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Firestarter University

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Because every woman deserves to live on fire, Shannon Watts, activist and author of Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, has created Firestarter University, a year-long online course that provides an interactive, action-driven curriculum and a curated, supportive community for people who are ready to prioritize their personal, professional or political desires.

Through in-depth discussions, coaching workshops hosted by Shannon, live conversations with guest speakers, community building, accountability exercises and more, you’ll learn Shannon’s unique Fire Formula for igniting your fire, and the practices to sustain it. Every month for a year, we’ll dive deep into themes from Fired Up to identify everything that’s been holding you back and develop strategies that will keep you moving forward.

Firestarter University will show you how to apply the Fire Formula to your life; foster a community built on support and guidance; take action toward your goals with practical, measurable steps; and ensure you leave a legacy.

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Firestarter University is for you, if:

  • You’re ready to step off the sidelines
  • You want to live a more authentic, honest, or meaningful life
  • You need to remember or uncover your desires
  • You’ve worried you’re too old or it’s too late to make your life feel like yours
  • You want to have an impact, but you’re not sure where to start
  • You need help navigating the obstacles that have kept you from pursuing your passions
  • You crave a community of like-minded, fired up supporters
  • You want to leave a legacy, but you’re not sure how

What you’ll get:

  • Live monthly online workshops hosted by Shannon that include inspirational, trailblazing guest speakers: Learn from the experts: luminaries, and changemakers who’ve been where you are and found their way through.
  • A powerful community: Surround yourself with like-minded people who will challenge, support, and uplift you—long after the program ends.
  • Built-in accountability: Weekly check-ins with your accountability group and actionable assignments to keep you committed and moving forward.
  • Essential resources: A curated bank of resources designed to help you navigate various aspects of your endeavor.

Are You Ready to Become a Firestarter?

I’m willing to dedicate time and focus to 12 transformational workshops and weekly accountability check-ins.

I know I have something to offer the world and I’m ready to live on fire.

I’m ready to invest in myself and take action.

I’m committed to supporting and being supported by a powerful community.

Your spark is ready and waiting.
It’s time to turn it into a fire.

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Testimonials

“Shannon’s mentorship has been nothing short of transformative. She has been both a sounding board and an inspiration for what it means to lead bravely. Her guidance has been critical in helping me navigate my future and in charting a path that feels authentic to me. Beyond her professional guidance, Shannon’s genuine understanding and warmth make her an invaluable mentor and a truly exceptional human being.”

MANDANA DAYANI, FORMER ARCHEWELL PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF I AM A VOTER

Testimonials

“What made Shannon Watts one of the best organizers of our era is the same thing that makes her an incomparable mentor: her innate ability to connect. She’s fast to learn new innovations, use them for good, and then share her knowledge with others. I’m so thankful to have known her in various partnerships–-as a lawmaker and communications professor–and I’ve learned from her in every role.”

LESLEY LOPEZ, MARYLAND STATE DELEGATE

Testimonials

“Shannon stepped into my life and into my business at the perfect time. I’d been growing an in-person community for midlife women to gather, grow, and give back together. She took one look around the event she attended and asked if it was a national organization. When I said, ‘No, it’s just me,’ she responded as one might expect from the ‘Summoner of Women’s Audacity’ by saying, ‘It should be.’ Shannon asked me the hard questions and introduced me to women who helped me expand the business beyond my corner. Both from a tactical perspective and a confidence one, Shannon has been a tremendous help to my growth as a leader and business owner.”

SHANNA MOORE, FOUNDER OF THE GIGIS IN SAN JOSE

Testimonials

“Shannon’s mentorship has been nothing short of transformative. She has been both a sounding board and an inspiration for what it means to lead bravely. Her guidance has been critical in helping me navigate my future and in charting a path that feels authentic to me. Beyond her professional guidance, Shannon’s genuine understanding and warmth make her an invaluable mentor and a truly exceptional human being.”

SARAH REICH, BRAND BUILDER IN LOS ANGELES

Testimonials

“My son, Paul Sampleton Jr., was murdered on December 19, 2012, five days after Sandy Hook. Inspired by Shannon Watts’ bravery to speak out against gun violence, I joined Moms Demand Action in 2013. Seeing her and other mothers fight the violence that took my son compelled me. In 2014, at the Brooklyn Bridge march, Shannon encouraged me to take on a larger role at Moms Demand Action. Now, I work with survivors in a new and crucial role. Through Shannon’s vision, I found my path advocating for safer gun laws and supporting survivors. I’m forever grateful for her guidance.”

STEPHANIE STONE, A GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVOR AND ADVOCATE IN GEORGIA

Testimonials

“I first met Shannon in 2018 when I joined Moms Demand Action, and from the start, we connected over our shared commitment to service and community. Despite her wide-reaching platform, her mentorship has always felt deeply personal and impactful. Now, as I continue forging my path forward, I trust Shannon to create a space where women don’t just survive—but thrive. I can’t wait to embark on this journey, develop new strategies, build momentum, and be part of such an inspiring program!”

STEPHANIE KENNELLY, CANCER SURVIVOR AND ADVOCATE FOR OTHER SURVIVORS IN MINNESOTA

Testimonials

“Through Shannon’s steady example, I learned how to trust my own instincts, speak up when something seemed off and perhaps most importantly, ask for help when I need it. In the dozen years that I’ve known her, I’ve learned that Shannon is as good a leader as she is a cheerleader. She’s always ready with advice and smart questions that can make anyone’s work better, even while she’s juggling her own projects and priorities. She’s blunt, strategic and incredibly funny. I’ve learned so much from how she leads, and how she sets others up for success, too.”

TAYLOR MAXWELL, COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST IN NORTH CAROLINA

Testimonials

“From the minute she learned via Instagram that I, a Moms Demand Action Volunteer, was running for a very small City Council, Shannon was a hype woman and supporter. We didn’t know each other at all, but she quickly became someone I could reach out to 1:1 for support, particularly after I won my election and did the hard work of leading gun violence prevention legislation. She was there to talk through it all, and has been accessible and supportive since then. We often don’t see this behind the scenes stuff Shannon does because she doesn’t brag about it; she just does it and leads by example. I appreciate that because her mentorship is authentic, not a personal branding strategy.”

HANNAH GAY KEAO, CITY COUNCILWOMAN IN COLORADO

Testimonials

“In a world that can feel overwhelming, where it’s hard to know where to begin to make a change, Shannon has been a guiding light. Her mentorship has helped me shape my ‘why’—not just in what I fight for, but in how I show up. She’s taught me that doing good isn’t just about impact; it’s about finding the work that fuels you. Her wisdom, support, and unwavering belief in the power of other women have made all the difference.”

CAROLINE POMPIZZI, TECH STRATEGIST AND MARCH FOR OUR LIVES BOARD MEMBER IN ILLINOIS

Testimonials

“Shannon’s mentorship has been nothing short of transformative. She has been both a sounding board and an inspiration for what it means to lead bravely. Her guidance has been critical in helping me navigate my future and in charting a path that feels authentic to me. Beyond her professional guidance, Shannon’s genuine understanding and warmth make her an invaluable mentor and a truly exceptional human being.”

SARAH REICH, BRAND BUILDER IN LOS ANGELES

Testimonials

“Shannon’s generosity with her time, advice and opportunities has opened up so many doors for me. Her perspective on activism so is unique and well defined and I often hear her voice in my head as I’m navigating momentous decisions. Having Shannon believe in me changed the way I thought about myself. Her guidance has been invaluable as I figured out how I could use my strengths and talents to impact real change in our country. It’s clear that with every milestone she achieved, she continuously thought ‘how can I help bring other women along with me.’”

LIZ MINNELLA, FUNDRAISER IN ILLINOIS

Testimonials

“Right from the startup of Moms Demand Action—before anybody really understood the enormity of the work about to unfold—Shannon knew that although she was in the spotlight, she represented the voices of many. This stood out to me because I knew this was actually all of us working in our own communities, no matter how big or small. Shannon set the expectation that as a woman, it’s on all of us to bring other women up alongside us. That’s not only mentorship, that’s true leadership.”

DARA SICHERMAN, MOM AND VOLUNTEER IN NEW YORK

FAQs

To enroll, simply go to firedupbook.com and register your purchase of FIRED UP. You will receive an email with a link to enroll in Firestarter University. The entire process takes less than a minute!

For the first year of Firestarter University, the cost of admission is simply preordering Shannon’s book, Fired Up before June 17th, 2025. Be sure to register your purchase in Step Two of the preorder process here. After the first year, there will be an admission fee, to be determined.

September 2025

Live online workshops will be held monthly, beginning in September 2025. The curriculum and course schedule will be released this summer to those who have preordered Fired Up and registered for Firestarter University.

We highly encourage participants to register for Firestarter University if they have the time and energy to commit and invest to the live monthly workshops as well as the weekly accountability check-ins with your cohort. That said, all videos and workshops will be available online as a resource if you aren’t able to attend that month’s meeting live.

No! All are welcome. Note that much of the curriculum and the guest speakers will be oriented toward a woman’s experience in pursuing her passions, discussions of societal expectations that hold women back, and personal stories and experiences from female guest speakers. However, this curriculum and the lessons Shannon covers can benefit anyone who has a passion they’d like to pursue.

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Buy One, Get One Free!

Celebrate International Women’s Day by pre-ordering a copy and gifting a copy of Fired Up to a Firestarter in your life!

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