“I’ve learned a lot about online business by taking a leap...”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about empowering young girls to be a better version of themselves and looking at the current state of the Ghanaian economy.
Currently, I’m a government teacher, but I also partner with ORIFLAME Sweden. I’m currently working on how to improve feminine hygiene by selling feminine hygiene products and beauty care products to improve upon girls’ confidence.
A government teacher is a teacher employed by the government’s education service. I teach English. I currently teach children ages 11 and 12.
I have four kids of my own; two boys and two girls.
I met ORIFLAME Sweden in 2023, and it has really helped my finances in terms of paying fees for my kids and buying pretty things for myself. ORIFLAME offers trainings on how to sell their products both online and offline and also sponsors brand partners who do extremely well in traveling to countries worldwide. And also, lest I forget, it pays us monthly commissions aside profits personally made.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I completed junior high school as well as senior high school with the help of my mom. She single-handedly raised two girls (myself and my younger sister). I earned a degree in English and plan on pursuing my master’s degree, but I’m still struggling with funds because, at the moment, I’m taking care of four kids.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: I’ve learned a lot about online business by taking a leap with ORIFLAME. I learned about how to make sales through ORIFLAME Sweden. I would like to coach a lot of younger women on how to do that.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: Feminism means standing out and standing your ground on decisions you made as a woman.
“Creating your life vision and clarifying your “why” is how we truly life a happy life.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I am passionate about helping people become the best version of themselves. I am also passionate about using my voice to uplift and inspire women to use their own voice to uplift and inspire.
The best part about being a public speaker is that I get to be on stage and continue the work that I was doing as an artist and a model. I am happy that I still get to create an impact through using my voice. As a life coach, it’s simple to see how I can move others to take impactful steps in shaping their own lives. Even if it’s only one small change, I am moved when I can move people to act in a positive way.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I was a model and musical artist for most of my younger years. Also, I used to do dance hall/reggae/hip-hop. I believe that those years walking the runway, taking photographs, and performing on stage, has truly shaped me into becoming the woman that I am today.
It was those years performing and writing songs that truly helped me to see how impactful I could be by inspiring others. It was within those years that I developed an immense love for helping others to feel inspired. So, having a career as a public speaker and life coach is the best job that I could take on at this stage in my life.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: What I’ve learned is that consistent self work is the key to becoming your best self. Using your voice is how you change your life and create an impact. Creating your life vision and clarifying your “why” is how we truly life a happy life. And lastly, happiness is something that we create, craving out our happiness is a long-term goal that we should thrive to achieve.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: Feminism, to me, means empowerment. It means using our divine power to master our self. Feminism, to me, means creativity. It means well-being and health. Understanding our feminine power is key to growing and thriving as women.
MORE ABOUT JOELEE: My calendar is now open from now until September for coaching, speaking, and hosting. If you are an individual or business who wants to inspire yourself or your team, please do not hesitate to reach out to me: growwithjoelee@outlook.com.
Q and A with Jessica P. fromDallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Texas
“…I believe the freedom-filled life you’re craving isn’t as far away as it feels.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I’m deeply passionate about helping moms find their “it factor”—that unique blend of strengths, interests, and life experience that points them to the right business idea.
So many of the moms I talk to feel stuck in a job that doesn’t fit their life anymore. They have considered freelancing but are overwhelmed by the pressure to choose the “perfect” business idea or they’re doubting if they even have what it takes to start a business, so they don’t end up doing anything at all.
I help women cut through the noise and uncover what they’re naturally good at so they can finally feel confident enough to say, “Yes, I can do this.”
I got started in the freelancing world while I was still in the traditional workforce. My goal was to be more present with my family and earn money on my own terms at the same time.
I began as a virtual assistant, trying out different services and figuring it out as I went. Over time, I realized what I loved most was helping other moms who were like me when I first started—interested in freelancing, unsure, scared to start, but full of potential.
Now, I work as a business idea coach for moms and create tools and training that help women turn their overthinking into action.
Right now, I’m working on expanding my resources and offers so I can help even more women go from “just browsing” to “business-owning.” Because I believe the freedom-filled life you’re craving isn’t as far away as it feels.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I’m the baby of three, with two older brothers—which probably explains why I became such a DIY, figure-it-out-myself kind of girl. I learned early on how to be resourceful and self-sufficient. Those are things that I pride myself on still today.
I’ve always had a very analytical brain, but I’m also a deep-feeling empath. I don’t just like solving problems—I like getting to the root of why they exist. I’m intuitive, emotionally attuned, and can usually sense the unsaid things in a room. That combo of logic and intuition is something I now bring into my coaching.
I don’t just help moms choose a business idea—I help them uncover the real reasons they’ve been holding back, and guide them through it with clarity and care.
Looking back, I always had an entrepreneurial spirit—I just didn’t know to call it that. I used to say I wanted to be an inventor, not because I loved engineering (even though later in life I did develop an interest in it), but because I was obsessed with the idea of creating something from scratch. I loved the process of taking something from start to finish and seeing the transformation.
School was a big deal growing up. My dad was all about math and science, while my mom leaned into the creative side with reading and writing. Both were huge music lovers, so I grew up with a goal to balance logic and creativity—which feels a lot like how I run my business now.
I was a straight-A student for most of my life, cried the first time I got a B (yep, really), and graduated early as class valedictorian. I’m both a realist and a big dreamer, and I bring both into how I coach: I help moms dream big and imagine what’s possible—then we build a step-by-step plan to bring that vision to life.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is that you don’t have to wait until you feel 100% ready to start.
I have seen so many moms hold themselves back because of fear—fear of failing, of choosing the wrong thing, of wasting time or money. But what I’ve learned (and what I try to teach every mama I meet) is that the most clarity often comes after you start—not before.
Even though I help moms figure out their “perfect business idea,” what I want them to understand is that it’s not about having the perfect plan. It’s about finding a plan that feels aligned enough that you can finally say yes to it. Not because it guarantees success, but because it gives you a reason to believe in yourself again.
At the heart of it, that’s really what my mission is about: giving yourself permission to explore what you’re capable of. To stop waiting for some future version of you who’s more confident or more qualified—and instead, trust the version of you right now. The one who’s already strong, smart, and more than capable of starting. It’s about taking a courageous step forward, even if it’s messy or seems small compared to others. Because that’s the only way you’ll ever get to the big dream you have.
If you can believe in the version of yourself right now—even just a little—that’s when things begin to change. The change doesn’t come from knowing it’ll all work out—it comes from being willing to try anyway. And when you do decide to actually take that first step, you’ll realize that more often than not that it’s not as scary as you thought it was…and even if it was scary but you did it anyways, you’ll be able to say “I did that–look what I accomplished.”
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: To me, feminism means giving women the freedom to choose the life that feels aligned for them—and supporting them fully in whatever that looks like.
It’s not about fitting into a specific mold of what “success” or “empowerment” should be. It’s about saying: You get to define what success looks like in your season & life—and you deserve the support, respect, and resources to go after it.
For the moms I serve, that often means building a business that allows them to be present with their kids without sacrificing income or the way they want to live. It means saying no to hustle culture and yes to a family-centered business that works for them.
And honestly? It means showing them that they don’t have to prove their worth to anyone. They already have what it takes to succeed and they don’t have to live in anyone else’s shadow or become something that they’re not. They get to win, and in a way that makes the most sense for them.
MORE ABOUT JESSICA: I guess I’d like to use this extra space to talk directly to the mom reading this who’s thinking, “She’s talking about me.”
If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, watching other moms build businesses and wondering if you could ever do something like that too—this is your sign, mama. You can. And you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Here are a few resources I created just for moms like you:
Need help with ideas? Grab my free guide with 5 business ideas that are perfect for moms—especially if you don’t even know where to begin.
Tired of overthinking it? If you’d rather skip the stress and have your perfect business idea handed to you based on your strengths and lifestyle, check out my Done-for-You Business Idea service.
No matter where you’re at right now, I want you to know—your dreams are valid. And you are 100% capable of making them happen.
So, try something you’re interested in. See if it fits the season of life you’re in and the bigger vision you have for yourself. And if it doesn’t work out? That’s okay. You’re allowed to shift. You’re allowed to change your mind. You’re allowed to begin again, even if you “crash & burn.”
In fact, in my valedictorian speech back in high school, I quoted Henry Ford—and I’ll leave you with the same words I shared with my class that day:
“Failure is the opportunity to begin again…this time, more intelligently.” –Henry Ford
You’ve got this, mama. And I’m rooting for you, always. 🧡
“One thing I’ve learned is this: You cannot control what happens in your life, but you can control how you react to it. I think if I continued to sulk and think negatively, nothing significantly positive would’ve happened in my life. Changing my perspective and immersing myself in hope and positive thinking only resulted in positive changes in my life.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: It would be exceptionally hard to pinpoint one thing I am passionate about because I am passionate about everything I do. I currently work as a communications coordinator for a company that promotes financial stability in underdeveloped countries.
Luckily, I found this position by accident, and I am proud to say that I am a part of a project that helps those in need in someway somehow. One of my passions is definitely helping others.
Aside from my full-time job, I am the founder of the subscription box business “Petite Princess Box,” and I have to say building, creating, and executing my own ideas and seeing it all come to life is one thing I will always be passionate about. I think I have always been an entrepreneur at heart.
Pictured: One of Kelly’s customers enjoying her Petite Princess Box!
Q: What is something valuable you’ve learned that you’d like others to know?
A: A year ago, I lost my dad suddenly from a heart attack. I had such a stable life and everything was going great for me. I just got into my master’s program, had a growing business, and my family was happy and healthy, and then my world just changed dramatically with his death.
You can say I had to grow up quick. I had my hands fully immersed in everything after his death. I guess you can say I became the “new man” in the house. After his death, I lost a lot of motivation. He passed away two weeks before my master’s program would begin, and I could barely focus.
I felt like the quality in my work was slowly diminishing. I also stopped focusing on my subscription box business, and I could see it literally sinking. I ended up picking myself up and telling myself that I have to really immerse myself in positive thinking and to focus on finishing the goals my father wanted me to complete. And so I did that, and a year later, my whole life has changed (for the better).
I graduated with my degree, found a close and loyal tribe of friends and loved ones, got my very first “big girl” job, and rebranded my entire subscription box business, and it is growing very quickly.
One thing I’ve learned is this: You cannot control what happens in your life, but you can control how you react to it. I think if I continued to sulk and think negatively, nothing significantly positive would’ve happened in my life. Changing my perspective and immersing myself in hope and positive thinking only resulted in positive changes in my life.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: My childhood was nothing but great! We lived a pretty modest life in the suburbs. I grew up with my parents who immigrated from Palestine and my younger sister. My parents have always been supportive and always pushed us to be our best.
Growing up, I struggled in school—all the way up to my high school years. I was never able to maintain exceptionally good grades and as many tutors as I had to assist me in my studies, there was still this struggle I had in obtaining a single “A” on my report card. Before starting my last year of high school, I told my guidance counselor that I wanted to get into university after I graduate. She told me that based on my grades from my previous years, attending a university would not be a realistic goal unless I managed to maintain an 80% average in my final year.
I remember going home to tell my parents how angry I was at the lack of encouragement my guidance counselor had for me, and I promised myself and my parents that I would work hard enough to get accepted into a university program. In my last year of high school, I ended up maintaining an 87% average and got accepted into the highest ranked university in Canada.
Fast forward to my last year of university—I had maintained a substantial GPA and ended up getting accepted into a very competitive program for a master’s degree in communications. You can say that these experiences in school really impacted my life to where I am today. If you were to ask me if I’m still upset that my guidance counsellor for discouraging me, I would say no. If she didn’t discourage me, I wouldn’t have pushed myself as hard as I did to prove her wrong and prove myself right.
“Three things: take care of your mental health, control your narrative, and work smart and do your research.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I am a mining engineer and currently work at a gold mining operation. I am also the founder and editorial director of STEMher by Ruby B. Johnson Magazine.
Premiered in September 2018 with its autumn issue, STEMher Magazine is a print magazine showcasing the education and experiences of girls and women in science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics (STEM) academia, careers, and programs. STEMher celebrates women thriving in their careers and inspires others to fuel their curiosity and interests in STEM; the status of individuals featured range from middle school through retirement.
In one year, STEMher has featured more than 50 STEM girls and women worldwide from countries like the United States of America, Australia, Ghana, Canada, South Africa, India, France, Nigeria, Channel Islands, The Bahamas, Sierra Leone, and England. All magazine issues are available for purchase on stemher.com and Amazon Marketplace.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone [in West Africa]. I moved to the United States when I was 12 years old, which meant growing up and completing my middle school and high school education in Maryland. I graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS in mining engineering and a minor in women’s studies leadership.
While in college, I founded When You Believe Foundation, a program that empowers women and girls through social media engagement, workshops, and donations.
In 2012, I competed in my first pageant, Miss Sierra Leone USA, with the platform of advocating for the recruitment and retention of girls and women in STEM fields, since I was a STEM college student at the time and women’s empowerment was something I was passionate about. I won the pageant and with that title, I was able to travel across the country as well as in Sierra Leone, encouraging girls and young women to pursue STEM.
After the crowns and titles, STEM advocacy and women’s empowerment continues to be my lifelong platform. I wanted to take this platform to another level to be able to reach women and girls I may never cross paths with, so I created STEMherby Ruby B. Johnson Magazine last year.
Q: What is something valuable you’ve learned that you’d like others to know?
A: Three things: take care of your mental health, control your narrative, and work smart and do your research.
(1) From Monday through Thursdays, I work ten-hour days and a two-hour commute to and from work. Additionally, I am an entrepreneur who runs her own business creating content and putting together each issue for STEMher by Ruby B. Johnson Magazine. I also serve in a couple of ministries at my church. Life gets busy. In the last year, I’m being intentional to prioritize my mental health. Making time to rest and slow down when necessary. In order to be productive with work, I have to take care of myself by sleeping, eating healthy, exercising, spending time with God through prayer, and meditation as well as reading my Bible. I have to be intentional about making time for myself, family and friends, as well as work. It’s okay to say “no” or “not yet” sometimes. I cannot fill the cups of others when my cup is empty. It’s also okay to ask for help—whether it’s in prayer, family and friends, community, or therapy.
(2) As I navigate through the professional world and life in general, I’m realizing how important it is for one to control their narrative. Of course we cannot fully control what people say about us or how they feel about us; however, I believe we can play a role in those things. The way we carry ourselves is very important. We have to learn wisdom on when to speak up or be silent. We must be our biggest defenders and tell people how we want them to treat or address us.
(3) Running a business is no easy feat and it’s time-consuming. In college, I learned to not study hard but study smart. I believe that’s important to do when you are a business owner. Being that I don’t have a business or journalism background, I spend a lot of time learning—asking questions, reading articles, listening to podcasts, and everything else in between. I want this magazine to go beyond, so that means I have to put in the work. I may not see harvest immediately, but sowing seeds each day counts. All in all, I believe it’s important to know who you are, stand firm on your values, always remember your why, and never lose your humanity no matter what environment you are in.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: To me, feminism means being my authentic self, living out my God-given purpose, and being intentional about making a difference in the community. While working on my women’s studies leadership minor in college, I learned about intersectionality. I am a Christian woman, born and raised in Sierra Leone, a naturalized American citizen, a woman in STEM, usually one of few or only black people in some professional settings, and a family-oriented individual. I thrive because of these lived experiences but also have a heart and a curious mind to learn about those who are different from me. Feminism to me is never compromising my faith and also being compassionate to others. To me, feminism means to reach for excellence and nothing less.
The Woman Wednesday Blog 