A: I am passionate about my safety and the safety of others. This ranges from personal defense to emergency preparedness. For over 20 years, I have volunteered with Madison County Search and Rescue. Working with multiple sheriffs and growing a capable and active team of volunteers. Also, I have served in several leadership roles in my church.
Currently, I am the Just Serve representative for my congregation. My business focuses on trying to change the way people think about self-defense to learning how to identify, avoid, and de-escalate threats instead of defaulting to only fighting your way out of the situation. I believe that personal defense is being prepared for any threat, including but not limited to, predators (animal and human), weather, and the elements. That’s why the focus is on teaching the many precursors and biological responses that can’t be hidden by an attacker. I also have started working on an apparel line that highlights the many phrases and key values that are used in the classes.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I grew up in a small farming community in rural Utah. The second to oldest (oldest daughter) of five kids, I have two brothers and two sisters. I have always been interested in emergency preparedness as I grew up; my dad was an EMT and both of my parents taught emergency preparedness. The area I grew up in was involved in a large flood event in the early 1980s. This increased my love for this topic. Right out of high school, I worked for the Forest Service as part of one of the wildfire teams. I graduated from Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) with an associate of science and art degree in recreation education. Then I went on to Utah State University and received my bachelor of science degree in parks and recreation management.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: a) I am worth fighting for; I am worth defending and so are you. b) Denial will hurt you faster than any attacker. c) The body will never go where the mind has never been.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: We all have our own unique abilities and capabilities. We should allow those traits to be amplified and shared whether male or female, always building and not tearing down others. Women should celebrate each other no matter their position in life and/or what their focus for growth may be.
“Embrace the twists, learn from the turns, and keep moving forward.”
Hey there, Woman Wednesday readers! I’m excited to share a bit of my journey with you today. Grab a cuppa (or a café colombiano if you’re feeling adventurous), and let’s jump into it! My name is Lace. I’m a Brit who’s found her slice of paradise in the vibrant heart of South America. But how did I end up here? Well, it’s been quite the ride, and I’ll tell you more soon!
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: My passion? It’s a delicious mix of tech and spice! I’m all about supporting medicine women and holistic wellness coaches to rock their online presence. Think of me as a marketing tech consultant VA with a twist; I love inspiring ideas, teaching the ins and outs of systems, and creating digital magic through branded landing pages, funnels, emails, and promo goodies.
When I’m not geeking out over tech, you’ll find me in the kitchen, whipping up fresh, mouthwatering dishes inspired by Jamaican and Asian flavors. It’s my way of showing love to my family and keeping my creative juices flowing. Now, here’s where it gets exciting: I’m working on a VIP Day Experience that brings all of this together. Picture this: female online entrepreneurs leveling up their tech skills, cooking along with me (yep, those recipes you’ve been drooling over on FB), and picking my brain about solo mama travel and life in Latin America. Intrigued? I thought you might be! Connect with me if you wanna learn more about how to get involved in that.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: My journey hasn’t always been smooth sailing, though. I’m a two-time uni dropout (criminal psychology, crime scene investigation, and mental health nursing, quite the mix, eh?). Growing up as a female of color on a council estate in North West London with a single parent, I wasn’t expected to go far. My math teacher told me I would be lucky to get a D in maths and probably wouldn’t get the grades needed for college…well, I got a C in math and top grades in my college courses. It’s fair to say, I’ve had my fair share of challenges, including abuse, a string of abusive relationships, and a near-fatal car crash that left me in a coma for eight days with a broken femur in 2014. But you know what? Those experiences shaped me and I am grateful for the experiences as it has led me to be where I am today.
My wanderlust? I blame that on my grandmother. She took me traveling all over as a kid, and the bug bit hard! Now, I’ve explored 26 countries and islands, finally settling in South America. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave a decade-long, toxic marriage to start fresh in Latin America with zero savings and a new online biz. But let me tell you, it taught me I’m way more powerful and capable than I ever imagined.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: So, what’s the most valuable lesson I’ve learned? No matter where you come from, your background, your bank balance, your skin color, or what others say, YOU can create a good life for yourself. One filled with peace and joy. I went from zero and suitcases to my own little apartment, a business I love, and a sense of peace and safety in my home.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: To me, it’s about embracing the beauty of being a woman. It’s enjoying our softness while also taking action to create our own financial independence. It’s about nurturing relationships, speaking up for our needs, and standing firm in our desires. It’s celebrating our bodies and the wonder they bring as vessels of new life. And most importantly, it’s about trusting and following our intuition.
So there you have it—a little peek into my world. From the bustling streets of London to the colorful landscapes of Colombia, life’s been an adventure. And you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Remember, no matter where you are in your journey, you’ve got this. Embrace the twists, learn from the turns, and keep moving forward. Who knows? Your own slice of paradise might be just around the corner!
“I see so many people scared to embrace creativity, playfulness, or spontaneity. They fear embarrassment, humiliation, rejection, or failure. It is my wish to help people unplug from those fears…”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I can tell you that I am so passionate about living each day of my life sprinkled with creativity. Every single “today” is a good day to learn something new, try something new, and create something new. I find it interesting as I reflect back on my 45 years of living this life that my interests in marketing, graphic design, theatre, music, coaching, spirituality, and personal development all intertwine with each other, although it may seem like they don’t go together at all.
Somehow these interests bring me a great deal of joy, gratitude, and balance. I do experience struggles just like everyone else does, yet I tend to look at those as opportunities I get to experience, learn from, and grow from. My mantra is “Everything that happens is for my benefit.” Like many other entrepreneurs, I had to make a pivot in 2020, that is when I began working with some amazing mentors and digging deep to identify how I could make money doing something I love. I began producing plays online, hosted Zoom sessions with the actors, and streamed the plays on Facebook and YouTube.
Last year, we finally got back on stage for a live production of the Broadway musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” We had 6 nominations with Broadway World Los Angeles and went on to win Best Special Event. When I am not working on plays, I help entrepreneurs create marketing content, pitch decks, graphics, social media posts, swag, and banners for live events, video editing, and book publishing. I also teach people how to use PowerPoint and Canva.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I was born in Utah and had many cousins growing up to play with. My family and I moved to Southern California when I was 8, and that is when I met my best friend, Scott. We have been pretending ever since; he is my theatre partner and he is the actor as I am more behind the scenes. We loved sketch comedy shows like SNL and MadTV and would often put on our own skits for our friends and family. I became a teenage mom in high school and stayed in school till I graduated. I took some vocational classes in video production while working in a movie theater. When I was 19, Scott and I went to work at Disneyland in the character department. I enjoyed portraying Mikey Mouse for several years before I got myself a grown-up job in mortgage. That was the best job I ever had, it just didn’t pay a livable wage.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: I’ve been told that when you are creating something you are connected to divinity. I see so many people scared to embrace creativity, playfulness, or spontaneity. They fear embarrassment, humiliation, rejection, or failure. It is my wish to help people unplug from those fears and hold a safe space for them to have the experience and joy that comes with creating something, making art, making music, writing a book, or anything else creative.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: I can see this from a few different perspectives. I would like to think of feminism as being unapologetically myself, as a woman. Loving myself unconditionally. Embracing what makes me a woman. Celebrating my body, my hormones, my emotions, my choices, what brings me peace, and what completes me. Building communities with loving, wise, caring, nurturing women to heal and grow with. I don’t see feminism as a way to tear down or exclude men, but I can see how some may interpret feminism that way.
MORE ABOUT APRYL: I have spent several months preparing for a 5-day marketing and design bootcamp that I have coming up, the first one on July 22, it is my goal to host these once every 3 months. I find this is a great introduction to tapping into creativity in a non-intrusive way. I want to express my thanks to Samantha for asking me to share my story today.
“We can teach people how to treat people by being an example of strength, love, and positive attitudes.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I am passionate when it comes to helping others. Educating people to help them with informed decisions is my passion. I wish someone taught me half of what I have recently learned. Being single with no financial help, I learned over the years to empower myself and others. Now, I have the tools to take that to a greater level and it starts with a FREE financial analysis. I want to empower people to help themselves in their hard work. I am also a Realtor and love helping families find a home. I volunteer at my church as well.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: In my younger years, I grew up in a good community of friends and family. I was very active in hiking, biking, cheerleading, dance, drill team, volleyball, softball, basketball, roller skating, and bodybuilding. My parents divorced when I was 14, and I grew up fast, taking on adult responsibilities.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: I have had many challenges in life and worked through them. I have had my car stolen, my home broken into, a stalker (very dangerous), blood clots in my lungs (survived), and a husband who put me in debt thousands of dollars.
I have learned that life is not fair; however, you can change your circumstances. I choose to thrive not just survive. Life happens and you cannot change that, but how you react makes all the difference. I have a village of people. I wanted a fun and friendly neighborhood, so we had a block party and got to know each other. I wanted good friends, so I became a good friend. I found a place of work that has similar values, so we built each other up. I volunteer at church, so I can give back. I make it happen. Life is hard enough. We can teach people how to treat people by being an example of strength, love, and positive attitudes.
One of the greatest gifts I have been part of was giving a child up for adoption. It was the hardest decision I have ever made. I gave the baby as a gift to two wonderful parents.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: Feminism is being the beautiful person you are that is unique, embracing the strengths you have, and continue growing. We all have a different gift, and we need to empower each other to use it for good. That is why we build the village by utilizing one another’s strengths to lift everyone up.
“The obstacles I’ve encountered have taught me more about my craft, my business, and myself than any success ever has.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: My passion for photography ignited from a simple desire to capture the fleeting, beautiful moments of life. It’s grown into a lifelong journey of documenting the tender first days of a newborn, the loving glances of a family, and every precious moment in between. My work is more than just photography—it’s about preserving memories that last a lifetime.
Aside from my professional life, I’m deeply engaged in urban gardening and actively participate in the local arts community here in Saint Paul, Minnesota. These personal pursuits enrich my creativity and keep me connected with my surroundings.
Recently, I’ve expanded my focus to include mentoring and developing an educational platform for photography. This new venture allows me to give back to the community by sharing my knowledge and experiences with aspiring photographers. I’m currently creating a series of online courses and one-on-one mentoring sessions designed to help photographers at various stages of their careers. Whether they’re just starting out or looking to refine their skills, I’m here to guide them. It’s incredibly rewarding to see my students grow and succeed in their own photographic endeavors. In all, my work and personal interests are deeply intertwined, each feeding into and enriching the other, creating a fulfilling circle of creativity and community engagement.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: Growing up, my world was full of color and creativity, thanks to a family that loved all things artistic. I remember getting my hands dirty with paint and clicking away on a small camera I was gifted. These weren’t just hobbies; they were my first steps toward seeing the world through a creative lens—literally and metaphorically.
School played a big role, too. It wasn’t just about the grades; it was where I learned to look at problems and think, ‘There’s a different way to do this.’ That kind of thinking is what I bring to my photography business every day—looking for the unique angle or the untold story.
I also spent a lot of time helping out at community events, where I’d often be the unofficial photographer. It was more than just taking photos; it was about capturing the spirit of the moment. Those early snaps of community gatherings weren’t just practice; they were my first lessons in storytelling.
All these threads from my past—art, education, community involvement—wove together to guide me to where I am now. They taught me the importance of not just capturing images but capturing stories and emotions. And that’s what I strive to do at Giliane E. Mansfeldt Photography, LLC. It’s also why I’m so passionate about mentoring and teaching photography—to help others learn how to tell their own stories through the lens.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: One valuable lesson I’ve learned through my journey with Giliane E. Mansfeldt Photography, LLC is the importance of resilience and adaptability. In the world of photography, and business in general, things rarely go exactly as planned. Whether it’s a sudden change in the weather during an outdoor shoot, unexpected technical issues, or navigating the highs and lows of running a business, being able to adapt quickly and stay focused on your goals is crucial.
I’ve also learned the significance of staying true to your vision while being open to growth and new ideas. This balance has not only helped me refine my craft but also expanded my business into new areas like education and mentoring. I encourage others to remain open to learning and evolving, no matter how established they might feel in their career or personal life.
From my story, I’d like others to learn that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. The obstacles I’ve encountered have taught me more about my craft, my business, and myself than any success ever has. I hope my journey inspires others to embrace their challenges as stepping stones to their dreams.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: To me, feminism is essentially about fairness. It’s about everyone having the same shot at success and happiness, no matter their gender. This idea influences everything I do, from how I frame a shot to how I run my business at Giliane E. Mansfeldt Photography, LLC.
In my studio, it means creating a space where everyone—clients and staff—feels respected and valued. It’s about capturing photos that truly reflect the person’s strength and spirit, whether they’re a CEO, a stay-at-home parent, or a high school grad just starting out.
Feminism also drives my commitment to mentoring, especially for women who are often underrepresented in our field. I want to help open doors for others that were once closed and create opportunities for all aspiring photographers to thrive. At the end of the day, feminism to me is about striving for a world where everyone has the freedom to be themselves and the opportunity to succeed. That’s the world I envision through my lens and in my actions every day.
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