One of the most challenging things for me as a founder and thought leader has been how to use my voice. Carving out my specific point of view has not been easy for me, - not because I’m confused about where I stand but because I grew up during a time when I wasn’t sure my voice really mattered. Through the years of entrepreneurship, I’ve learned that sharing your voice is more than sharing your thoughts or pov but it’s about being in practice with speaking your truth. 

Being a Gen X, child of the 80’s, girls were almost exclusively told to be seen and not heard. It was engrained in us from the moment we learned to speak. A baseline that has been maintained without question. As an adult, and mom raising my own kids, I make it a priority in my parenting to encourage my kids to not only speak up for themselves, but to practice speaking as themselves, sharing their own unique perspective. Something that was somehow a foreign idea when I was growing up.

This isn’t just advice for my daughter but for my son  who also needs a gentle reminder that his voice matters, too. 

International Women’s Day isn’t just about the women who make history, who start movements, or create successful businesses, or stand out among the men - it's about all women sharing their stories, showing up for one another, giving support, and standing witness to our evolution. When women speak up and stand to witness one another it’s as powerful as it is empowering. 

Running my own business these past five years has been nothing short of harrowing. It can be terrifying and lonely when you’re challenging the status quo along with building the courage to do so. I can tell you that my challenges run parallel to my own self-discovery but not always at the same time or equally. Still, my mission and purpose in what I’m doing has far more to do with my conviction than it does with my courage. Sometimes I dwell in the disbelief that my purpose is essential to the forward motion of my inclusive brand. The fog of disbelief can be thick and engulfing, with no way to find the sunlight. During these times I wonder, “where is my courage and how do I find it”? But here’s the beauty to the beast that is disbelief, I find a lot of courage from other women. It’s probably one of my most valuable resources as an entrepreneur. When I’m feeling the exhaustion of decision fatigue, or the paralysis of too many choices (or not enough) it’s often women I turn to for getting me though. 

There is a constant thread in almost every major life decision I've faced, I find the women who help me face them. My mom. The NICU nurses. My wise daughter. My colleagues and friends. The female foundations in my life are my greatest source of strength, and my most reliable path back to myself when I've lost the way. That is what International Women's Month means to me, not just honoring the women who changed the world, but celebrating every woman who ever helped another woman find her voice, her footing, or her fire. Show up for each other. That's how we move forward.

With so much love,