Woman Wednesday: Stephanie


Q and A with Stephanie, Western Australia

“Therapy and counseling and talking about our issues can be helpful when we just want to be heard and have someone to listen to us, and sometimes, it can be all we need.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I love camping and spending time with my French bulldog and my wonderful husband. My passion is emotional intelligence and helping women become confident and happy, while inspiring them to be the best versions of themselves. I was in a dark place mentally for quite a few years with anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, not feeling good enough, dealing with chronic pain, and I couldn’t find my way out. I felt trapped. I discovered a female-specific approach that lead me out of the dark and then inspired me to help other women do the same.


Q: What were your younger years like?

A: When I was young, my parents got divorced and we moved to a new town. when I started this new school in year three, I quickly realized that society had a perception of me and people had judgment. The kids wanted me to be a certain way to fit in and have friends. All of my differences were pointed out as bad. I had abandonment issues, so fitting in and having friends was really important to me. I got bullied quite a lot, especially by boys. I started realizing I didn’t fit in and that me being me wasn’t good enough. So, from that point on, I started living the way I thought other people wanted me to. I was saying and doing everything in each different situation around each different person the way I thought that they expected me to be. I was such a big people pleaser and I put huge expectations on myself to be a certain way every moment of my life.

I had low self-worth and self-value, and I cared so much about what other people thought. I put so much pressure on myself with work and was not treated well in the workplace I was in. I had workplace bullying and was also taking on more than my fair share. I developed chronic pain for a few years around this time, which made me realize how stressed I was, how much anxiety I had, and how depressed I felt. I thought this was all because of my pain, but it let me try and seek to help myself out of it. Over the next few years, I tried basically every modality and approach out there that I could find to help me physically and mentally. I ended up losing hope every time I would find a new person that said that they could help and yet, failed me. I felt hopeless and started to think that there was no hope for me to get better.

When I stop looking, I stumbled across Creatrix. It’s made specifically for women to resolve the mental baggage, chronic emotions, negative chatter, and negative beliefs we have about ourselves. In one month, I went from an anxious, overwhelmed young woman who had no hope and felt trapped to a confident, happy, and free, excited woman. I was finally free! I thought it was impossible to completely transform how I felt about myself. Four years later, and my life has continued to improve. I am so happy to now be able to help other women, too.

I always had pain growing up, unexplained stomach pain. I was in and out of the hospital with headaches, migraines, and earaches. When I was working in worker’s compensation, managing workplace injuries, I started to develop neck pain. I saw a chiro and afterward, I knew something was wrong. That night, I had excruciating pain down my upper spine. That pain took weeks to slowly dull, but my neck pain never went away. I had never experienced what it was like to live with pain 24/7. It chipped away at my positive outlook, my confidence, and my sense of control. I felt overwhelmed as it was so exhausting having pain, physically and mentally. I just couldn’t cope and was losing sleep and stuck in a downward spiral. A psychologist told me I would have to quit my job, and I had so much social anxiety. I was looking into training a puppy as an assistance animal because I didn’t feel safe when I left my house. Chronic pain for me highlighted the areas of my emotions that needed healing. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but it pushed me to heal myself and what was going on under the surface.


Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: That you are amazing, powerful, and capable. You are stronger than you know. You are incredible, and you have the ability inside you to be anything you want to be. The main thing I learned was that women are different. The female factor is missing from society in general; however, we know we’re different. Through my training, I have learned that the majority of approaches out were made for the way a male mind thinks and works. And they work really well for men; however, four out of five women will find that they need ongoing help or they continue to come back for the same issue later on. This is because there are so many differences in the way we are made up, so we need something that works for the way our minds work for complete, irreversible change that actually lasts.


Therapy and counseling and talking about our issues can be helpful when we just want to be heard and have someone to listen to us, and sometimes, it can be all we need. But then comes times when we’re not healing and we’re not resolving the issues by talking about them, and it is actually anchoring us in the negative current emotions, which makes it so much harder for us to actually resolve and move through it. The process I use with women does not go back into your story; you don’t have to relive all of the negative things and talk about them over and over again. You finally just get to move past it all and leave it behind where it belongs, detaching from the negative emotions.


Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: Feminism, to me, just means being in your power. Truly, purely, being you. Embracing all that you are and being proud of it. Men have a great place in society; they have so many strengths and so do we. Being able to acknowledge the love and appreciate everyone for everything they bring is the most important thing to me.

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Woman Wednesday: JoAnn


Q and A with JoAnn
from Sicily, Italy, living in Georgian Bay, Canada

“A theme that I include in my novel is that of the immigrant experience, the struggle, and prejudice experienced by many hardworking new immigrants.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I had never held a book in my hands until my family immigrated to Canada from Sicily in 1957. There were no libraries in our small Sicilian village in the 50s, and my family could not afford books. I was seven, so I was placed into first grade, and by the end of the year, I could speak and read some English. In grade three, my class was allowed to walk to a nearby library where we were allowed to borrow three books. The books suggested by the librarian were very thin children’s books. I would take three home, read them the same night, then wait patiently for two weeks to go by so I could go back to the library and bring home three more. That’s when I developed my passion for reading, which also inspired me to write. My other interests are baking and gardening, both of which require reading, whether you want to bake some really delicious scones or learn how to grow beautiful flowers. I have been a freelance journalist for many years, but I only recently published my first novel, A Scarcity of Virgins. It is a women’s novel with a feminist bent, that incorporates the immigrant experience as a backdrop since it is so much a part of me. I have almost completed a second novel, Island of the Vespers, a historical romance that takes place in Sicily during the 1860 unifications wars led by Giuseppe Garibaldi.


Q: What were your younger years like?

A: In elementary school, my favorite subject was composition, and I remember my grade-four teacher being so impressed by a story I had written, that he passed it around among the other teachers, much to my embarrassment. It was a silly story about a bear that attacked a hunter, but instead of eating the hunter, the bear preferred the hunter’s honey sandwiches. For some reason, my teacher thought it was hilarious. I thought, if my grade-four teacher liked my writing, maybe writing was something I should do. So, I always wrote stories at home for my own pleasure and had a diary going, even into my late teens. My parents didn’t speak English, so on parents’ night when kids were supposed to stay home, I had to accompany my parents to the school to translate. Because of that, and because of all the children of Italian immigrants that were enrolling in our school, I became the school’s official translator assisting teachers who wanted to communicate with the parents. My decision to study modern languages in university stems from this experience.


Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: In spite of the women’s liberation movement, which was at its height in the 60s and 70s, many women of my era remained mired in patriarchal and misogynistic traditions. Fifty years later, it continues to exist. I just recently watched a series entitled Maid, based on a true story, a contemporary story, and was saddened to see how women are still treated badly, and how much they have to struggle. Even though my novel, A Scarcity of Virgins, takes place in the 80s, the subject matter, which includes, marriage, family, patriarchy, misogyny, feminism, fidelity and infidelity, is still relevant today. Women cannot allow themselves to be used and abused by men and are often unfairly disqualified from jobs or social assistance. Additionally, a theme that I include in my novel is that of the immigrant experience, the struggle, and prejudice experienced by many hard-working new immigrants.


Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: To me, feminism means the freedom to be ourselves, without fear of reprimand or retaliation, without physical or emotional abuse. It means being able to have control of our own lives, and most importantly, having equal rights and opportunities, without the consideration of gender.

MORE FROM JOANN: I lived my early years in Toronto, Canada, where I studied, married, worked, and raised my three children. After retirement, I moved farther north to enjoy country life on the shores of Georgian Bay. I am so happy that I was able to combine the launch of my first novel, A Scarcity of Virgins, with my mother’s 106th birthday on October 23rd. We had to have two separate cakes, of course!

Book to order: amazon.com/author/jo-annwrites

Website: joanncatania.com

Facebook: JoAnnCatania2

Twitter: JoAnnCatania1

Instagram: joanncatania1


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Woman Wednesday: Normadelle


Q and A with Normadelle, Jamaica

Know your worth, your skills, and your value.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: What am I passionate about is visual arts, art education/art therapy, children, nurturing, counseling, nature, ocean, and the outdoors. I grew up in Jamaica, and I always liked creating with my hands, acting, theatre design, hand painting on clothes, piano playing, music, collecting, making things, painting, collage, jewelry making, and paper mache. My parents allowed me to choose my profession, allowed me to be creative and to be me. I’m a retired art educator and art therapist. I worked at a psych hospital doing art therapy groups. I have a natural skincare business, creating body butters, soaps, scrubs, etc. I also teach part-time at an art studio.


Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I went to high school, art school, and received a master’s degree. I had an early exposure to the arts: ballet lessons, piano lessons, and acting classes. I also write poetry. Early exposure allowed me to have an appreciation for all things artistic—possibilities and opportunities, problem solving, etc. I’ve been asked and paid to do many artistic activities, set design, banners, workshops, curate exhibitions, and hang art privately and in a gallery where I was a director, wrote publications attached to exhibitions, made pinatas and face painting for parties. Any and everything art-based, I’ve experienced. That’s my passion!


Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: Follow your dreams. When I was about nine years old, I sat on a rock and painted and declared that I would become an artist! Don’t be scared; just do it! Know your worth, your skills, and your value. When asked to do a job you’ve never done before but it’s within your discipline, pull on all that you know and utilize it! You can veer off from your intended career path once you’re passionate enough. Know and study yourself to know your capabilities.


Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: Feminism, to me, means empowering yourself with an education, financial know-how, self-esteem, confidence, and independence to succeed!

MORE FROM NORMADELLE: My organic skincare business evolved through my creative and artistic streak! So did my jewelry making. I love what I do; it’s my passion! I also love to write about personal experiences in the form of poetry. I’m originally from Jamaica, West Indies, and have lived in Atlanta, GA, for the past 27 years.


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Woman Wednesday: Cassandra


Q and A with Cassandra, from Boston, MA, living in Tampa, FL

“Don’t be afraid to sacrifice who you are right now to become who you are meant to be.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I love to help people win! Learning about other’s backgrounds, what experiences happened along the way that made them who they are, and helping them get to the level they want to be is what brings me joy.

Working since the age of 14, I’ve explored careers in a variety of industries from fast food to fast fashion, and I’ve been exposed to quite a bit of unique situations. It’s the people that keep me going, especially the underdog. After years of working in HR and witnessing multiple workplace discrepancies, I decided to start my own company to help those discriminated against have a fair hiring process.

In December 2020, I started my company RAAISE Staffing Solutions, an IT recruitment firm that works with companies making Diversity & Inclusion a priority on a direct hire basis. We support the career advancement of all professionals of color, emphasizing on the Black community.


Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I’m an only child that was raised by my mom, grandma, and auntie. They definitely kept me active and made me the woman that I am today. I did ballet, tap, lacrosse, and martial arts! My mom, grandma, and auntie were huge advocates for education and traditional work structures.

I graduated with honors from Johnson & Wales University, Providence Campus, and worked in my major of fashion for a few years. Creating fashion weeks, appearing on radio stations, TV shows, and even walking the runway; I did it all and loved it!

Once I started working in HR, it made me a better person, so I knew it was what I was meant to do. It was a lot for them to take in that I decided to leave the 9-5 life for that of an entrepreneur, but they are getting used to it and are very supportive!


Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: Eventually, we all have to burn the boat and storm the island. Transitioning from the workforce to self-employed has been a remarkable journey full of ups and downs. I’ve learned that in order to reach the next level of my career, I have to makes changes and let go. Don’t be afraid to sacrifice who you are right now to become who you are meant to be.


Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: Equal rights, equal pay, equal opportunities for us all!

MORE FROM CASSANDRA:

I use motivational quotes for keeping me strong, a good laugh on the rough days, and to remind me to never to give up on me. These are a few of my favorites:

“Deny yourself nothing in life.” – Wendy Williams

“Save your heart for love, use your brain for business.” – The Office

“You got champagne taste and beer money.” – 30 For 30, Broke

“Never allow a person to say no who doesn’t have the power to say yes.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“True leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not the enrichment of the leader.” – Robert Townsend


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Woman Wednesday: Natalie


Q and A with Natalie, Melbourne, Australia

“When things become stressful, it’s your values that will drive you.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I’ve been fortunate to take my interests and passions into the work that I do through creating different businesses in which I get to share those passions with the world. My first business was a travel company, which I had for 15 years. My current businesses are all about sharing my love of wellness, bubbles (champagne and sparkling wine), and business through speaking, writing, and mentoring.

In my wellness business, I brought together my passion and understanding of how important wellness is for a happy life as well as my experience as a former fitness instructor to create Wellness on Time—an online wellness program to help people easily integrate wellness activities into their day. This was before the explosion of online wellness activities that has occurred since the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a niche that I knew would help and benefit people.

My bubbly business—The Bubbles Review. This one really is a passion project—it is a blog, website, and events and tours on champagne and sparkling wine. The idea came from a few different areas, including my love of champagne and sparkling wine.

One of my favorite things to do is to help others succeed through my mentoring, writing, and speaking work. A big shift for me in the past few months has been taking my consulting and mentoring business—Natalie Pickett Mentor—to global markets. By bringing more of what I do online, I get to share my insights to help even more people. It has opened up so many opportunities for me to work with business owners all around the world. Amazing things are happening, including being a coauthor in the international best-selling book ‘Becoming an Unstoppable Woman’ and being featured in great blogs like this one!


Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I’ve always loved business. Even as a young girl, I used to convince my friends at elementary school to play ‘business’ with me. I’d be the head of some corporation or I’d convince my siblings to play ‘shops’ with me and I would work out each item’s profit margin. People think that a business mind is different to a creative mind, but when you can create something where there was nothing, that’s creative. Turning an idea into something bigger, such as a business that benefits everyone who buys from you, is undeniably creative.

I am a child of divorced parents, and my ability to not take things personally, while also realizing that some things are outside of my control, was honed during those early years. My mother was a bit of a ‘hippie’ and my dad was quite conservative, so it was about navigating both worlds. I think that has helped me to be open to listen to new ideas and be able to adapt to changing situations quickly in order to find the best solutions to move forward.

I’m from Melbourne, Australia, but have spent time living in other parts of the world. In my 20s, I worked and travelled the east coast of Australia, then the USA, the UK, and Europe. I returned to Melbourne after seven years, and at age 28, I established an inbound travel company, bringing visitors from all over the world to visit Australia. Almost 30 years on, I have a few different businesses. I still live in Melbourne with my daughter, who is now 19 years old. I think travel is one of life’s best educators; you learn a lot about yourself as well as have a better understanding of others. Experiencing other cultures, language, foods and customs opens up the world to you. Travel (when not in restrictions) remains a big part of my life.

I am a serial entrepreneur, and I have founded multiple businesses with 6- and 7-figure success stories. I’ve certainly had my share of triumphs and so-called ‘failures.’ After closing my travel company during the GFC, I founded a successful consulting business. You learn a lot in starting and growing a business, and you learn so much more when you need to close one. There is a procedural aspect to this understanding, as well as personal growth through that adversity. It gives you the perspective to assess what you really want in life. It is actually an opportunity to restart everything in a new way and make the life you truly want. Utilizing my networks created from my travel company, almost overnight my consulting business became a 6-figure success, and I achieved this by only working part-time hours. This business includes successful speaking and mentoring work where I share my knowledge and real-life experiences to help people take their business and daily lives from surviving to thriving.


Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: Our businesses should work for us, not the other way around. The keys to success with each of my businesses is that they all come from my passion, my core values, and my desire to contribute and share my knowledge with others. When things become stressful, it’s your values that will drive you.

Life (and business) is supposed to be fun! My movement is ‘Living the Dream.’ People think they need to wait until they ‘achieve’ to start enjoying life. I’ve discovered that Living the Dream is less about working hard and more about following your joy. When you operate from a place of joy, that is what you share with others and lots of joyous people makes for a better world.

It is possible to define your own version of success and easily take the steps you need to achieve your goals. It is possible for you to not just Dream the Dream, but Live the Dream. I’m passionate about sharing this with the world, and share that in my writing, my courses, and speaking engagements.


Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: I think everyone should be a feminist! When women do well, so does everyone else. Families thrive, relationships are mutually supportive. We are very fortunate in this current day to have had strong women come before us; the Suffragettes fought in a decades-long fight to win the right to vote for women in the early part of the 20th century. And the strong women of the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s did as well. We get to enjoy the freedoms of those advances that were won for women worldwide. Some may still feel like they are battling inequality, while some may feel they have everything they need and no longer need to fight for it. I don’t see feminism as a battle of the sexes. To me, it is simply about everyone thriving and being supported to do so. It really is something we can all support.

MORE FROM NATALIE:

I’ve recently been featured in some major US media publications, and I share a lot of free advice through my articles and on my social media. I have a free course, which includes me sharing business stories as well as paid opportunities to work with me. You can find the links you need to follow me on the Linktree here: https://linktr.ee/natalie_pickett_mentor

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