It all began in 2020 during “The Year of Saying No.”
My story
Hi, I’m Naomi Bryant! Welcome to the TL;DR of my journey!
It all began back in 2020, during what I called “The Year of Saying No.”
Like so many others, I hit a wall in the early days of the pandemic. I was overwhelmed, burned out, and drowning in blurred boundaries. With the encouragement of some incredibly supportive folks, I began doing something radically simple — setting firm boundaries and getting honest about my limits.
I realized that in a world constantly demanding more, I needed to protect my time, energy, and values. That meant saying no more often, getting real about my capacity, and only saying yes when it truly aligned with what mattered most.
That shift changed everything!
It gave me the space to show up for myself, my community, and the work I’m passionate about.
Now, I help organizations and individuals do the same!
Resist the burnout
VIILTOLA is a consulting and operations firm focused on building volunteer systems and operational infrastructure that actually work — not just in theory, but in real life. I offer strategic guidance and hands-on support to design systems that protect your energy, center your values, and make space for people and purpose to thrive.
Because I know what it feels like when passion turns into overwhelm. When the work you love starts to consume you. Sustainable systems are how we resist the burnout - they are how we stay in it for the long haul, with integrity, clarity, and care.
Whether you are just starting a volunteer program or untangling a chaotic backend, VIILTOLA partners with you to build systems that hold space for equity, sustainability, and the impact you are here to make.
Why Viiltola
When I was little, my favorite place to go was my Grammy and Grampa’s house in Connecticut. My Grampa was a dairy farmer, a high school principal and biology teacher and I spent many summers in the haylofts trying to befriend wary barn cats. During every visit, my Grammy would take me on adventures in the woods that sprawled around the farm and we would see flowers, birds, insects, and curious animals that watched us just beyond reach. I felt safe and seen and every visit felt magical.
My Grammy is my role model in so many ways. As I got older and discovered more of her background the more I realized that my Grammy was the embodiment of courage, resilience, and love.
My Grammy, Elvi Viiltola, was born in Vihanti, Finland in 1934. She grew up during the Great Depression and WWII - surviving the Soviet Union’s invasion of Finland at five years old. When she moved to the United States in her early twenties, she carried with her the deep-rooted traditions of her homeland. Her love of nature, commitment to community, and joy that shaped everyone around her.
The work I do today is rooted in the values she nurtured in me.
(Yes that chubby baby is me)
What is a Kota?
The kota is a traditional Sámi shelter deeply rooted in the cultural and spiritual life of the Sámi people, indigenous to the Nordic region.
Designed for mobility in harsh Arctic conditions, the conical tent offered both practical refuge and a sacred communal space. More than just a dwelling, the kota symbolizes resilience, connection to nature, and continuity of tradition.
Spiritually, it is believed to be inhabited by the goddess Máttáráhkká and her three daughters, who protect and assist those within, making every kota a sacred space where no one is ever truly alone.
