“[Change] can mean no longer fitting in where you fit in before. [Change] can mean judgment from friends and family, and [change] can mean it may get really hard before it gets simple.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: My name is Jenn Fasano Holgerson. I am the owner of JFC, a business consulting firm for female entrepreneurs. I own and operate Babes in Business Long Island, a networking organization that hosts events, workshops, retreats, and more for women in business. My passion is simple; it’s to show women that anything is possible in their lives.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: From my very first job experience all the way through my corporate career, and now in entrepreneurship, I have assisted women in not only looking and feeling confident and beautiful but also encouraging them to chase their desires and follow their own passions. I never went to college, but from the moment I graduated high school, I found myself in a leadership role. I always knew I was meant to lead people, but at a young age, I wasn’t quite sure where my strong desire to lead would take me. After having my second child in 2013, that high-demand career with long hours, travel, and rigid schedules started to just not work for me. Simultaneously, I stumbled across the network marketing industry and quickly saw I could follow my passion for leadership, which is what I recognize now as my entrepreneurial spirit. I actually got fired from my corporate job while building my side hustle in NWM, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me! It allowed me to follow my passions and help more people, all while being home with my kids and ultimately led me to where I am now.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: One thing I have learned is that change is good. Although it can be scary, we can never grow unless we change. And change can mean a lot of things. It can mean no longer fitting in where you fit in before. It can mean judgment from friends and family, and it can mean it may get really hard before it gets simple. But it’s all worth it if, in the end, you show up as the best version of yourself!
Q: What does feminism mean to you? A: Feminism, to me, means being proud to be a leader and a woman. It means knowing that, as women, we are told to wear many hats, and we do, but it doesn’t mean we have to do it in angst. We can do it with pride and confidence. And do it on our own terms.
A fun fact about me: I ran the New York City Marathon in 2017.
“I learn by and through mistakes and failures, and when I take care of myself, I have the strength I need to get through all of life’s challenges.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I’m a neurodiverse creator and I love everything art! My hobbies include gardening, permaculture, urban gardening, learning everything about everything, sculpting, budgeting, home decor, painting, printmaking, and sewing. I just love making, creating, and growing. I love doing research!
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I grew up in different places around Washington State. I’ve been an artist and entrepreneur for as long as I can remember. I spent most of my downtime drawing or creating as a child. I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My faith is a huge part of my life, my choices, my self-worth, and my community. I spent much of my time in my youth doing church service, activities, and learning about my divine worth. My mom is very creative. As a child, she made many beautifully crafted decor for our home. She spent a lot of her time learning new crafts. Painting, crocheting, sewing, woodworking, you name it she did it. I loved watching her create things she wanted. Money was tight, but she didn’t let it hold her back. I found this inspiring. I wanted to be just like her. She was my mentor and my example. She inspired me to create. I loved making things.
When I was in the third grade, I made some little potholders to sell. I wanted to be independent and getting a job was my ticket. As I got older, I started teaching myself to oil paint with my mom’s old kit. I would spend hours in the basement painting flowers, planets, and whatever I found interesting. One year I got it into my head that I needed a job and asked the local flower shop if I could apprentice. I was 14, she said no. I was devastated but I didn’t give up. I got myself a babysitting job and that satisfied me until I was old enough to really get a job. Art being my passion, I spent a lot of time learning about different styles. I fell in love with impressionism and decided I wanted to study art in France. I began studying French and learning the different possible ways I could travel. I tried getting into a foreign exchange program, but I found it was way more expensive than I would be able to earn. I shifted gears and focused on my art. I took every class I could in high school, received the most artistically talented award, and decided I would study art at university. Service is an important part of my life. In high school, I volunteered at the local food bank, served as a school senator, volunteered in a program that helped the students who didn’t focus on sports to gain recognition, and served in a mentorship program.
I met my love in high school and after he served a full-time service mission for our church, we got married. I received a bachelor of arts in art education, studied French, traveled to Europe, married my high school sweetheart, and started a family. My Europe experience was incredible. I lived with a French host family and taught at various locations throughout Brussels, Belgium. I had so many adventures and during the two weeks I had vacation from my teaching job, I backpacked to Western Europe. I made my way through Bruges, Paris, Versailles, London, Rome, Venice, and Geneva. I visited every museum I could find and took some incredible reference photos. Young family life was quite challenging. My spouse and I started with $2,000 in our pockets and worked hard to get scholarships and finish school while having children. After we both graduated, we moved back to Washington to live with my parents while we looked for work. My husband got a job in Washington, and we have been here ever since. My master plan was to start teaching art when I had all my kids in school, but since life doesn’t always do what is expected, I found myself needing to homeschool my four kids. I didn’t know if I would have four neurodiverse children, or how much of my time and attention they would need. I decided I could give them the support that I couldn’t afford to get them. I couldn’t get the support through the schools that they needed, and I dove in with both feet to learn everything I could about how to support them. I helped my son with speech therapy and learned all about ABA therapy to support my daughter until I was able to get an actual therapist. I’m so grateful I had the comprehension and ability to learn so much and offer support that I wouldn’t otherwise have had access to. Now the kids are older, I have two in school and two at home. This gave me a little extra time to start my art business. So, three weeks ago, I launched my art website and got into my first exhibition. I have been making art and networking on social media with all my downtime.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: Through it all, I have learned how not to sweat the small stuff. Life is full of things beyond my control. Being prepared is better than worrying; I learn by and through mistakes and failures, and when I take care of myself, I have the strength I need to get through all of life’s challenges. I cannot have more time, and the only thing I truly have is the present.
Q: What does feminism mean to you? A: Feminism, to me, is believing women can be whatever and whomever they need to be. We are only limited by our goals and imagination. Feminism is embracing our ability to nurture, love, and take care of our needs.
Q and A with Maura from Venice, Italy, living in Raeford, North Carolina
“We can be our best friends or our worst enemies depending on if we choose to believe in ourselves or not.“
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: My main passion has always been art in all its forms. Starting with music, which I’ve loved since I began singing as a kid, to visual arts, as a painter first and as a photographer now. I think that art is a great medium to convey a message because it speaks directly to people’s emotions bypassing the filter of their rationality.
I’ve always felt the need to leave my mark on the world. To try to make it a better place. It took me a few years to understand that art was my opportunity to do so.
More Than A Body is only my first step in that direction. This first project is my way to tell myself and other women that we are allowed to love ourselves for who we are and that it is ok to celebrate our achievements and forgive our mistakes. I focused this project on women because I felt that it hit close to home, but I want to spread the same message to other groups of people in future projects.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I had a happy childhood. Music was always playing at home, and I had the opportunity of growing up in a country, Italy, that constantly exposed me to art without me even realizing it. I started singing when I was about 10 and, even though that is still one of my passions, I’ve come to realize that I rather take a position “behind the scenes.” I most definitely rather be behind the camera than in front of it.
Despite everything, looking back, I remember feeling very insecure about my place in the world, my social life, about the way I looked. It took me years to be more confident and it’s still a work in progress. This is one of the reasons why I now wish to help other women. We can learn together to be kinder to ourselves. I feel like this type of message won’t ever be repeated enough to contrast the constant bombardment we receive from a world that wants us to be forever young, perfect career women, with the perfect body, the perfect house, and the perfect kids.
Photo from More Than A Body project by Maura.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: I have learned that no step is too small towards change and that sometimes we need to take that step before being completely sure that we will succeed. We can be our best friends or our worst enemies depending on if we choose to believe in ourselves or not.
I often must remind myself that life is not a race to achieve perfection and that I am not competing either against myself or others. I think it’s admirable to try to improve ourselves and our skills, but the learning process is as important as the final result.
Photo from More Than A Body project by Maura.
Q:What does feminism mean to you?
A: We live in a time where feminism is of the most importance. It is not only a matter of equality in society but also the fundamental right to recognize our own value as women. We need the freedom to make our own choices and to fail, if necessary, without losing our independence or our value as human beings. It’s a matter of boundaries: accepting others and requiring others to respect ours. This means stop labeling people and stop shrinking ourselves to fit in a standardized role.
Photo from More Than A Body project by Maura.
MORE FROM MAURA: More Than A Body is a collection of ten women’s portraits and their stories. Using a mix of photography and digital art, I have tried to represent them for who they were more than how they looked. Each woman’s portrait is displayed together with her story to remind the viewer that she is more than what you see, she is more than a body. I asked each woman to write her own story in her own words, to choose an outfit and make-up she felt represented her and the result was incredible. These women had the courage to share their deepest secrets, their successes, and their failures. They understood that, by opening up and showing their vulnerability, they could inspire others. They taught us that we might all be different, but we are not alone on our journey.
*Note: Woman Wednesday is a part of our blog. Each Woman Wednesday post will feature a woman who would like to share information in the hopes of inspiring and motivating other women. Comments are welcome below.
Q and A with Olivia, from Charleston, SC, living in St Louis, MO
“You will always have a problem if you look for one.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A:I am most passionate about people and natural disasters. I love helping women come out of their shells and become the person they want to be.
My obsession with natural disasters came after I lost 80% of my possessions in Hurricane Michael, Panama City Florida, October 10th, 2018. In December of 2018, I partnered with a close friend and helped with the #ComeBackStrongProject. We hosted the event at a local mall in Panama City. We gave toys and supplies to those in need at the event. It was a kick start to my humanitarian efforts.
In February of 2020, I volunteered in the Bahamas to help with the hurricane Dorian relief efforts with the organization All Hands and Hearts. I plan on volunteering every year going forward. I am also writing a hurricane survival guide for tips and supplies after the storm.
Olivia has lived in a lot of places; her husband is in the Air Force. She’s lived in Charleston, South Carolina; Panama City, Florida; Atlanta, GA; and St Louis, MO. But her favorite place is wherever she is helping rebuild communities after natural disasters.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I was born a Buddhist in South Carolina. My mother was born Catholic and converted before I was born. My father was an atheist. His parents were Jehovah’s witnesses. Needless to say, I have much respect for people with different religious views.
We were not wealthy by any means. We always had the cheapest house in the best school district. My mother and father were very big in our education. Despite the lack of funding, my parents always found ways to share life’s experiences with us. We went on vacations and tried a variety of foods.
My father was addicted to drugs, and my parents divorced when I was 8. A little about my family dynamics. My mother was 35 when she had me, and I’m the oldest of 3. She didn’t have children in her first marriage. My father was also married previously, but did not have any other children. When my parents were first divorced, my mother went to college. She actually got her double masters while being a single mother of 3 with minimal family help. (That is part of the reason I have the drive that I do. I honestly feel extremely privileged to be able to build my dreams without the same obstacles she had.)
I started working when I was 15. My father moved back into the house when I was 16 for two years to help my mother co-parent. They weren’t together; they just loved us more than they disliked each other. They were actually friends “sometimes.” I did pageants and went to 6 proms and was relatively popular in my town and city. My dad moved out when I was 18, and I moved in with him when I got out of high school. My father passed away when I was 20, and I paid for his funeral. I was also in an abusive relationship at that time.
I did a lot and learned a lot on a little, but it is definitely a part of what made me the woman I am today.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: Never give up. No matter how hard it gets. You will always have a problem if you look for one. Your perception is your reality and sometimes you get in the way of your own growth.
Q:What does feminism mean to you?
A: Equal treatment of men and women. I’m very textbook definition when it comes to this topic. My thoughts have developed over the years and I fear that women are losing touch with their individual power.
*Note: Woman Wednesday is a part of our blog. Each Woman Wednesday post will feature a woman who would like to share information in the hopes of inspiring and motivating other women. Comments are welcome below.
Q and A with Claire, from Olongapo City, Philippines, living in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“You must be able to accept all the choices you made in life, forgive yourself for all of the mistakes you’ve made, move on, and just grow from it.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I am a very creative person, so I love to create and visualize things. As a photographer, I am very passionate about capturing the beauty in every person and showing the world their true beauty. I often tell my clients my job is to show the world your true beauty and the beauty you have never seen in yourself before. I do not take pictures; I capture memories and I save them for you. As a life coach, I am very passionate about helping women find their voice, strength, and beauty while overcoming past hurts. With faith in God, I help women and anyone in need fill their God-given purpose in life. I developed these passions solely based on my life experiences on earth; it is what drives me to be the best I can be, so I can help more people in the world. I am currently in the process of finishing my 6 weeks program (Release, Reflect, Release, and Restart), my women’s empowerment BBBM website/blog page, and my book, Broken But Beautifully Made, which is based on my story, the stories that birthed my women’s empowerment platform.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I grew up in a 3rd world country, the Philippines. Life was very simple, yet hard. My mom did her best raising 3 daughters as a single mother. I grew up in an environment that is all about family. All our relatives were always around and we did everything together…birthdays, holidays, and just simply hanging out after school and eating (Miryenda) afternoon snacks in Tagalog. Mom raised me as a God-fearing woman; I was very active in my home church in the Philippines. I was a worship leader, youth leader, and a vacation Bible school teacher for the kids. I have always been very passionate about helping others and making a difference…no matter how big or small it is. I graduated high school at the young age of 15 years old and college by 16. I love learning, reading, and just trying to become the best version of myself. I saw struggle at such a young age that I promised myself I would do whatever it took to be better than I was yesterday.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: I have learned a lot of lessons from everything I had gone through in life. The one lesson that I find very valuable to me is understanding that it is not selfish to care for yourself first and to set healthy boundaries in your life. I learned to put God and myself first in everything I do in life. I learned to love me for who I was, for who I am now, and who I am to become. This is the one lesson I want anyone to learn from my lesson. You cannot love or help others if you are unable to do that for yourself. You must be able to accept all the choices you made in life, forgive yourself for all of the mistakes you’ve made, move on, and just grow from it.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: Feminism for me is fighting for equality for women. Seeing us not by our gender, but by our ability to perform just as any other person can.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share?
A: I am married to my amazing husband of 10 years now; his name is Richard Torres. We have one fur baby kitty named Mew. We have lived in NM for 11 years now, but my husband was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. I am also working on getting my bachelor’s degree and only have 2 years left. I will be graduating with a bachelor’s in business administration with a concertation in project management. I am also publishing my first book in July 2020. I will be coauthoring with 10 other amazing women for a devotional book called The Heart of God for Her.
I am a creative entrepreneur specializing in life coaching and professional photography. As a certified life coach, I specialize in transformational coaching with a keen focus on breaking harmful patterns and overcoming guilt and shame. With a compelling backstory of my own, I am very passionate about helping women find their voice, strength, and beauty while overcoming past hurts. With a backdrop of faith in God, I help women and anyone in need fill their God-given purpose in life. I founded Broken But Beautifully Made Women’s Empowerment Platform in March 2019; God has had this mission in my heart for 2 years. I created BBBM as a platform that allows women to speak, share, and see that she is not alone! I have overcome many trials and tribulations in my life that allows me to relate with other women and to testify how God saved me every single time…As a coach my mantra? “I help you release, reflect, refocus, and restart—Are you ready?”
Olivia has lived in a lot of places; her husband 
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