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Woman Wednesday: Vanessa

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Q and A with Vanessa from Barranquilla, Colombia



“As cliché as it might sound, you really should never give up. And if you keep trying the same things over and over, try something new, try a new technique, educate yourself, learn, grow, and you’ll achieve your dreams.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: My number one passion is spending time with my nine-year-old son, which is what led me to Pinterest marketing. When I became a mom, I knew I wanted to stay at home with my son, so I decided to start my own business. I initially wanted to do copywriting, but I saw the high demand in Pinterest marketing and decided to focus on this. I never thought that I would LOVE doing Pinterest marketing so much! I’ve learned so much and met so many amazing business owners. I am currently working on creating my own Pinterest course to teach people how to use this amazing platform for their business.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up with two older sisters and a single mother who moved to the U.S. from Colombia, South America. I watched my mother work multiple jobs while learning the English language in order to provide for us. She went from multiple jobs to finally getting one great position as a bilingual representative in a great company where she could finally make a decent income. My mother wanted me to attend college, but I couldn’t quite place my finger on what kind of job I wanted to study for. Eventually, I realized I was an entrepreneur at heart and that I didn’t want a job…I wanted my own business. I think my mother’s strength and resilience made a huge impact on me as a business owner.

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

A: One of the most important things I’ve learned is that you can’t succeed in business if your mindset isn’t right. You have to be confident in what you’re doing, set your fears aside, and see the value in yourself. The wrong mindset can hold you back in all aspects of life. Always make sure you love yourself and take care of yourself first, and then you’ll succeed in everything else.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: To me, feminism is more than just having equality and the same opportunities as men. It’s also feeling powerful inside your own skin, being confident in yourself, and loving yourself wholeheartedly.

MORE FROM VANESSA: When I first started my entrepreneurial journey, I failed repeatedly. I was clueless about marketing, I lacked confidence, and I really struggled. However, I never gave up. I started educating myself, got marketing coaching, took courses on all kinds of topics, and changed my life around. When I finally lauched my Pinterest marketing business, I succeeded and was making a full time income within three months. As cliché as it might sound, you really should never give up. And if you keep trying the same things over and over, try something new, try a new technique, educate yourself, learn, grow, and you’ll achieve your dreams.

Thank you for reading!

To connect with Vanessa on Facebook, click here.

Vanessa’s business page.

Woman Wednesday: Demetria

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Q and A with Demetria from Mississippi, USA



“Celebrate all the small wins because they make up your big win!”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I am really passionate about helping others. I have worked in many service-based industries, and one thing I’ve learned is that it’s really important to help someone out, no matter how small the task may be. Now that I work as a coach, I celebrate my clients’ successes with them, and it really feels like I’m making a transformation with them. This is a really good feeling. Outside of my work as a coach, I’m also really passionate about fashion, cooking, and photography. I find joy in creative things, and I’m able to incorporate a lot of my passions into my coaching practice because the majority of my clients are women. These women are working hard to build their careers and not lose out on time with their families or lose themselves in their careers. I have a workwear brand called Deme Latrece that I’ve incorporated into the Corporate Cheat Code program, where I offer affordable, high-quality work clothes so that women can bring their best selves to work every day.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up in a large family that was very close-knit. This encouraged me to create my own large family with my husband. Growing up, I always wanted to be a fashion designer. However, when I went to college, I majored in broadcast journalism because I loved asking questions and getting to the bottom of things. I didn’t have much faith in my fashion design dreams because it wasn’t something that others in my city were doing at the time. I felt like I needed to be from a big city like New York or Los Angeles to be successful in fashion. I got pregnant with my son during the summer of my freshman year and moved back home. Over the years, I tried to go back to school several times, but I kept changing my major because I didn’t know what I really wanted to do. I got married and had three more kids. I then pursued a career in human resources. I climbed the ladder very fast and was able to get my associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s degree, and HR certifications. I am now working on my Ph.D. in I/O psychology.

After I finish my degree, I plan to do business coaching. I would like to go into organizations and partner with either HR depts of stressed CEOs and help them to solve their people issues using an evidence-based approach. HR people are much more transactional (we are trained to solve problems, but not to really diagnose the root cause), but as an I/O Psychologist, I would like to get to the root of why people are behaving how they are in the workplace as well as diagnose any issues within the leadership teams. I want them to be able to find meaningful ways to motivate their employees that are sustainable. I want more organizations to understand that people are what keep the engine going and if we can keep our people happy and truly understand them, our businesses can be much more successful. That will also increase the organizational commitment and employee satisfaction level! I don’t want to partner with huge Fortune 500/100 companies because my intent isn’t to just make a lot of money; I want to share value and help the organizations that could benefit most and that are more often overlooked. I will continue to incorporate my love of fashion into my entrepreneurial journey with Deme Latrece and my expertise in all things career through my coaching service with The Corporate Cheatcode. I am extremely proud of how far I have come in my career and education.

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

A: I would like other women to know that it is never too late to be what you were always meant to be. Your journey may be harder than others, but you shouldn’t look at what others are doing because your journey is just that: YOURS! And you WILL do all the amazing things you were meant to do. Whenever you are trying to change anything in your life, make sure that you put a strategy in place first and break your goals down into easily digestible pieces so it is more realistic for you to achieve. Celebrate all the small wins because they make up your big win!

Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: All genders should be afforded equal rights and opportunities. Women have the knowledge, experience, and skills to contribute to the workplace and the world in general. There is nothing we can’t do. I have made it my mission to especially help women who may feel that they no longer have a voice or that their voice can’t be heard as loudly because they have had to take breaks from work or perhaps don’t have the confidence to convey all they can contribute.

Thank you for reading!

www.demelatrece.com

www.thecorporatecheatcode.com

@DemeLatrece

@Thecorporatecheatcode

Woman Wednesday: Mary

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Q and A with Mary from Manila, Philippines



“The world made me feel that I didn’t belong here, but it doesn’t mean that I should stop dreaming.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I am passionate about helping people, especially women who struggle with their emotions. Being born with cancer and growing up with it, I was exposed to different negative emotions, and that’s how I ended up studying psychology. Now, I am working as an internationally certified emotional and mindset coach, where I am helping people who struggle with constant burnout and emotional fatigue in their business and personal life using a proven system to create their ultimate breakthrough.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: Well, I’m not like other kids, who had a normal life. Growing up with cancer since birth made me feel like I did not belong here on earth. It made me feel like a limited person. I felt awful in my younger mind. I remember I kept asking, “Why me?” As a child, living in pain made me feel like a limited child. Everyone around me was living normally and that made me feel like I did not belong. I spent most of my childhood in my bed or sometimes in the hospital. I was born with leukemia and spent my first three years in the hospital, trying to survive. The local government helped support my parents with all my medical needs and treatments since I was born. My parents were simple farmers. Since I came from a poor family, my parents could not support my needs, but they were determined to help me.

Since I was a kid, I really loved reading, especially about different countries, and their cultures and history. I have always loved learning new things and dreaming big. Despite constantly fighting with death, I kept dreaming. I remember when I was in grade school, one of my teachers asked me, “Why do you want to come to school every day?” and I remember I said, “I might die soon, so I want to go to school every day because I don’t want to die with my dreams.” I remember I used to dream about traveling around the globe. This has since happened in my adult life.

When I was a teenager, I loved to read fiction and self-discovery books. I was moved up a year in high school, which made me start college earlier than others my age. Then after high school, I told myself that cancer may start the fight, but I will not let cancer decide how to end my story. I see my pain as a motivation to live. The world made me feel that I didn’t belong here, but it doesn’t mean that I should stop dreaming. I remember that I told myself when I was 15, the pain that I had since birth, the struggles I had, and the fear of death that I had, are all the thoughts of someone who also secretly fights with life. I want to create a world for me and other cancer patients and make them realize that cancer might choose us, but we are not our cancer. It may create and change our story, but we are still the author of our own story, and we determine how to create the end part. Yes, we have cancer, and that made us stronger than we thought. And that mindset is still with me.

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

A: Your story can be your most powerful tool. Everyone has their own fight, whether chronic diseases or not, personal or not personal, all of us have our own fight. If I have a chance to help you, that would be to teach you how to win your fight and turn it into a breakthrough. I have won five times against cancer, and I know cancer can start the fight again, but definitely, I’m the one who’s gonna end the fight.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: For me, feminism means being equal. We used to think that feminism was being submissive or ruled by men. For me, feminism means you can do anything you want as long as you believe that you can do it. Feminism means empowering the world and influencing the world the way men do it. To create an impact in people’s lives the way men do it.

MORE ABOUT MARY: I am so grateful to meet different people from different places, and I am so grateful to be part of this amazing group where I have a chance to contribute my skills and expertise in terms of emotional stress. Like you, everyone gets stressed, and your emotions and feelings are valid, authentic, and REAL.

Thank you for reading!

Connect with Mary on Facebook here.

Mary’s Facebook Group

Woman Wednesday: Abimbola

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Q and A with Abimbola from Ogun State, Nigeria

“One day, I realized I have got to keep moving on and I got my power back.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: As a child growing up in a very humble home, I have always fancied beautiful clothing and always longed for them. I was grateful for the hand-me-downs, but I really wanted lovely clothing. This craving was still very strong in me well into my teenage years until I got into college. At college, I took a course on entrepreneurship, where we were to choose a skill to learn. I chose dressmaking. I didn’t know jack about making dresses, so it was a completely new experience for me. That was where my passion for making dresses and clothing got ignited. I couldn’t afford the real training fee as the course I took for dressmaking in school was only for a few days so I turned to the Internet and started learning how to sew on YouTube. My grandma saw my passion and she got me my first sewing machine (bless her). That was how I gradually started making clothing for myself for years before turning it into a business about a year ago and creating Norelle Designs. Norelle means a strong woman or woman of light. I chose this name because I have been through so many ups and downs life has thrown at me, and I am still going on. It’s a name to appreciate the strength that I have received from above. Norelle Designs have styled hundreds of women and children. We are a growing business with a vision to compete on a global scale making beautiful and quality clothing with sustainability being our goal.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up in a very humble background as I have mentioned earlier. This really impacts how I see life. I learned not to be wasteful and to also dream big and work hard towards my goals. It really instilled in me discipline and I excelled in my school work right up to college because growing up in an African home, you have no excuse to fail in school [she laughs]. It’s a do-or-die affair. Just kidding!

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

A: One thing I have learned about life is the resilience of the human mind. It’s a beautiful and exciting thing I love to talk about. I went through a very rough period of my life at one point when I was heavily bullied and shamed. I was traumatized by serious panic attacks and anxiety. It affected everything, and I was at the lowest of my life. It was so bad that I felt “sub-human.” Yes, it was that bad and I hate that term. One day, I realized I have got to keep moving on and I got my power back. The human mind is very powerful. It focuses and reproduces whatever you feed into it. My shift from negativity to positive thinking took me out of that situation and I thrive. The human mind is very powerful. Now, I regained my confidence, and I am excited to see what goodies life has in stock for me.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: Feminism to me is liberation from the patriarchy. I love to see females win and become the best badass version we can be. We are able to be who we are today because of the sacrifices of past feminists who have fought so well for our rights, which I am grateful for. However, we must continue to empower women so that we can maximize the greatness that lies within us to its full potential.

MORE ABOUT ABIMBOLA: I was born in Ogun State, Nigeria, where I grew up and went to school and then moved to Lagos State. I currently run a small startup that I have plans to take to the greatest heights. I have always admired luxurious brands and would make my brand one someday.

Thank you for reading!

Check out my shop here.

Contact: +2348161750189

Woman Wednesday: Yamini

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Q and A with Yamini from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

“There will be blockers, stereotypes, and difficulties, but don’t let anything stop you.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I am passionate about filmmaking, but even before I explored this part of me, I was like any other woman who eats, sleeps, works, and repeats. As a kid, I was always inclined towards cinema, but coming from a non-film background, I never thought of pursuing my dream as a career. I admire creativity, and I put my soul into every little thing I do. I was always fond of perfection and aesthetics, and one day I wrote poetry on females’ journeys right from birth to all the important roles they play in our lives. All the hurdles they face because of gender discrimination. Recently, my film was released in cinema theatres on the 11th of November 2022, and before I get myself involved in the next project, I will be taking a break to spend quality time in solitude, and with family and friends. The last two years were a roller coaster ride for me with a lot of inhibitions, hurdles, and mixed feelings which also took a toll on my mental and emotional well-being as things were not working as planned. Most of the situations like the pandemic were uncontrollable. I will be taking learnings from 2022 and will be focusing on 2023 with another female-centric concept in the pipeline.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up in a traditional and conservative family where, like any other Indian family, importance was given to education. Watching television and films was not encouraged, but I have always been a movie buff. I used to take permission from my parents and watch a lot of films and television series. I finished my studies with a degree in mass communication. I always wanted to do something in the entertainment industry, it was around two years when I got the idea of Badhai Ho Beti Huee Hai, and I realized that I had to tell this story. So, I wrote a script. The character Shakti Singh in the Movie Badhai Ho Beti Huee Hai was inspired by real incidents in my life. It took two years to make this film, I started on this journey alone as a filmmaker, director, producer, scriptwriter, and actor. The pandemic during movie making impacted me a big time, but I was determined and did not let any obstacle stop me. The day I was able to bring my movie to theatres was a very proud and emotional moment for me and my family. Indian cinema is mostly ruled by men, and females are just for show and glamour. But I wanted to change this mentality. Females are very much creative and all they need is determination and support to achieve what they aspire to.

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

A: There is no such word as IMPOSSIBLE. There is no harm in dreaming, provided you should have the willpower and dedication to fulfill those dreams. When I started my journey as a filmmaker, I was neither trained nor proficient in this industry. But I was willing to learn and grow. I never say no to any skills that required me to learn. This helped me always, and I want people to have faith in themselves and their work—that is the base. Criticism should be accepted as feedback, but it should not lower your morale at any cost. As we all know, a critic can show the destination, but when asked to drive to that destination, they cannot. Please remember no one is perfect and we always have a scope for improvement, so don’t get disheartened at any stage of life with negative remarks.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?


A: I think we have a long way to go before every woman in the country feels empowered. But I do think that with each passing day, some women are discovering their own power, so women’s empowerment is not just a national issue first it is just just a personal issue then a regional issue, then a national issue, and then a universal one. But, most importantly, I think it must start being a personal issue as we have to discover our own power.

The only person who can truly stand in your way is you. There will be blockers, stereotypes, and difficulties, but don’t let anything stop you. Fuel your own ambition, be yourself not who other people want you to be. You are unique, and we’ll always have a different perspective to bring to the table. Foster relationships, learn from others, and help others on your journey because if you fall or stumble, they will likely help to pick you up and dust you off.

My name is Yamini Swami, working in Indian cinema as a filmmaker, actress, producer, writer, and director.

Thank you for reading!