The Invisible Ladder: How Privilege Overlooks Potential

By: Victoria McGuire

The Myth of the Level-Playing Field

The idea of a level playing field is a comforting illusion. We like to think that hard work and determination are all it takes to succeed. But for many, the path forward is filled with obstacles that aren’t seen. While some people walk a smooth path, others are driven to build their way forward. Often without the resources or support they need.

Privilege is more than wealth or status. Often there’s an invisible advantage that makes life’s challenges just a bit easier and gives you more mental ability to tackle problems than if you had fewer resources. It’s stability, safety nets, and recognition: the things you might not notice if you’ve always had them. If you haven’t, it can feel like the world is always ready to label your struggles as personal failures. It’s the difference between life inside and outside of survival mode.

I know this from experience.

The Complexity of Privilege

From the outside, I might look like I fit the mold of privilege. I’m a white woman in America: a demographic often associated with certain advantages. The truth is, my life has rarely been stable.

If you think I’m writing this in a comfortable and secure environment, the reality is quite different. I’m rarely in the same place the next year and my world has been a series of disruptions much like The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, only unfolding for me in real-time. Every step forward can be met with a setback that forces me to start over. I’ve had to adapt, rebuild, and push forward without the safety nets that true privilege can offer.

My so-called privilege didn’t stop me from falling through the cracks of a broken education system when I went to live with friends of the family at 13. It didn’t prevent homelessness once I became an adult, mental health battles, or the experience of being shuffled through life without real support. The assumption of privilege often worked against me, with others believing I had resources and stability when I was struggling to survive.

So here it is, the deep reason behind creating Fowl Weather Family: this is not just a business. We aim to be a platform to challenge misconceptions and advocate for those whose stories are often misunderstood. FWF is built on the belief that ethical practices and transparent systems must recognize the unseen struggle and not ignore the outliers. Our work isn’t about changing minds, instead, we’re building real, tangible support systems for those navigating life’s toughest challenges in real-time.

When Systems Fail People

When I was 17, I was one of 64,000 American students on track to graduate high school a year early. I’d passed my high school exams with nearly perfect scores and I had plans to escape a difficult home situation to build a stable life. However, a single technicality (a first aid class taken “too early” to count for credit) derailed everything. I had no advocate, no one to fight for me, and no safety net to catch me when my plans fell apart. I didn’t even know I could fight for myself.

The privilege of stability is not just financial. It’s the advantage of having people who will step up for you, who know how to navigate complex systems, and who can catch you before you fall. For me, those supports weren’t there.

This experience is at the heart of FWF’s mission. We are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind due to arbitrary rules or unspoken biases. Our vision includes growing into a mentor program that supports students in gaining access to educational programs or getting on the right track before they leave school: regardless of their background. The more guidance we provide, the greater our students' chances of success. We are here to build resilient leaders. However, we must meet them where they are. Our Moral Catalyst Framework (MCF) empowers organizations to identify and eliminate barriers, creating environments where fairness is not just a policy but a practiced reality.

Survival Mode: Every Step Forward Feels Like a Battle

By the time my peers were picking college majors, I was working full-time at fast food jobs. At 19, I became a mother and ostracized. Friends, family, and then in-laws. I did part with my daughter so that she could have a more stable life with her father and his family. Before I turned 21, I was homeless, struggling with postpartum depression, and fighting to find a foothold in a world about to eat me alive.

While my peers went on to explore careers and education, I was surviving. When you live without a safety net, every decision feels high-stakes. There’s no margin for error or time for lack of confidence. The pressure forces you to become resourceful, resilient, and adaptive right then and there or lose your way if not your life.

FWF is about channeling that hard-won strength into real opportunities. Our consulting services help businesses see beyond traditional success markers, Valuing perseverance and problem-solving that only come from real-life experience.

Earning Recognition Without Traditional Privilege

When I started at Vacasa Vacation Rentals, I came on board as a housekeeper. Within a month, I was promoted to senior housekeeper, and over the next four years, I worked my way up to Senior Operations Specialist. I didn’t have a college degree, but I had a decade of experience solving problems and making things work.

Without privilege, my potential wasn’t always obvious to others. The lack of a degree created barriers: not just in how I was treated but eventually as a literal paywall that made it impossible to thrive in the city. I had to constantly prove myself, demonstrating not only my skills but also my worthiness for opportunities. Recognition was hard-won, and the credit for my work often went to others.

Through the Fowl Weather Family (FWF) and the Moral Catalyst Framework, we aim to change that narrative. We help leaders and businesses look beyond résumés and formal credentials to recognize the value of lived experiences, practical skills, and the kind of leadership that emerges from overcoming adversity. Not just for myself, but for others as well.

Building a Better Path: Why FWF Exists

When I reconnected with my daughter and her father after almost 8 years of being separated, I left behind what little stability I had created to build a new life to be closer to them. I realized then that the world needed more pathways to success: not just for those who start with privilege but for those who have had to build from the ground up. There are so many reasons that life knocks us down, at any stage of life if we have the will, there should be a way.

FWF isn’t just a brand: it’s a call to action. Our work is about creating tools, resources, and education that help everyday people. We don’t want to only adapt to change but thrive despite it. Whether through our courses, consulting, or community initiatives, our focus is on building equitable systems that recognize and support everyone despite their walk of life. It’s time to start embarrassing the beauty of the moment.

Be Part of the Change

"Be the change you want to see in the world." — Mahatma Gandhi

Pointing out privilege isn’t about and should never have been about guilt or blame: it’s about understanding and action. It’s about using whatever privilege we have to open doors for others, to create environments where everyone has a fair shot at success. Finding the cracks and filling them, so the next person won’t fall through. It’s up to us.

If you’re ready to be part of a movement that values resilience, champions transparency, and prioritizes ethical practices, I invite you to connect with us. Whether through enrolling in the Moral Catalyst Framework course, exploring our consulting services, or simply sharing your story, there’s a place for you at FWF.

The world doesn’t need more gatekeepers: it needs more ladder builders. At FWF, we’re not just talking about change; we’re creating it. If you’re ready to be part of something that matters, we’re here to make that happen.