have with ourselves and others, including our boundaries, patterns, and ability to trust. I want it to feel honest and approachable, because healing happens while we’re still working, parenting, grieving, and figuring life out. My hope is that readers feel supported as they begin to understand themselves more deeply and make choices that support their healing.

I’m also looking forward to continuing my work with Achieve Global, helping individuals, leaders, entrepreneurs, working professionals, and founders find meaningful success. That includes leadership development, strategic planning, and helping people connect their goals with what matters to them. I enjoy helping someone move from an idea or a feeling of possibility to a plan they can act on. There’s something powerful about helping people see a way forward and giving them tools to take that next step.

Another goal is to explore publishing some of the curriculum I’ve created, including *Rare Diamonds*. Over the years, I’ve developed a lot of material around identity, belonging, relationships, leadership, and empowerment. I’d love to make those resources available to more educators, mentors, and organizations so they can bring meaningful learning experiences into their own communities.

What I’m most looking forward to is seeing the work reach beyond the spaces where I can personally be present. Whether through a book, curriculum, coaching, or a workshop, I want people to walk away with greater understanding, a sense of hope, and something they can use. That’s the direction I want to keep growing in—helping people recognize what’s possible for themselves and supporting them as they move toward it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bridgngaps.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17dLZkVzuH/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-harris-48a953149/