women – Page 5 – The Woman Wednesday Blog

Woman Wednesday: Jean

August 6, 2025Posted in inspiration, Uncategorized, womenTagged Faith, inspiration, Inspirational, inspirational story, inspirational woman, inspirational women, life, love, mental health, wcw, woman crush wednesday, woman wednesday, women, women wednesday, writingLeave a comment

Q and A with Jean from Chicago, Illinois, living in Lancaster, South Carolina

“I found making jewelry helps me combine my knowledge of holistic healing, Reiki, and using the Chakras to help heal along with the ability to create beautiful pieces of jewelry.”

Q: Tell us about yourself. What are you passionate about?

A: My name is Jean Schlaiss and I am the creator of Intentions by JS. I make wire and crystal jewelry, and intention candles and wax melts. I have been working at my business for the past three years and plan on continuing to do so in order to keep growing. I am hoping to get my jewelry into brick and mortar and online stores.

I am passionate about alternative healing methods. I am an esthetician by trade and also a Reiki master. Reiki is a form of energy healing that helps people with relaxation and to destress. My jewelry reflects my passion as I use natural crystal beads and create healing combinations of crystals to put into my jewelry.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: My parents, my brother, and I lived in the suburbs of Chicago. We were a typical middle-class family. Later in life, I earned my bachelor’s degree in science with a focus in holistic wellness. I am currently a school director for a cosmetology school. Finding a hobby became important to me in order to help me relax. I found making jewelry helps me combine my knowledge of holistic healing, Reiki, and using the Chakras to help heal along with the ability to create beautiful pieces of jewelry. I turned my passion for making jewelry into a business. I currently sell at markets; a boutique in Monroe, North Carolina; and on my Etsy store.

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

A: I have learned how to relax and find my inner peace. Making jewelry allows me to be creative as I continue to find new patterns and styles.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: I feel the word “feminism” has negative connotations. I just believe that women and men should be treated fairly and equally. I have seen the inequality at the workplace and it saddens me. Women always feel the need to be on the defense even if they have the same job, same education, or same ranking as their male counterpart. It is a fight that women will have to continue to have until everyone is on equal ground.

MORE ABOUT JEAN: My husband and I live on a farm in South Carolina. One of my two sons lives with us as well, as he has just completed his bachelor’s degree and is looking for a job. We would love to expand our farm, but that will be in the future. My parents live nearby, and my mother comes with me when I showcase my jewelry and candles at local markets. She also is very creative and offers wood burning art, also known as pyrography. It offers a fantastic way for us to spend time together.

Thank you for reading!

Shop my jewelry here.

I’d love to connect with you! 🙂

Thoughts, questions, or comments? Comment below!

Woman Wednesday: Dr. Naieema

July 30, 2025Posted in inspiration, Uncategorized, womenTagged Faith, inspiration, Inspirational, inspirational story, inspirational woman, inspirational women, life, wcw, woman crush wednesday, woman wednesday, women, women wednesday, writingLeave a comment

Q and A with Dr. Naieema, Charlotte, North Carolina

“Homelessness was one of the most impactful experiences of my life.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I’m passionate about female empowerment, my family, and travel. My inspiration comes from seeing different parts of the world, my family, and wanting to teach my daughters that they can do anything that they put their minds to. My favorite trip was to Jamaica, right before the pandemic hit. I finished my PhD and am currently using research-based methods to improve The Determined FemPreneur™, my sales and business strategy program for service-based female entrepreneurs.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I was born and raised in New York City and grew up with three siblings. There was a period where my mother, my older sister, and I were homeless. We lived on the cold, dirty NYC subway; followed by a slew of homeless shelters. That was until we landed in Ravenswood Public Housing Development in Long Island City, Queens, NYC. Homelessness was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. I watched my mother work really hard, but she didn’t have much to show for it. I now use this fuel and those lessons to teach women how to earn more, work less, and make an even bigger impact.

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

A: I want others to know that it’s okay to normalize rest and luxury. As women, we often start our businesses wanting to make an impact. All while sacrificing time with our families, our sleep, and our mental and physical health. It’s OK to build a business where you’re not overworking yourself and that equally serves you and your clients/customers.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: Feminism means equality, but it can’t exist if racism exists because there are women who are of marginalized communities.

Thank you for reading!

I’d love to connect with you! 🙂

Thoughts, questions, or comments? Comment below!

Woman Wednesday: Topaz

July 23, 2025Posted in inspiration, Uncategorized, womenTagged advice, blog, cool, feminism, inspiration, inspire, life, relationships, true story, wcw, woman, woman wednesday, women, women wednesday, writingLeave a comment

Q and A with Topaz, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

“…push past the fear and do it anyway.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I’m passionate about serving others, specifically women entrepreneurs who are looking to have a more fulfilled life. I want to support others’ life purpose and create balance and ease.

I spent over 16 years as a coach in various ways. I started out as a personal fitness coach and moved into an education role with the University of California Irvine. I taught leadership development courses at the ropes course for UCI and later became a corporate team building coach.

I spend every morning exercising, meditating, and sitting with my feelings. I love anything with water, so I live 15 minutes from the ocean. I am an avid paddle-boarder, and I love to surf.

I am currently working on my new life coaching business. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life and I can’t wait to support as many women as possible.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up in a mountain town, population of 100. My house that I lived in did not have running water or electricity!

I learned how to do whatever it took to make “it” happen, this carried on through my adult life and career.

I think one of the most valuable quotes a past mentor told me when I said I was so overwhelmed I couldn’t even cope was, “When your cup starts to overflow, get a bigger cup.” This was a whole new perspective I had never thought before, and allowed me to take a birdseye view of my life. I realize that everything I want is possible.

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

A: I want everyone to know two things: First is that you need to put your oxygen mask on first! This is so important to know that you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.

Second is that you will get triggered by fear, and it’s okay to feel those triggers and to push past the fear and do it anyway.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: Growing up, I was afraid of other women. I was afraid of rejection and not fitting in. It’s only recently that I discovered how incredible women are and embraced the power of the divine feminine.

So, to me, feminism is fully welcoming my fellow sisters with encouragement. I want us all to empower each other to grow and be stronger and love and support each other.

Thank you for reading! Connect with me here:

Website

I’d love to connect with you! 🙂

Thoughts, questions, or comments?

Woman Wednesday: Melanie

July 16, 2025Posted in inspiration, Uncategorized, womenTagged achieving your dreams, advice, blog, books, building a business, building something, business blog, businessowner, businesswoman, Challenges we learn from, Challenging, cool, emotional blog, empowerment, feminism, hard work, inspiration, inspirational blog, inspirational stories blog, inspire, life, life experiences, meaningful business, mindset, overcoming negativity, sharing stories, sharing stories blog, stories, stories blog, travel, travelling, wcw, woman, woman wednesday, women, women empowered, women empowering, women in business, women wednesday, writingLeave a comment

Q and A with Melanie, Cape Town, South Africa

“Always be teachable.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: My name is Melanie Rutgers, and I am from Cape Town, South Africa. I love creating things as well as opportunities and experiences that influence and effect change for whomever that change is for at that moment hoping that it will have a lasting impact.

The current space I am in is women transitioning into menopause and midlife, creating platforms and events where they become empowered with information to go through the transition a lot easier and safer based on several factors.

I am very passionate about the work that I am currently busy with because I had a horrible experience during my transition and struggled to understand and manage it as I discovered that there was very little information about women going through this phase of their lives. Among other things, I am an educational and training development practitioner, which simply means that I am qualified to facilitate information for educational purposes.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I am college educated and have post-grad studies in business strategy and organizational development. I had a good middle-class upbringing and always got into trouble for asking way too many questions! I found that I had a passion to create from very early in my life and that I could use my voice to make a difference. I was always creating opportunities and experiences and events in our neighborhood and community and had a large variety of friends, much to my parent’s distress at times. [She laughs.]

The biggest lesson that I have learned about my story so far is that in one’s pursuit of finding more (whatever that more is), it is important not to always make impulsive decisions; some things need careful thought and planning because they can have severe consequences on those closest to you. Always be teachable.

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

A: Let me just say that it costs you if you become anything close to what is now coined as a solopreneur. You have to believe that what you are doing is your life’s work! So, we are currently fundraising to televise an event where we can take information to women who don’t have access to quality health care in our country, on a much larger scale than we have been doing so they can also be well and a lot more informed but most importantly, to know that they are not alone.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: Let me start by saying kudos to every woman who has ever fought for women’s rights and even went as far as changing legislation so that our voices could be heard; however, as far as feminism goes, in my opinion, it does not always need to be a fight to prove that we are worthy and capable in any one particular way or another because there is nothing to compete against. Women possess uniqueness, power, class, and strength that is unprecedented. Firstly, it is divine and very well-thought-out because we can create, influence, and maintain excellent multitasking power that no other creature on this planet has been blessed with! And those who seem not to possess what I am talking about, know that it exists, it’s there beneath what appears as brokenness; given the time and the right circumstance, it will be uncovered.

PS. I forgot to mention that I am also a talk show host and producer. This is me in the center with my two guests and two of the crew.

Thank you for reading!

Woman Wednesday: Noma

July 9, 2025Posted in inspiration, Uncategorized, womenTagged achieving your dreams, advice, art, beauty, blog, blogging, book-review, book-reviews, books, building a business, building something, business, business blog, business woman, businessowner, businesswoman, candles, Challenges we learn from, Challenging, cool, dog, dogs, emotional blog, empowerment, equality, family, fashion, feminism, fiction, gender, gender-equality, hard work, healing, health, inspiration, inspirational blog, inspirational stories blog, inspire, life, life experiences, lifestyle, literature, love, meaningful business, mental health, mindfulness, mindset, motherhood, overcoming negativity, pets, photographer, photography, poetry, postpartum, reading, relationships, resilience, SEO, sharing stories, sharing stories blog, spirituality, stories, stories blog, style, success, trauma, travel, travelling, wcw, woman, woman wednesday, women, women empowered, women empowering, writingLeave a comment

Q and A with Noma from Karachi, Pakistan

“I took a leap of faith two years back, and today, I am living the life I want.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I have been working remotely as a lead generation expert, appointment setter, and a supportive manager team lead with a seven-figure marketing agency. I’m passionate about the opportunities working from home, raising my kids, and being financially independent. I am grateful for the ability to serve people with my skills.

I lead a team of 20+ setters around the globe for a marketing agency, helping my clients in business strategies to upscale and manage stuff.

I started from scratch in this digital space being an engineer from NED and transformed into an online entrepreneur. Here’s a glimpse of my journey:

I am a mom of two, an engineer by education, and ranked on Google as the best appointment setter in Karachi, Pakistan. Back in 2021, when COVID hit, I had to close my clothing business. Then I moved into freelancing and started with content and script writing. I invested in myself and learned this skill and started working as an appointment setter, and now, as a supportive manager team lead with a seven-figure marketing agency, Alhamdulilah, along with teaching individuals this skill to get a remote job with 50% advance salary through my setter agency.

I’m a certified member of PAFLA, attended an event as a guest speaker, and recently, I was invited by FPCCI Karachi to speak about lead generation organically. I was featured by TOK, the no#1 digital channel of Karachi. Also, I have represented Pakistan in the international podcast various times. I have been elected as a Karachi Head of Change Makers Summit 2025. If you ask me how? I would say by consistently doing hard work and taking actions. If you want to learn more, you can message me directly on WhatsApp ‪+92-333-3278862‬. [Also, see social media links and more below.]

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I am an engineer because of my [formal] education [in my younger years] and an appointment setter by profession. I believe education is never a waste; although, I learned a lot through experience of being an engineer and working in the sales and marketing niche, but still, education has helped me in many ways. I have achieved so much in life through my remote job and personal brand that wouldn’t be possible if I was stuck in a 9-5 job. My family is my strength. It’s for them I juggle between home chores and work.