Progress depends on unreasonable people pushing boundaries, breaking out of boxes, challenging the odds and proving that the impossible is possible. This happens everyday, in big ways and small – from a small town kid ignoring the naysayers and making it in the city of their dreams to the folks with ideas no one will invest in who somehow brought their vision to life. Our community is filled with so many trailblazers, innovators, and rebels and we hope you’ll check out their inspiring stories below.

Natalis Rubero

I’m Natalis, a rising star bringing a fresh perspective to the world of salsa. Born and raised between the vibrant streets of New York City and the sun-kissed shores of Carolina, Puerto Rico, my music is a unique fusion of Nuyorican roots and contemporary rhythms. This captivating blend has led to collaborations on R&B hits for the Wendy Williams biopic, Latin pop tracks featured on 90 Day Fiance, and more. Read more>>

Sabina Bower

I was born in Tanzania and adopted at five, and moved to rural Pennsylvania—a place where the idea of a creative career was unheard of. I had no idea that a brand designer or a creative strategist was even a legitimate career path until college. But I’ve always been creating – just because I enjoyed it. I’ve always been drawn to storytelling like producing video content for Youtube and then that morphed into designing for social. Read more>>

Laura Thompson of Real Creative Studio

If it wasn’t for a random work study placement my freshman year of college, I’m not sure I would be an artist today. I left home in upstate NY to attend James Madison University in 1998 with zero idea what I would study. Maybe English? Which is laughable looking back, but art certainly didn’t seem like a viable option, and truth be told, I never even considered it. Read more>>

Jenna Chandler-ward

 

I was an educator in many different forms for many years. After several incidents in my classroom, I became curious about how my identity influenced what I taught, how I taught, and how what I taught was received. I started going to any education conference I could find that also focused on identity. I then started meeting with a group 0f talented educators, and together we created The Multicultural Teaching Institute which was a conference that focused on identity but also gave attendees a way to apply the work to their specific learning community. Read more>>

Melissa Bean

I started as an artist very young, I was always taking photographs and creating artwork. After graduating college with an art degree, I worked as a graphic designer and photographer. I worked for different companies. A few of the most fun jobs were at a professional sports factory where I cleaned up scanned-in logos in Photoshop to be printed onto golfballs (it was a funny job because I am not a golfer); a printing company – my first job there was a huge catalog with illustrations of spray nozzles (like the kind you find at a car wash hose or in a factory that sprays chocolate onto cookies). My Dad knew about this nozzle company because he was a farmer in his younger years, so told me not to mess up all the nozzle size charts… no pressure. I laid out 300 pages of a book that only had text of buried people’s names from a small town, it was for historical purposes, yet also a bit creepy. Read more>>

Katie Reiser

Hi, I’m Katie, and my story started back in childhood. When I was about six years old, I realized something was wrong. All my friends were reading effortlessly, breezing through the grade-level books our first-grade class provided. But I struggled. I couldn’t sound out half the letters correctly because, half the time, I wasn’t even seeing the right letters. Despite this, I managed to stay under the radar, figuring out that some letters worked together to form words while others didn’t. I relied heavily on pattern recognition, but I hated reading. Read more>>

Ana Patitú

My story begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I was born and raised. I studied graphic design and worked in that field for over a decade. Alongside my career, I took painting classes with local artists, but at the time, art was just a hobby for me—a way to disconnect from the world and express myself. In 2016, my girlfriend was offered a great job in Barcelona, and we decided to take a leap of faith and move. While I continued working as a designer, being far from my loved ones took a toll on me, and I experienced a challenging period of depression. Swimming became my only escape, and with the guidance of my therapist, I reconnected with painting, which I hadn’t pursued seriously before.  Read more>>

Telesha Toney of Toney’s Accounting and Financial Services

Toney’s Accounting and Financial Services began with a vision: to empower businesses and individuals with the tools and knowledge to manage their finances effectively and thrive .It also stemmed from my passion for helping others and my love for the profession of accounting. The journey began with a desire to fill a gap in the market. Many budding entrepreneurs struggled with navigating the intricacies of business registration, tax compliance, and financial planning. Recognizing this need, Toney’s Accounting initially offered these core services, building a reputation for reliability and personalized support. Read more>>

Erica (coach Erica) Odom

Erica M. Odom (Coach Erica), was born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin. An aunt, a sister, a daughter, an advanced practice licensed social worker, an entrepreneur, a published author, a licensed life insurance agent, and a radio personality. Erica grew up on the north side of Milwaukee, WI. She lived with her mother and older sister. Her father was involved in her life but suffered from a drug addiction so he was often in and out of jail and prison most of her life. Outside of her mother and sister, Erica always had the support of her family and close friends. Read more>>

Paulette Perhach of Powerhouse Writers

When I was 10, I told my best friends at the bus stop that I wanted to be a writer. “Do you have any idea how hard that is?” asked my friend. I did not.  We lived in Florida, but I liked to climb trees and read. I loved story. But I also loved being with people, conversations, adventures, life. I wasn’t an introvert, but I did need alone time. So I thought I’d try journalism to get that balance. I was also always hoping writing would take me places. I fantasized about those assignments that sent you to Tahiti to try a local food and report back.  Read more>>

Cherish Waldman

Growing up, I was fascinated by anime. My fascination began in grade school and reignited in high school where I spent hours drawing comics inspired by the popular series Naruto. Within a year I had filled over 500 pages with my creations. I eventually transitioned to digital art since it was more practical and cost-effective for me, and this marked the beginning of my animation journey. I started by creating music videos and splash animations for animation contests where I achieved finalist status. These experiences not only honed my skills but also helped me discover my talent for animation. Read more>>

Jacqueline O’donnell of Math Refresh Education Company

The journey to becoming a thought leader in math education began as a precocious and quiet child. I gravitated toward games and puzzles involving logic and patterns and the challenges they presented. In school, this translated to me becoming a very strong math student, noticing patterns that existed between numbers and shapes. Though I was very good at math, I didn’t quite know what to do with it, since the only math-based careers I ever learned about involved going into engineering, finance, or teaching. I explored finance in business school and ultimately found a love of marketing, earning a degree in public relations. After working in public relations and marketing, I felt like I wanted my career to align more with my caring nature and desire to help people. I leaned into teaching, and naturally, I gravitated toward math. Read more>>

Leah Reinhart of Wellness Garden Tool Shed

We all have a story, don’t we? Each one is as unique as the person living it. My story begins in Hayward, California, where I was born and lived until I was six years old. I start here because a pivotal event changed the course of my life: my mother was physically attacked by our next-door neighbor. That traumatic incident drove us to move to Oakland, California—a place that would profoundly shape the woman, business owner, mother, spouse, and author I’ve become. Read more>>

Eva Calabrese of Mystical Treasures

I started making jewelry in November 2021 as a creative outlet during college at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a hobby born out of necessity and creativity—I wanted jewelry that actually fit me. My ring size, 3.5 to 4.5, is rarely available in stores, as most rings start at size 5. Frustrated by the lack of options, I decided to create pieces tailored to my size and style. Read more>>

Christina Seo

Despite the piercing intuition that screamed at me that college wasn’t my destined path, I dove into this path anyways because everyone around me insisted it was the sensible choice and a solid backup plan. Once there, I started taking modeling seriously and quickly realized that the typical 9-to-5 grind or an academic track wasn’t my true calling. College was a tough ride to say the least—it was hard to stay interested in subjects that didn’t interest me. Alongside my rising modeling career, I hustled as a waitress and ambitiously worked to develop my first business, Ctrl Athletic Co. I juggled an intense schedule, which left little room for the typical college life of parties and football games. Instead, I was laser-focused on balancing my career, studies, and work. Diving deeper into modeling, I discovered just how powerful social media is in the industry and for business, which pushed me to venture into content creation. Read more>>

Nancy Dome of Epoch Education

I co-founded Epoch Education in 2014 to provide leaders in education and business with accessible professional development to support compassionate communication efforts in pursuit of greater diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Starting my career as a Child Care Worker, I have always had a strong desire to support those students most at risk. Realizing the education track would allow me greater flexibility and reach than the social services track, I re-educated to become a teacher and spent 10 years working in multiple capacities, ranging from classroom teacher, Mentor Teacher, and Teacher on Special Assignment in the Juvenile Court and Community Schools in San Diego. These roles allowed me to train and support teachers in becoming more culturally competent educators for the diverse population they served. Read more>>

Rose Van Dyne

After being born and raised in Colorado, I came to New York City in 2018. It’s been a whirlwind since then creating a life as a freelance artist but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I’m excited to see how my career will continue to unfold as an actor, musician, educator, and arts advocate. Read more>>

Jessica Zunic’s Story

As a Westchester-based family and lifestyle photographer and local artist, my journey began with a deep passion for capturing life’s most meaningful moments. Photographing my children when they were young sparked a profound joy in preserving their milestones, which quickly grew into a love for storytelling through imagery. Creating art has always been an integral part of who I am—it’s not just what I do but how I connect with the world around me. Read more>>

Gretchen Foster

Thrifting and creating art out of whatever was laying around has been my undiagnosed therapy since childhood, escaping with the muse to imagine new worlds and feel like I had some sort of handle on what was going on around me but it wasn’t until 2018 that I made the decision to turn this constant into a business. Its evolution was organic, starting with a collection that mirrored my own closet, modeled by my closest friends and my own children in my sunroom with a piece of fabric pinned to the wall and my iPhone camera. No fancy equipment, no paid models, just trades for goods. I still operate on trade for a lot of my services needed, but only when it’s consensual. Read more>>

Hayley Sonnier

I got started in this craft back in 2019 or so, but it wasn’t until 2020 that it really became something more. When the pandemic really hit us, my husband and I ended up without jobs and very briefly without a home. We were living on the generosity of some friends before packing up our entire life into a moving truck and driving from Oregon to Louisiana with two cats. When I was faced with the choice of dedicating more of my time to this hobby or going back to the “real” workforce, I decided it was time to take the risk. There was no better time that when we had nothing else to lose, you know? Read more>>

Meghanne Storey

I have always been a singer, My mother says I could sing before I could talk, I joined the Seattle Girls’ Choir when I was 7 or 8. When I was 12 I entered the Washington State foster care system and I became homeless soon after, I lived on the streets of Seattle until I was emancipated at the age of 16. I got a job and I went to school…and I sang. I wrote songs and I sang everywhere I went. One place I would often sit was in front of the GreyHound Station on 9th and Stewart and I would sing to whatever was in my walkman or I would play my guitar and sing. Read more>>

Francesmary Loughead of BFF Indy

My name is FrancesMary, but most people call me FM. I was born and raised in downtown Chicago, where I attended Ogden International for elementary school and later commuted to Timothy Christian in Elmhurst for high school. Even though I stayed rooted in the city, it was during high school that I met my now husband. From there, I went on to DePaul University, majoring in Public Relations and Advertising. Read more>>

Alicia Aragon of liege beauty bar

my love for the beauty industry definitely started when I was young. I always really loved makeup and playing with it growing up. in high school I started leaning more towards sfx and more fantasy makeup which lead me to also become more interested in skin care. around this same time was when I decided that I waned to go to school the become an esthetician and really make a career out of the two things I love the most. Read more>>

Fernanda Ralston of I am Creation

I’m a Brazilian entrepreneur and have pioneered a new concept of Luxury and design by introducing a movement called “Après Luxe” or Post-luxury and building in 2012 an internationally acclaimed design Hotel in Brazil – Botanique Hotel & Spa – that showcased this new concept in Design and approach to luxury. My journey is rooted in high fashion and traditional luxury and evolved into a mission to inspire and empower individuals and communities alike to interact with luxury, design and art in a different way. Read more>>

Shakia Williams of Cyrenity Sips Winery

I’m Shakia Williams, the proud owner and winemaker of Cyrenity Sips Winery, our goal is to craft exceptional wines while fostering diversity and inclusivity within the wine community. Cyrenity Sips Winery is the first African American woman-owned winery in Pennsylvania. We aim to educate BIPOC and underserved communities about wine, creating a vibrant, welcoming space. Read more>>

Jessica Morales

My journey in the hospitality industry spans over 30 years, beginning as a waitress and evolving into a career as a food and beverage consultant. Along the way, I discovered my passion for creating spaces where guests feel at home and where every detail—from the cocktails to the atmosphere—fosters connection and belonging. The story of conVIDA Cocktail Lounge is deeply rooted in my family history. My father moved to New York from Puerto Rico at just 17 years old, chasing the American dream of playing baseball for the Yankees. At 19, he met my mother, who had also left Puerto Rico in search of new opportunities. They married in the 1950s, built a life in New York, and had two children before deciding to return to Puerto Rico to reconnect with their roots. Read more>>

Casey Heyo

I fell in love with the piano as a little girl. My name is Casey Heyo, and now, as a pianist and music producer, I’m lucky to make music my full-time focus and lifestyle. Read more>>

Jolene S. B.

Becoming a photographer was never the plan. I had many different creative stints, wanting to be everything from a fashion designer to a comics illustrator, and I always thrived in whatever artistic pursuit I picked up. I took a couple of basic photography classes in high school – like many other mediums I tried, I loved it. I didn’t have a great camera, and my family was far too poor to afford anything remotely advanced. That didn’t stop me from trying to get the best shots I could with my mom’s little Canon Powershot digicam. It wasn’t great but it was impressive for being such a simple camera. Read more>>

Amanda Indeyevid

The start of my music journey began when I was a teenager in middle school. I come from a family of athletes—three sisters, a brother, and me. I tried it all: lacrosse, field and ice hockey, basketball, soccer, and softball, to name a few. Sports were a major part of my upbringing, in a family with not a single musical bone in their body. However, maybe it was the classic Dad rock bands on the radio during drives to my ice hockey games with my dad, or the Pandora stations I browsed on my iPod, but I fell into pop-punk, emo, metal, and screamo bands—and never really looked back! Read more>>

Maria Baer of The Baer Minimalist

I’m Maria (Pronounced Ma-RYE-a) Baer and I’ve had an outright obsession with organizing for as long as I can remember. Seriously, I was that 5-year old kid who asked for matching hangers for Christmas (circa 1989). I still find myself pulling everything out of closets in my home on a rare quiet Friday night after a week of organizing in other people’s homes. It truly is my stress relief and I feel very lucky to have turned it into a business. In 2017, I left Corporate America and launched The Baer Minimalist®. My goal was to provide assistance to busy families who were looking to have a more organized home with the philosophy MINIMAL CLUTTER. MAXIMUM STYLE. It started with singular spaces: pantries, closets, bathrooms, playrooms, but has grown into much more. Initially, I worked alone or alongside the client, but in 2019 I started to grow a team. Read more>>

Christina Avila

I Was Always Interested In Music As A Kid . I Am An East Coast Publisher/Promoter Based Out Of Fairfield Connecticut after losing both of my parents. I dedicate and honor it all to them. I advertise upcoming shows,events,new music,new music videos,bandpages,websites,media links etc. I also schedule interviews to two different podcasts hosts I work with and that are my clients. Read more>>

Megan Kazy-garey

Well, to be honest, as much as I’d like to say my journey started at a young age, that would be a little bit of a lie. When I was young I did have an affinity for drawing and coloring like many young kids do, however I let that part of me slip away for a very long time. Unfortunately for most of us life just happens to get in the way and we sometimes forget about things we once loved. This is what happened to me, for almost 2 decades drawing and painting never crossed my mind until the world stopped in 2020. Read more>>

Amy Weh

Mosaicweh’s story began over 30 years ago when I first started exploring the world of art. From a young age, I’ve always wanted to be a creative, and I was fortunate to grow up in a household that fostered creativity. My journey began with watercolors, but my passion for texture and depth eventually led me to mosaics. I started with traditional materials like china, stained glass, and smalti, but over time, I embraced found objects and reclaimed materials, adding a distinctive dimension to my work. Read more>>

Nicole Winchell

Many years ago, I signed up for a directed study at the University of Maine. I had no idea of what I was getting into. At the first one-on-one meeting, the instructor – a well-respected writer, teacher, and editor – asked to see some work of mine. I had to admit that, while I had dabbled with song-writing, I merely wished to write literature. The teacher sent me away with the assignment to write something and come back. And so I agonized over my words all week, and anxiously showed her a few poems, and she kept me on, even granting me my first publication in her literary journal. After that semester, I kept going. Read more>>

Natasha Colon Ortiz

My story is one of defining choices. I bagan my life as a young athlete playing basketball all the way through college. While being a student athlete my outlet to decompress and destress was art. Art became my coping mechanism. From drawing to painting and learning other mediums throughout my educational journey and still accomplishing my duties as a student athlete. Read more>>

Jessica Labita Ashley Laneve’s Story

We’re real sisters. We have a connection that’s obviously been lifelong. We know each other better than anyone. People have always told us that we should have a talk show because we are so funny and entertaining together. We never really took it too seriously, but we reached a point in our life, where it was time to talk about our messy childhood and see if we could help other people. Our parents went through a bad divorce when we were kids. It was a traumatic event that changed and shaped us as humans. Our sister got pregnant young on the night she lost her virginity. Our Dad is a triplet, so we have a giant crazy family. We wanted to talk about all of this, who we are, and help other people who may have relatable experiences. As a wife and mom of two (12 and 14) my kids are fairly independent and allow me more professional independence than in the past. I work an amazing corporate job and have been experiencing lots of organizational change. Read more>>

Wendy Trattner

I was born in Wisconsin and had a wonderful childhood—until everything changed at age 7, when I unexpectedly lost my parents. I moved in with my aunt and uncle, who mistreated me, and spent the rest of my childhood bouncing between families. Those years were filled with grief and insecurity, and, frankly, they were some of the hardest of my life. But facing loss and hardship at such a young age also shaped me. It made me resilient and curious, sparking a lifelong quest to understand the world and its meaning. By the time I was 8, I was already asking big questions about life and immersing myself in science as a way to find answers. That curiosity led me to MIT, where I studied mechanical engineering, fascinated by how science could solve real-world problems. Read more>>

Theresa Lennahan of Little Sundays Studio

After 20 years in the creative agency world, helping build brands, and pouring my heart into this industry, these past two years have been the most intense, meaningful, inspiring, and fulfilling of my entire career. Starting as a junior creative straight out of college, every step of my journey feels like it’s been leading to this—laying the foundation and gaining the experience to create Little Sundays. I couldn’t be more proud of how far we’ve come, in such a short amount of time, or more excited for what’s ahead. We’re about to celebrate TWO amazing years of Little Sundays Studio! It’s such an exciting moment as Jacquie and I lean into year three of building this dream agency together. Read more>>

Selena Owens

In 2020-2023. I became homeless. I got out of a living situation that was mentally and emotionally draining for me. I found a program that helped women find shelter and resources for a better life. They helped me live in hotels for a year on that program but then the program ended and I had to pay out of pocket as much as I could to stay in a hotel because at the time it was difficult for me to find the right resources I needed to fully turn my life around. I was in a deep depression and when you are in that state of mind, its hard to fuction and move like a normal person. Needless to say, around that time I was physically and emotionally not feeling good and my mind was in a dark place. I have gotten help from many sources including strangers but I was still stuck in a position that I couldn’t get out of right away. It took everything within me to keep going on with my life. Read more>>

Lauren Shaffer

When I moved into a new school in the 9th grade, I was backwardly shy. I sat in the corner at lunch and read book. I had NO friends. My dad kind of gave me an ultimatum – get a job or join a sports team. So I joined the cross country and track team in a move that would change my life. I got a scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh and was hooked as a runner. Over the last few years I realized that I wanted to give back to the sport so I obtained a coaching license through RRCA (Level 1 and 2) and UESCA (Run Coach). Two Thanksgivings ago I ran with a friend and Victory Multisport hired me as an endurance run coach. I now coach 13 athletes with them. Read more>>

Milana Lelovic

My path has always been shaped by curiosity and, admittedly, a bit of fear. After high school, I chose political science, drawn by a desire to understand the structures shaping our lives. It wasn’t the most practical choice, but it felt meaningful. Midway through, I rediscovered psychology—something I’d been drawn to for years—and decided to take on both degrees. It wasn’t easy, balancing exams and overlapping commitments, but it made sense to me at the time. Read more>>

Jillian Lawrence

Academics were never my strong suit. I found the education system I grew up in to be black and white, with little room for deviation from the traditional model. The majority of my grade school years were during the ’90s, a time that was thought of as rebellious, yet unbeknownst to us, we were taught what to think, not how to think. When I look back at career counselling, the concept of women owning a business wasn’t even entertained as an option. I was given guidance to become a teacher, secretary, or travel agent based on my skills and interests. While those are all reputable jobs, I find it curious how mainstream they are and I wonder how many of the boys were offered those options? Read more>>

Rachel Sommers of Intoxicated Cosmetics

After becoming a licensed Esthetician and working for years in a medical spa, CEO and founder, Rachel Sommers launched Intoxicated Cosmetics. That’s the really short version. But much, much more has really gone into this labor of love. “I began working on Intoxicated a long time ago – as the first document I created for it dates back to 2013,” Rachel says. “Back then I was feeling a bit lost in my career. I was living in New York City and working in advertising – a field that I had no true passion for. During this time, my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was told by many hospitals that he was essentially not going to make it, no matter what the treatment.” Read more>>

Julie Thurgood-burnett of Hereward Farms

Hereward Farms started as a dream to create something that combined my love for nature, sustainability, and community. My family and I have always lived in the East Garafraxa area, farming the land with traditional cash crops. In 2020, I decided to take a leap and add lavender to our farm—a crop that not only brought beauty and serenity to our fields but also allowed us to create something truly unique. What began as a hobby quickly grew into something much bigger. After selling my marketing agency in 2021, I dove headfirst into building Hereward Farms. Our focus became sustainability, crafting all-natural skincare and home products infused with the lavender we grow. Our tagline, “From our soil to your soul,” reflects our commitment to creating good products for the planet and our customers. Read more>>

Anna Flowers’s Story

I began sewing when I was 13 years old. I realized at an early age I had a love of fashion. I began making clothes for myself because I loved wearing something no one else had. It started as a hobby, a simple love of the ability to express myself and lose myself in art, Business wasn’t the goal, I didn’t originally think I had what it took to make clothes for others let alone run a company. It has been an incredible amount of work but today I literally just picked up part of my first delivered manufactured goods, my online store is almost open, and I have been in fashion shows from Seattle to London to New York, and I have been featured in close to a dozen magazines (including Harpers Bazaar and Hollywood Elites). Read more>>

Misa Mochizuki

I’m originally from Japan. I started ballet when I was 5. In 2012 I came to New York with student visa, and then I got an artist visa in 2019. So officially I’m a professional dancer in United States now. Read more>>

Miranda Raine

I’ve always loved music. As a child, I used to pretend I was a singer and perform for all of my toys. The only way I would fall asleep is an infant was to be put next to a speaker. As I got older, I started joining things like choir. It wasn’t until my early twenties when I started singing by myself in front of audiences. It all started with a trip to karaoke. A classmate of mine wanted to go to karaoke and was determined to drag me along. I had no intention of singing. I had terrible stage fright and was not comfortable getting up to sing by myself in front of an audience. However, between my classmate and the host of the karaoke show, I got coerced into singing. They shoved the microphone in my face and put me on the spot. I sang from my seat. I remember that the song I had chosen was Respect by Aretha franklin. Read more>>

Emily Neilson of Emily Jane Neilson

My journey has been a mix of twists, turns, and bold decisions—all grounded in my deep desire to help others create lives and businesses that feel aligned, impactful, and sustainable. I spent over 17 years in Corporate Finance, working across both government and the private sector. I led complex projects such as ERP system integrations and strategic financial planning, which taught me how to streamline operations, manage large-scale change, and deliver sustainable growth for organisations. My work gave me the opportunity to lead teams, engage with diverse stakeholders, and uncover innovative solutions that helped businesses not just survive but thrive. Read more>>

Alice Yeh

My career journey has been anything but linear, but that’s what makes it meaningful. I started with all the “right” boxes checked: degrees from Princeton undergrad and Wharton MBA, climbing the corporate ladder at Fortune 500 companies like J.P. Morgan and Google, and even trying my hand at the startup life. On the outside, it looked like success, but inside, I felt stuck, unfulfilled, and constantly asking, “Is this all there is?” Read more>>

Kayla Rodriguez

I have always been someone who was good with my hands. Building and creating has always come to me naturally and was nurtured by my mother who, to keep me out of trouble, would always have us do arts and crafts. When I first moved to New York from Detroit 6 years ago, I never knew I’d be where I am today. Thanks to my wife who pushed me to be creative during the pandemic, wire wrapping became such a huge part of my life. Creating one of a kind sculptures and pieces using wire. First this was all for my own fun, and quickly turned into a business in which I have been able to create 10’s of thousands of pieces good folks all over the world! Read more>>

Sharon Robustelli of TEN3 Public Relations

When I launched TEN3 Public Relations in 2019, I thought, “We can handle PR for anything.” After all, with 25+ years of experience across industries—from entertainment to household brands—I’d already worked on just about everything. But once I started the agency, I quickly realized it wasn’t just about what we could do; it was about *who* we were doing it for. That shifted everything. I started attracting clients who reminded me of myself: driven, professional women who had already achieved success in other areas and were now stepping into the founder role. They weren’t just looking for a PR partner—they wanted someone who understood what it takes to build something from the ground up, someone who shared their vision and passion. These women were focused on creating businesses that truly serve others, whether through products, services, or ideas that make a difference for women and families. Read more>>

Kate Odonnell’s Story

I always wanted to go to India and made it there at age 19. Here I started practicing Yoga and working with Ayurveda physicians on healing my parasites. Since then, the wisdom traditions of India, specifically Yoga and Ayurveda have been my #1. I taught yoga full time in Boston for 12 years, then began to work as an Ayurvedic Practitioner, wrote my first cookbook ten years ago, and hvae written 3 more books on Ayurveda since then. Read more>>

Stephanie Wells of Citrus Skin Bar

Hi there, my name is Stephanie Wells. I went to college at University of New Mexico for criminology & psychology, and graduated with my bachelors degree in 2016. While attending UNM, I worked as a paralegal for a law firm for 4 years. I very quickly realized that working behind a desk wasn’t for me. Despite my family’s wishes, I went back to school at Aveda Institute New Mexico for esthiology. I’ve always been passionate about skincare and the health of our largest organ, so I felt the happiest in finally pursuing that path in life. After working for two salons, I learned a lot and knew I always wanted to venture off on my own as a business owner. I made that dream a reality when I opened my doors as Luna Wax Studio in 2022, rebranding into Citrus Skin Bar in the summer of 2023. Read more>>

Jaques Vivar

I was born in Chicago and raised in Las Vegas Nevada. I started off as a graffiti artist, and a rollerskater in highschool. After being on Ellen in about 2004 i graduated high school & was off to a horrible start in adulthood. I fell in love with Krump dancing in 2006 & went as hard as i can. As a freelance graphic designer & phone sales rep by day, i learned krump and built a brand for myself in the krump community world wide. In 2012 i started a dance crew along side my friends, which turned into an international brand & it was dismantled in 2017 after my first marriage came crashing down. So at the age of 30 i started over. I build Swarm Brand which was an old dance name of mine. It means Solider With A Ready Mind. I wanted to originally start an ecommerce streetwear brand but then realized i was really good at helping businesses brand themselves online, and get their online presence started & maintained. Read more>>

Mary Steskal

I’ve always had a love for gems and minerals (thanks, grandpa!). So, when I got older and I moved out to Northern California, I learned about the metaphysical properties of stones, which hooked me in even deeper. I knew I wanted to somehow use gems to help to heal others, and shortly after that, a friend showed me how to knot gemstone malas, which are used for japa (repetition) meditation. I quickly fell in love with the meditative process of knotting, as well as choosing healing gemstones that pair well together. I made only malas for many years…until I got a custom request for a shorter necklace (now called, “shorties”). I fulfilled that request and made some to sell in my online shop, which were a hit! Eventually, I had custom orders for bracelets and earrings, which led me down a whole new path that allowed me to deepen my creation skills! Today in my shop you’ll find malas, shorties, earrings, bracelets, and a zodiac collection. I offer custom pieces and in the past have had custom orders for fertility, grief support, cancer support, etc. It has been amazing to watch this little seed of mine turn into this big and beautiful garden! I look forward to what the future has in store. Read more>>

Theresa Elder’s Story

I’m just a simple farm girl that was looking to help people out to teach them the basics of cooking, canning and growing your own food. With the help of friends and family I started up Simply Whip It Up to show people lets get back to the days of us doing our own cooking and preparing. Showing our kids where food comes from and how to do hard work. Read more>>

Aleksandra Scepanovic

My journey has been anything but linear, shaped by unexpected turns, challenges, and discovery. I grew up in the former Yugoslavia, coming of age during the 1980s—a period of profound instability that indelibly shaped my perspective on reality. As a young journalist in the 1990s, I reported on the Balkan conflicts, a trying experience that revealed the fragility and resilience of the human spirit in equal measure. Amid this chaos, I sought meaning in the ruins. While the seeds of my creative identity were planted during those years, it would be many more before they fully bloomed. Read more>>

Helene Darmanin of Mama Bear PT

Growing up I was a dancer, an ardent feminist raised by a single mom, and I absolutely loved science. I had no idea that it would be possible to combine my love of movement and science into a career supporting women. I followed my passions to Smith College, an all-womens’ college, into fitness, then medical research, and then my doctorate in physical therapy. It was in graduate school that I then found pelvic health, and was fortunate enough to be able to begin to specialize during my last year of school. I continued my education with extensive continuing education courses in pelvic health and obstetrics. Read more>>

Ashley Morse

I started my first company as a way to deal with my severe postpartum depression. I wanted to feel like I had a sense of worth and purpose, beyond being a mom to my girls. I asked friends and family to model for me for my portfolio- and I fell in LOVE with photography. Eventually, I learned more and more, finally settling into specializing in luxury portraiture and heirloom artwork. A few years ago, I found my love for helping small business owners live happier(and easier) lives. Now, I focus full-time on running my commercial photography studio and my education offerings. My education offerings include in-person classes, plug-and-play templates, and all the tools you need to run your small business like a boss! Read more>>

Leslie Martin

When I was little, my dream was to drive the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile and build fireworks. Then, when I realized that someone had to actually make the animated movies I love to watch, I pivoted to wanting to work in animation. I grew up in a very creative family. My Mom is an artist and has a degree in set design, and my sister has always been very interested in art and photography as well. My dad is a vascular surgeon. When I first started studying animation and fell in love with rigging, which is the stage of animation where someone puts controls on the models so the animators can move them around nicely, it made sense because rigging is basically artistic anatomy. It’s a perfect blend of my parents’ interests, with more computers and technology thrown into the mix. Read more>>

Johanna Ocampo of Fasttrack-Languages International

Johanna Ocampo, Director of Fasttrack Languages and Fasttrack Languages International, is passionate about empowering students through language education. A certified teacher and language developer from Colombia, she has over a decade of teaching experience inspired by her childhood in her mother’s classroom. Johanna combines effective communication strategies with Montessori principles and the Communicative Approach, creating a nurturing environment for learners of all ages, from toddlers to adults. She believes that learning a second language goes beyond career goals; it enriches lives by fostering connections and understanding among diverse cultures. Read more>>

Linda Kavanagh

My original path out of high school was in musical theater. Between music school studies, rehearsals, community theater, and gigs in a rock band, I worked in restaurants throughout New York and Connecticut to earn some extra cash. Ultimately, I caught the restaurant bug and left my performing arts world for the culinary industry. I worked both front of the house (bartending, waitressing, etc.) and back out of the house, spending most of my time cooking alongside some of the best chefs on the East Coast. After 10+ years of working on my feet in an intense atmosphere, I became extremely burnt out from the job’s grind and physical demands. Read more>>

Elizabeth Bloom

I grew up in the south before moving to the Shenandoah Valley to attend James Madison University. I graduated with a BFA in 2014, and promptly spent the following 10 years building a career as a Graphic Designer and Fine Artist; designing for product-based businesses such as Tuckernuck, Saint Bernard, Pamela Munson, and Tervis Tumbler. In 2023 I decided to move to my studio practice full time; creating brand identity, creative direction, and fine art through imagination, creativity and joy to enrich others lives through illustration and creative collaboration. Read more>>

Petra Monaco

My story begins with a lot of trial and discovery. I earned a bachelor’s in accounting and later a master’s in mental health counseling, but neither left me feeling fulfilled. After years of working in traditional roles, I found myself burned out and longing for something that truly resonated with my soul. While raising my three boys, one with special needs, I realized that I wasn’t cut out for the traditional 9-to-5 life. I wanted to find something that brought me joy and aligned with my passions. Hiking has always been my escape—a way to connect with nature, clear my mind, and find peace. It was on those hikes, surrounded by the beauty of wildlife, that I felt the pull to create. Read more>>

Anna Kirschner

My story Absolutely! I’m Anna Kirschner, and this year marks 20 years since I began my journey as a photographer. My story starts with my roots in a small town in Hungary, where I was always drawn to art and storytelling. I eventually attended an art academy, which gave me the foundation to pursue photography—not just as a profession but as a means of creating art every day. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible publications like Vogue Italy, Marie Claire, Huffington Post, and Cosmopolitan. These experiences helped me hone my craft, especially as a fashion photographer, which has always been my first love. Read more>>

Dr. Sydney Freeman, Jr.’s Story

I am originally from Camden, NJ. and attended private Christian schools in Cherry Hill and Trenton, NJ. I was always a little different in the sense that I read a lot especially the newspaper even when I was in middle school. I was very interested in US politics. However, the formative events that shaped much of my life was exposure to Black excellence. In elementary school I had the opportunity to be a part of a program called, Youth2Leaders that was created by journalist and tv/radio personality, Tavis Smiley. That program exposed me to political leaders, activists, and artist such as Sonia Sanchez. We delved deep into topics like the supreme court and the future of the Black community. My dad would also take me to academic conferences and I was able to attend lectures at Ivy League institutions at a young age. Read more>>

Rachel Leibman’s Story

I am a San Francisco based mixed media and textile artist. My art journey started when I was a small child. I spent hours drawing every day and my parents enrolled me in art classes outside of school. But in my late teens, I had a crisis of confidence and decided, like so many others, that I wasn’t good enough. It took many more years and having a child of my own before I realized that I could be, and was meant to be, an artist. Read more>>

Lindsey Paulson of LP Consulting

I started my journey with being a part of “corporate America”. I was an operations manager and leader for Marriott International and I cannot say enough good things about the experience. I learned the ins and outs of operations, customer service, accounting, and so much more. Eventually, I was able to take that knowledge and pour it into small businesses in my community and open my own operational consulting firm. Read more>>

Emily Labdon of Emlabdon Events

My love for event planning started during my time at Marist College where I pursued a degree in Fashion. In school, I got used to being in a constant grind. While taking classes, interning in NYC, and working on campus, and commuting between all of it using public transit (I didn’t have a car) I learned quickly how to use my time wisely. While interning for Oscar de la Renta and working for IMG (International management group) during NYFW (New York Fashion Week) as a production assistant I gained valuable insight into the events industry. I was able to continue refining my skills through event planning classes at Marist, planning events for the fashion and alumni community in the NYC Metropolitan area. Read more>>

Kate Segal

I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember, and throughout my life, it’s always been my way of finding peace and calm. I became a digital artist quite early, thanks to my father’s early involvement with computers in the ‘80s and ‘90s. He was always ahead of the curve with technology, and because of that, I had access to digital drawing software from a young age. I was immediately drawn to it—it felt like a whole new world to explore. There was something so exciting about using a computer to create something visual, and I loved the freedom it gave me to experiment with new styles and techniques. Read more>>

Katie Gilbertson of Rainy Day Therapy

I started my therapy practice, Rainy Day Therapy in 2019. It’s not typical for therapists to start their practices immediately after grad school, but I had already spent multiple years in community mental health and was burnt out. With encouragement from loved ones and mentors I opened my practice in Tacoma, WA. About 8 months later the pandemic hit and I had to move to virtual sessions. Telehealth was not popular like it is today so learning how to support people virtually was challenging. Navigating that while trying to find my confidence, stability, and values as a new therapist was daunting. There were times where I really questioned if running a business was for me, if I had made a mistake becoming a therapist, and if I would ever feel financially stable in my job. Read more>>

Allison Barr

When I was younger, I tried a million hobbies that never stuck. One day, a friend in high school showed me that you could get really into movies. We had a movie marathon based on a director, and that changed everything for me. That moment made me want to become a filmmaker. When I told my family this, my aunt sent me an old camera of hers she said I could use for filmmaking. When I got it, I realized it actually didn’t have a video feature. So, I started taking photos instead. I fell in love with the way it united me with people. Read more>>

Janet Constantino

When a writer friend asked me, “If you could write about anything you wanted, what would that be?” I immediately thought of Sicily, where half my family was born, where my father partially grew up, and where traditions rooted deeply in family and culture have shaped lives, especially the lives of women. From this question sprang the idea of Becoming Mariella, a story about a young Sicilian woman striving to break free from her mother’s control and the societal expectations that cast women primarily as homemakers, mothers, and silent figures. Read more>>

Amarra Kiara

I founded KIOR Couture back in 2019 with a vision to create fashion that empowers women to feel both bold and comfortable. Initially, I was designing handmade pieces, sourcing unique fabrics, and managing every aspect of the business myself. As time went on, I realized the potential for my brand to reach more people, so I made the shift to incorporating larger-scale production. Read more>>

Shantel Grasdal Ramos

I started as a professional dancer and performer 10 years ago in Vancouver, Canada. Over the years I have had the privilege of working on a wide range of projects, with a wide range of clients, such as Amazon Prime, Riot Games, Bose, Hugo Boss, Neutrogena, and Walmart. I have also been able to work with artists, such as AP Dhillon, Melo LV, and Dana Shine. The biggest factor that helped reach these heights, is relying on my training, and feeling confident in the product (Me) that I have curated. Hiring teams want to feel confident and at ease that you will be able to help them at the end have a professional, polished result. Reminding myself that, helps ease those nerves that ultimately come from putting yourself on display in the audition room. Read more>>

Carrie Vanderhoof of Boho Chic Boutique, LLC

After spending 17 years as an Environment Engineering with the State of New York, I found myself wanting more from my day to day life. I was unclear as to what I wanted to change, I just knew a change was required to restore my health and my sense of self. The answer did not come overnight, in fact it took months of soul searching and taking the time to ask myself what brought me joy. I dug out old boxes filled with my art supplies, old sketchbooks and notebooks of poetry and spent time reconnecting with how I saw the world before I started a career in engineering. Read more>>

Mary Butler

By profession, I work in the financial services industry specializing in financial planning and wealth management. I have been working in this industry for years and while I enjoy it as a career path, it isn’t a particularly creative industry. Throughout my life, I had always been more of a reader and didn’t really think of myself as much of a creative person. That is, until I began making cocktails! After work, I enjoyed trying new cocktail bars that would open in my area and began experimenting with making my own cocktails at home when the pandemic hit. As I began to learn how different flavor profiles meld together, I began to look for new ingredients and liqueurs to put into my drinks and I had so much fun doing it! I had finally found something that I could really get creative with and make something classic or make something totally new. Cocktail creation became something that I’m very passionate about so I began to share my creations online and the feedback that I’ve received since then has been absolutely amazing and pushes me to create more unusual and delicious cocktails or challenges me to try to make a drink with unique or funky ingredients. Each day, I just go with the flow and see where my new ideas take me! Read more>>

Dana Kinsey

I was a shy child lost in a family of big personalities. Books, music, and creativity were my outlets; I spent a good deal of my time alone in my room occupied by characters, songs, and words. I blocked out the need to converse with anyone because I didn’t enjoy it and felt like I disappointed everyone. My dad frequently demanded in frustration, “What are you doing up there all the time?” Read more>>