Becoming the Woman I Needed
From Anxiety and Doubt to Building an Empire: One Woman's Journey to Becoming an Influential Leader
There was a time when simply walking into a crowded room could feel impossible. Today, I own a business that requires me to walk into those rooms, introduce myself to strangers, and tell them exactly why they should work with me.
So when I found out I had been selected as an Influential Woman of 2026, I honestly thought it was spam.
Even after learning it was real, part of me still didn't quite believe it. It wasn't until I was interviewed and then shared the news with Ari and my family that it really started to sink in. Everyone was proud of me, but hearing my kids say they were proud meant the most.
The woman I was several years ago probably wouldn't believe any of this either.
In 2018, my anxiety had gotten to the point where I could drive somewhere, see how many people were there, and turn around and go home.
When I started cleaning windows in Idaho, I barely talked to my coworkers. I liked being able to put my headphones in, focus on the windows in front of me, and work quietly.
I never imagined that the same job would eventually lead me to owning a business, networking, speaking in front of groups, and building relationships throughout my community. My anxiety didn't magically disappear along the way. I just stopped letting being uncomfortable automatically mean no.
A lot of that came from being a single mom of three. There were plenty of times when I couldn't wait until I felt ready. My kids depended on me, so I figured things out as I went.
That mindset followed me to Florida. When I was told I would probably need two or three jobs just to make ends meet, all I could think was that there had to be another way. I already knew how to clean windows, and I knew I was good at it. So I started wondering why I couldn't build something of my own.
That idea eventually became Hammerhead Window Cleaning, the business Ari and I now own together.
Of course, deciding to start a business and actually keeping one alive are two very different things.
During our first really difficult slow season, bills were piling up, and Ari and I both started looking at other jobs. We seriously questioned whether we could keep Hammerhead going. But before giving up, we decided to keep trying. We sent emails, walked into businesses, handed out door hangers, and kept asking for opportunities.
Eventually, people started saying yes.
That time taught me something else, too. Being strong doesn't have to mean doing everything by yourself. There were years when I had to rely heavily on myself. Now, I'm incredibly thankful to have Ari beside me as my partner in life and in business. I have someone to lean on when things get hard, and my kids are still a huge part of what keeps me motivated. We're not just trying to grow a business. We're building a life together.
And I'm still growing with it.
I still get overwhelmed. Networking can still make me uncomfortable, and running a business can still be scary. But now I know those feelings don't have to decide what I do next.
As Hammerhead grows, I want that growth to create opportunities beyond our own family. I want future employees to feel heard and have room to grow. I want us to be able to give more to Foster Village, local animal rescues, and other causes that matter to us.
Being named an Influential Woman still feels a little strange to me. I wasn't trying to become influential. I was trying to take care of my kids, build something that could last, and keep moving forward.
Years from now, I don't need my kids to remember an award or how big Hammerhead became. I hope they remember that their mom kept going. I hope when life gets hard for them, they know they can keep going, too.
Maybe the woman I was in 2018 wouldn't believe where I am today.
But I think she'd be proud of me.
And I'm proud that I am becoming the woman I wish I would have had in my life as a child to look up to.
