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Woman Wednesday: Brenna R.

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Q and A with Brenna R., Minneapolis, Minnesota

“…when you have a “why” that’s greater than yourself, you will do anything to see it succeed.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I’m passionate about helping pregnant women and new mamas journey confidently into motherhood. That’s why I started my blog, WhatAboutMamas.com. There, I share everything I dig up from women’s health and wellness experts on the end of pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. I also am sharing my REAL journey as a new mom so other women don’t feel so alone. Especially when comparing themselves to the Instagram models who live in perfect, clean houses.


Along with my website, I am planning a series of motherhood self-care retreats in Minneapolis. The first one will be in October of 2021. Women are flying in from around the country to join the event. But it’s also going to be a great way to connect as a local community. Anyone who is a mom knows how isolating the experience can be and how hard it is to prioritize me-time and meeting your own needs at times. This event is giving current and future moms that excuse to get out of the house and meet other women who understand their experience. There will be plenty of pampering involved, too!

My last project is a self-paced online video course I’m developing for pregnant women and new mothers called Journey Confidently Into Motherhood. It will cover all the topics about the postpartum period I wish I knew about before I became a mom. As women, we spend so much time working on the baby registry and preparing for labor, we forget to prepare ourselves for the 4th trimester. And the ironic part is, that’s when women need the most support and resources of all. So this course aims to arm women with everything they need from mental health support to understanding their physical recovery, mom guilt, and so much more. 

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: It’s funny because I come from a family of entrepreneurs, yet I never wanted to be one myself. I saw both my parents working so hard and such long hours, I never wanted that for my life. But now that I found something I’m so passionate about, I understand why. I have worked in advertising as a professional writer for almost 10 years and I run the blog on nights and weekends, so it’s a lot. But when you have a “why” that’s greater than yourself, you will do anything to see it succeed.

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

A: I’ve learned a lot in the past year about how to prioritize my own needs as a mother. Even though you still have the same number of hours in the day and way more to do once you become a mom, you still have all the same wants and needs as you did before. So, something has to give. The sooner you accept the fact that your house isn’t going to be neat and clean all the time, or you aren’t always going to have the energy to prepare three home-cooked meals a day, the better off you’ll be.

I also want women to know your body will physically change during the process of pregnancy and childbirth and that is ok! Instead of posting “bounce back” pix on Instagram, we need to normalize this natural and beautiful evolution of our bodies, while celebrating their power and strength.

Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: True, real gender equality. I hate the phrase “girl/lady boss.” Let’s just say boss. I’d much rather just be a badass woman than have a parade about out the fact that I’m badass woman like that’s supposed to be unique or special. All women are badasses.

I do believe women are finally learning to support each other more versus competing and tearing each other down with judgement. And that makes me happy.

MORE FROM BRENNA: Feel free to follow me on Instagram or Facebook, to stay up to date with the latest developments for What About Mamas! 

Thank you for reading!

I’d love to connect with you! 🙂

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Woman Wednesday: Rachel

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Q and A with Rachel, Atlanta, Georgia

“When you learn to manage your mind, you can do anything!”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I’m passionate about being authentic, showing up as myself, and sharing that with people. I love showing people how to use their own authenticity in business. It’s what I believe to be the secret to success. Overcoming all the limiting beliefs that are keeping people from showing up as their authentic self! I’m also passionate about meditation and learning. It’s how we keep a balanced life filled with purpose and excitement. I’m currently working on helping entrepreneurs build and scale their businesses so they can help their people in powerful ways!

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up in the DC-metro area. I was one of a handful of Jewish kids and struggled with feeling like I didn’t fit in. I went to Syracuse for my undergrad education and NYU for grad school. I studied social work and have always wanted to help others. I burnt out quickly in social work and broke into the fitness world. I started my first business at age 24, as a private 1:1 trainer. In 2010, I opened my first yoga studio, and opened my second in 2014. All of these experiences have led me to where I am today, helping others with their businesses.

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

A: The most valuable thing I have learned is the power of your thoughts. How they create every result you have. That when you learn to manage your mind, you can do anything!

Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: Feminism is standing for women’s rights and women leaders. Showing up as an example for other women.

MORE FROM RACHEL: I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia, with my two kids and three stepkids and my amazing husband.

Thank you for reading!

I’d love to connect with you! 🙂

Thoughts, questions, or comments?

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Woman Wednesday: Courtney R.

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Q and A with Courtney R., Vancouver, Washington

“We all need a great circle of empowering strong women to push us on all the hard days but also celebrate our wins.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I’m a mom of three; two boys ages 13 and 11, and a girl age 6. My kids are my whole world. I own a women’s clothing store in Vancouver, Washington, and we specialize in size inclusivity and ethnic fashion. All things girlie is who I am; I love personal shopping and styling my clients and myself (give me all the fun hot tools to play with my hair all day and bright lipstick because it’s a staple) because showing up feeling my best is important. It also empowers other women to do the same.

Personal styling and shopping is what I do because fashion is for everyone and we always feel better when we like our outfit. The store was a dream I had with my best friend from middle school; that’s what bonded us. (Funny story) she didn’t like me but loved my outfit and her mom made her hang out with me [she laughs], we’ve now been best friends for over 17 years! I’m also the girl who loves to get dirty and camp (any outdoor activity hiking and swimming the river is what I do all summer here in the PNW, where I was born and raised). Count me in on long weekends with my girlfriends because we are the tribe we keep! We all need a great circle of empowering strong women to push us on all the hard days but also celebrate our wins. I love to travel. Hawaii is my favorite but Japan, Africa, New York, and Italy are on my long bucket list. I’m also a adrenaline junkie, so skydiving, roller coasters, all those things…count me in. My goal is to have my store in multiple locations where I can shop a little differently for each location. (Depending where its at…weather and all that).

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I have one older brother. My parents are divorced, so childhood was different in each house. At my mom’s, I was an only child. At my dad’s, we had a blended family and I had a step brother and 2 step sisters. I was the oldest. I graduated from high school in 2007 and became a mom shortly after. I stayed home with my kids until I opened my boutique. Coming from a divorced home had its challenges, but it made me the strong, independent mother and friend I am today.

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

A: Being a business owner isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you always go back to your core values and stay humble, you can get through any hard day and you always appreciate the wins. (That’s what I’ve learned.) Believe came about because we wanted to inspire women to follow their dreams (that’s what we did), and when you put your whole heart into something, anything is possible.

Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: Feminism, to me, is rejecting stereotypes and expectations put in place centuries ago to keep women in their “place.” And replacing those expectations with love, acceptance, support, and encouragement. There are millions of women in the world and there are millions of ways to embody womanhood. Feminism is cheering for every woman in whatever way she chooses to be a woman.

Thank you for reading!

I’d love to connect with you! 🙂

Click here to shop and connect!

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Woman Wednesday: Mariam

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Q and A with Mariam, Montreal, Canada

“I seek out to channel the lessons I’ve learned from Khadija every day.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I love teaching. I’ve always loved teaching because of being able to help people go through breakthrough moments. It has been my passion from a very young age. Writing was always my coping mechanism. My parents were terminally ill since I was a kid, and I wrote poetry to cope with it.

So, I became an English teacher who also wrote copy on the side. Around 2 years ago, Bill 21 came into effect in Quebec, which prompted me to decide to start a business. I started writing copy full time. I realized I was actually developing most of their content strategy as well as doing their copy, and that is when I started studying it even more (I love studying) and ended up doing this full time. Within 3 months, I was able to make more than my 9-to-5 job and quit. Eventually, I started missing teaching. So now, I teach new entrepreneurs how to make a full-time income out of their business.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: My upbringing was centered around the fact that my mom had breast cancer and my dad had lymphoma. My mom died when I was 16 from her second cancer and my father from his third when I was 25, so 2 years ago now. 

I’ve always loved writing and have always used that as a coping mechanism. In fact, I have a poetry collection coming out soon entitled, “Eulogy: Our Stories Put to Rest.”

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

A: That you can do anything you set your mind to! That you are literally the one that decides your faith. Focus on what you have control over and move forward collecting the tools (learn) you need for the outcome of your dreams. 

Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: Everything. When I was young, my father told me the story of Khadija RDA, a historical figure in Islamic heritage. She was a business owner and considered to be the mother of Islam. I was so fascinated by the fact that she had proposed to her husband, the Prophet in our tradition; she was one of the wealthiest individuals of her time and space and also one of the kindest. She was so ahead of her time! She would always put out a green cloth over her entry way so people would know to come to her if they needed help. I seek out to channel the lessons I’ve learned from Khadija every day.

I am a strong woman that has always taken care of herself. That is the backbone of my story. In fact, my life today on Facebook is about the 3 lessons I’ve learned from amazing women. And, I will be focusing on Audrey Hepburn, Khadija RDA (historical figure in Islamic heritage), and my mom.

Thank you for reading!

MORE ABOUT MARIAM: I drive my company and my everyday life on empathy. It is at the core of my philosophy and my business. I set goals to give back. In fact, I have a mastermind coming up next week. 100% of ticket sales is directly going to fund food baskets for families in need.

I’d love to connect with you! 🙂

Thoughts, questions, or comments?

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Woman Wednesday: Rumaisa

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Q and A with Rumaisa, Quad Cities, IA

“We can truly change the circumstances in our life by shifting the way we think and feel about ourselves.“


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: My energy ignites when I am able to learn from my own hurts and setbacks, and share my own learnings and growth to empower others to do the same. The best feeling for me is when I am able to hold space for someone and see their own lightbulb moment click for them. Witnessing a client go from wanting to doing—by using their fears to propel them to do the scary thing they were once wishing to do—it’s so beautiful to see one’s confidence build right before your eyes. It took me 36 years to learn that my outcomes in life would not change unless I created the change that I wanted to see in my life. This is when I took my very first personal development course. This course was supposed to last a weekend. That weekend led me to moving out of my home in LA and moving to Chicago to live closer to my parents. I was doing all of this growth work on myself; I decided to step into my uncomfortable and go to school for social emotional intelligence in leadership and coaching. This work lead me to meeting my husband, having a baby, and moving to Iowa all in the same year! I am a transformational life coach and speaker who empowers women to “Go from Self Doubt to Self Love,” and I have been coach for over 5 years now. I am currently coaching 1:1 clients, teaching my 5 week course: Reboot Your Relationship with Yourself, and hosting my podcast titled “Real Talk with Ru: Going from Someday to Day One.” Available on all of the platforms.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up with a mother with schizophrenia, so unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to have a traditional mother/daughter relationship. As a child, I did not realize how traumatic this experience was. I pushed through life and looked for happiness through others. I was an East Indian American girl growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, trying to figure out her place in the world. Where she fit in. I “followed the yellow brick road” to see where it would take me. It took me to become a social butterfly. Being a queen of networking. Being active in softball, basketball, track, and tennis. My competitive spirit led me to becoming ranked third for tennis in the State of Nebraska landing me a tennis scholarship at an NAIA School. My “fearless” attitude took me to moving from Nebraska to NYC to land an internship with Donna Karan. From working in the fashion industry, I fell into working as a background extra in TV and films, which took me to LA and working at Universal Pictures. I was in NYC during 9/11, I traveled to Pakistan to film a documentary to show the beauty of the country. I was always searching for meaning in my life. Growing up with a mother with mental illness, it wasn’t until my late 30’s that I came to the realization that I was running away from a lot of childhood sadness. I was a “people-pleaser” who was afraid to really say what was on her mind out of fear that people wouldn’t like the real me. I thought that if I picked the most glamorous jobs, lived in the biggest cities, that I would find happiness. The busier I was, the more that I would do for others, I would not have to focus on the deep-rooted stuff. I would not have to focus on my sadness. What I found out was that no matter where I lived, if I did not tend to myself, this sadness would follow me wherever I would go. The way that I felt about myself. The way I felt about my work, money, my relationships. It would never feel like enough. I would never feel satisfied. The real work was getting to know myself. What I wanted and needed to live a meaningful and purposeful life.

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

A: What I have learned and continue to learn is that I am constantly learning about myself everyday. That my life is endlessly evolving. All of that sadness, the pain, those lonely moments, those “no’s”, have empowered me to become the woman that I am today. There were so many moments that I didn’t understand why these “ouches” were happening to me.What I am learning is that these have all been detours to guide me to this very moment to serve others and share my learnings with others in the hopes that they, too, can overcome their blocks. Our past does not have to define who we are today. Our past story does not have to be our current story. We can truly change the circumstances in our life by shifting the way we think and feel about ourselves. The moment that I chose to get into the driver’s seat of my life, create boundaries, and learn that it is not my job to make everyone happy, my life continues to become richer and richer everyday. I shifted from being a victim of the circumstances in my life to continuing to step into my power each day; no matter how scary it may feel on some days. Showing up for yourself is the ultimate gift one can give themselves. Continuing to learn and grow, to be better than you were yesterday.

Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: To me, feminism means celebrating ALL of who you are. Owning your fears, your joys, your sadness, hurt, and anger. Celebrating ALL OF YOU! Showing up, speaking up, and continuing to share your gifts with the world. This is how change happens.

Thank you for reading!

I’d love to connect with you! 🙂

If you are looking for a space to promote your business or find motivation, inspiration, network, and/or find collaboration, join my Facebook Group: Women Empowering Women: Relationships, Carer, Lifestyle, & Healthy Mindset.

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