We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alyssa Chambers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alyssa below.

Hi Alyssa, thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Story of a Risk I Took: Launching Winnie’s Way Mobile Candle Café
The backstory
For a long time, NOVA Essence Inside Out was my “yes” to myself. It started as a hobby in 2020—candles, affirmations, and little pockets of peace I could create with my own hands. It was healing, it was creative, and it was mine.
But as the community grew, so did the vision. People didn’t just want a candle—they wanted the experience. They wanted to pour, breathe, laugh, reset, and leave with something they made and a reminder that they’re allowed to give themselves grace.
I kept seeing it: a mobile candle café on Long Island. A space that could pull up anywhere—schools, campuses, corporate offices, community events—and make self-care accessible, inclusive, and real.
The risk (and why it felt like an unplanned child)
Here’s the truth: Winnie’s Way didn’t come from a perfectly mapped-out five-year plan. It came like an unplanned child—unexpected, a little scary, and instantly loved.
I didn’t have a big investor behind me. I didn’t have a “perfect time” on the calendar. I had a calling, a vision I couldn’t shake, and a deep knowing that if I kept waiting until everything looked safe, I would miss my moment.
So I took the risk.
I decided to build Winnie’s Way as a real, physical extension of NOVA EssenceIO—something that required more money, more logistics, more responsibility, and more faith than anything I had done before.
I bootstrapped it. I funded it myself. And I learned quickly that this kind of dream doesn’t just cost dollars—it costs energy, time, patience, and the willingness to keep going when the numbers and the timeline don’t “make sense” yet.
Painting the picture: what it took to build
It wasn’t just “buy a truck and start.” It was a thousand decisions and a thousand moments of doubt.
It was researching, planning, and re-planning.
It was figuring out insurance, safety, setup, storage, supplies, and what it would mean to serve people well—consistently.
It was asking for help when I’m used to being the helper.
It was late nights after work, early mornings before work, and weekends that weren’t really weekends.
And it was realizing, over and over again, that this dream would take a village.
Not just a village to build the truck or set up events—but a village to build something for the community. Winnie’s Way was never meant to be just a business move. It was meant to be a moving space of care.
The faith part: waiting with purpose
One of the biggest lessons in this risk was learning the difference between waiting patiently and waiting faithfully.
Because I wasn’t just sitting around hoping things would work out.
I was working. I was preparing. I was staying ready.
But I was also learning how to trust divine timing—how to hold faith even when I couldn’t see the full path, and how to keep building even when progress felt slow.
I had to remind myself that patience isn’t passive. Patience is obedience. It’s staying committed to the vision while you’re still in the “in-between.”
How it turned out (and how the community held it up)
When it was time to introduce Winnie’s Way, I didn’t want the launch to be about me “showing off a new thing.” I wanted it to feel like what it truly was: a gift back to the people who inspired the vision in the first place.
So we launched with a free Community Wellness Day for the Westbury community—something that felt like a real welcome home.
It was a picnic/field day vibe: food, music, families and friends spread out on the grass, laughter moving through the air, and that feeling of we’re safe to breathe here.
And as the day shifted into evening, we closed it out with a sunset concert—one of those moments where you look around and realize this isn’t just an event, it’s a memory being made in real time.
That day reminded me why I took the risk. Winnie’s Way wasn’t built just to sell something. It was built to serve, to gather, to create space for joy and restoration—especially for people who don’t always get access to wellness spaces that feel culturally inclusive and truly welcoming.
Winnie’s Way soft launched on 8/16 and had its grand opening on 8/30—and I’ll never forget what it felt like to see it come to life.
It felt like proof.
Proof that the vision was real.
Proof that I didn’t need everything to be perfect to begin.
Proof that what’s meant for you will meet you when you keep showing up.
And most of all, it felt like a testimony.
Because Winnie’s Way is loved dearly—not just by me, but by the people it was built for. It’s still growing, still evolving, still requiring faith and community and flexibility.
But that’s the beauty of it.
This risk taught me that sometimes your biggest “yes” won’t come wrapped in certainty. Sometimes it comes wrapped in responsibility, in sacrifice, and in a quiet voice that says: Start anyway. I’ll meet you there.
And I did.
What I carry forward
If I had to sum it up, I’d say this:
I took a risk on Winnie’s Way because I believed self-care could be mobile, inclusive, and community-centered—and because I believed I was called to build it.
It wasn’t planned like a spreadsheet.
It was birthed like a blessing.
And it’s still taking a village.
But it’s a village I’m grateful for—and a vision I’m committed to seeing all the way through.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

About Me & My Business / Brand
Who I am
My name is Alyssa Chambers, and I’m the founder and CEO of NOVA Essence Inside Out LLC (NOVA EssenceIO)—home of Winnie’s Way Mobile Candle Café. At my core, I’m a builder: I love creating experiences that make people feel seen, safe, and inspired.
NOVA EssenceIO is rooted in a simple belief: self-care should be accessible, creative, and inclusive—especially for communities who are often overlooked in traditional wellness spaces. Everything I create is affirmation-driven and community-centered, because I’ve seen how powerful it is when someone hears the words they needed at the exact right time.
How I got into this work (and what shaped my wellness journey)
This brand didn’t start as a business plan—it started as a healing practice.
After experiencing trauma, I found myself on a mental wellness journey where I needed tools that felt both grounding and doable. I wasn’t looking for perfection—I was looking for peace. I began creating small rituals: lighting a candle, writing an affirmation, taking a deep breath, and giving myself permission to slow down.
In 2020, those rituals turned into making candles and affirmation-based gifts for myself and the people I love—something tangible that could hold comfort, intention, and a sense of safety.
What began as a personal practice grew into a calling. As I started sharing my work at pop-ups and workshops, I noticed people weren’t just buying a candle—they were looking for a moment to breathe. They wanted a reset. They wanted a space where wellness didn’t feel intimidating, exclusive, or out of reach.
That’s when the brand expanded from products into experiences—and eventually into Winnie’s Way, a mobile candle café designed to bring that “pocket of peace” directly to the community.
What I offer (products, services, experiences)
NOVA EssenceIO is built on three pillars:
Products: Handmade, affirmation-themed candles (including botanical and ritual-inspired scents), wellness gifts, and curated kits that support rest, reflection, and intention.
Services: Winnie’s Way Mobile Candle Café, a candle bar experience that can pop up at workplaces, campuses, community events, and private celebrations—plus event facilitation and day-of coordination.
Experiences: Workshops and programming that blend creativity and wellness—candle-making, journaling, mindfulness, affirmation writing, and youth enrichment experiences.
I serve both individual customers and organizations—from private events and community groups to schools, colleges, and corporate teams looking for meaningful employee engagement.
The problems I solve (and what clients get out of it)
My work supports people and organizations who want wellness that feels real—not performative.
For individuals, NOVA EssenceIO creates: – A calming, creative ritual they can return to – A reminder that they are worthy of rest and care – A product or experience that feels personal and uplifting
For organizations (schools, campuses, companies, community partners), Winnie’s Way and our workshops provide: – A unique, hands-on wellness activity that builds connection – An inclusive experience that supports stress relief and belonging – A program that can be customized for different ages, cultures, and comfort levels
What sets NOVA EssenceIO apart
There are a lot of candle brands and a lot of wellness events—but NOVA EssenceIO is different because it’s not just about the product. It’s about the purpose.
What makes us stand out: – Affirmation-driven wellness: Every candle and experience is designed to speak life into people. – Trauma-informed and inclusive approach: I prioritize emotional safety, accessibility, and cultural awareness. – Mobile + community-centered: Winnie’s Way brings the experience to you—making wellness more reachable. – Founder-led storytelling: This brand is personal. It’s built from lived experience, faith, and resilience. – Custom, interactive experiences: People don’t just watch—they create, connect, and leave with something they made.
What I’m most proud of
I’m most proud that NOVA EssenceIO has grown into something that truly serves.
I’m proud that people leave our workshops saying they feel lighter.
I’m proud that youth feel empowered and seen.
I’m proud that Winnie’s Way exists as a moving reminder that joy and rest can live right in the middle of real life.
And I’m proud that I built this bootstrapped, with faith, consistency, and community—proving that you can create something beautiful without waiting for perfect conditions.
What I want people to know
If you’re new here, I want you to know this:
NOVA EssenceIO is for the person who needs a reset, a reminder, and a soft place to land.
We believe in giving yourself grace—not as a cute phrase, but as a real practice.
Whether you’re booking Winnie’s Way for your organization, joining a workshop, or lighting a candle at home, you’re not just buying a product—you’re stepping into a moment of intention.
NOVA Essence Inside Out is about being Beautifully Inspired Inside & Out—and building a community where wellness feels like home.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience, for me, looks like continuing to build even when life is heavy. NOVA Essence Inside Out didn’t start as a “cute business idea” — it started as a healing practice. After experiencing trauma, I found myself on a mental wellness journey where I needed tools that felt grounding and doable. I began creating small rituals: lighting a candle, writing affirmations, and giving myself permission to slow down. Those rituals became candles and wellness gifts in 2020, and eventually workshops where people could breathe, create, and feel safe in community.

The resilient part was choosing to keep showing up — even when I was tired, even when I was bootstrapping, even when I didn’t have everything figured out. Building Winnie’s Way Mobile Candle Café was a huge leap that required faith, patience, and a village. There were so many moments where the “smart” choice would’ve been to wait until things were perfect, but I kept moving with purpose and trusting divine timing. Seeing Winnie’s Way come to life — and watching people leave our experiences feeling lighter — reminded me that what I survived didn’t stop me. It shaped my mission, and it gave me a deeper reason to serve.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my audience by leading with story, consistency, and service — not perfection. I didn’t grow by trying to sound like everyone else. I showed up as me: sharing what I was making, why it mattered, and how it could support someone’s real life. I talked about self-care in a way that felt accessible, especially for Black women and communities who don’t always see themselves reflected in wellness spaces. Over time, people didn’t just follow a candle brand — they followed a message: Give yourself grace. You deserve a pocket of peace.

A few things that helped me grow: I posted content that made people feel something (affirmations, behind-the-scenes, founder moments), I used events and pop-ups as content opportunities, and I focused on connection — replying to comments, DMs, and treating every follower like a real person, not a number. My biggest advice for anyone just starting: pick 2–3 content “lanes” you can repeat (ex: behind-the-scenes, customer/community moments, and one clear message like affirmations), post consistently even if it’s simple, and don’t wait until your branding is perfect. Your people are looking for your voice and your intention — the polish can come later.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.novaessenceio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nova_essenceio/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NOVAEssenceIO/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alyssa-chambers20_meet-alyssa-chambers-canvasrebel-magazine-activity-7070106084891357184-K_IP
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@NOVAEssenceInsideOut/playlists
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nova-essence-inside-out-amityville

Image Credits

Itsvanssmade