QUniverse Fall 2023

SPREADING POSITIVITY

by Chris Brennemann, PhD

My work and business is what I like to do to relax and have fun. I enjoy building projects with incredible people. Throughout my short business career, I have been able to network and work with some amazing individuals who have built incredible businesses.

- Zach Willing senior business management major at QU

Zach Willing begins his senior year this fall with some additional responsibilities and opportunities. Zach is a leader on the men’s tennis team, and he is the founder and manager of the HeyYou Project, a business designed to spread positivity and promote mental well-being.

“We started by creating products that had positive messages on the back that strangers could read behind you. The whole goal was to not only provide a cool product, but also have it impact people around those individuals wearing it.” HeyYou Project gear includes t-shirts, hoodies, crewnecks, hats, bracelets, and phone cases with messages like “The world is a better place with you in it,” and “Dear person behind me, you look good today. Lots of love, the person in front of you.”

HeyYou Project

is a brand that is dedicated to spreading positivity and promoting mental well-being through a unique range of apparel and accessories. Products are designed with uplifting messages, inspirational quotes, and affirmations that encourage people to stay positive, confident, and focused on their goals while also raising awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.

PROMOTING MENTAL WELL-BEING

The products are motivational as is Zach’s approach to managing the business. When asked how the project is going, Zach replied, “HeyYou Project is always doing good. The main objective of our brand isn’t about just sales and revenue; it’s about how big of an impact we can make. The brand isn’t dictated by money. It’s dictated by the good we do for other people.”

The HeyYou Project donates 15% of their net profit to mental health and suicide prevention organizations.

In the near future, HeyYou Project is looking to launch an app, board game, and eventually software that allows people to communicate with mental health doctors from anywhere in the world.

They are also focusing on enhancing their Hoodies for the Homeless by HeyYou Project, a partnership with The GiveBack Community in Miami Florida to hand out food and hoodies to the homeless.

Zach’s work ethic and commitment to positivity is also evident in his tennis game and interaction with the team. The tennis program is the primary reason Zach chose to attend QU. Zach says what he enjoys most about the sport relates to his teammates and the competitive nature of tennis.

“I am a very competitive person, both in sports and in business, so tennis gives me that opportunity to be competitive in other areas of my life and not just in business.” Zach appreciates that his teammates are from countries all over the world and that he is exposed to cultures he would not experience anywhere else.

As Zach considers his total QU experience, academically, athletically and professionally, he says he owes a great deal to his teammates. “As my path evolves, I find myself increasingly involved in managing teams of both American colleagues and individuals from various corners of the globe.”

Zach adds that the ability to comprehend different cultures and identify what may be considered offensive or uplifting to them has become very important. “Keeping a cohesive and efficient work environment relies heavily on this understanding. It is through my interactions with my teammates that I have honed my skills in facilitating effective teamwork.”

I’ve known Zach for about nine years now. The one thing that hasn’t changed is his demeanor. On and off the court, Zach holds high standards for himself and will always put in his best effort. This is the reason he has been so successful, not only on the tennis court but with his business as well. I’m proud to see Zach’s growth through his collegiate career.