Aimee Suyko

I attribute my success to learning to trust myself, embracing opportunities even when they feel intimidating, and having the courage to share my story with honesty and vulnerability. I never set out to build a following or imagined that my grief writing would become what it has today. I simply started writing after losing both of my parents and stayed authentic to myself and what I was experiencing. As more people began connecting with my words and sharing their own stories with me, I realized how powerful it can be when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and let others see who we really are. I think so much of what has grown from this has happened because I never tried to make it into something it wasn’t. I stayed true to myself, kept taking chances, and allowed it to grow naturally into something I never could have planned.

The best career advice I’ve received is that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. Some of the best opportunities in my life have come from saying yes before I felt completely ready and trusting that I would figure things out along the way. I’ve learned that growth usually requires taking a chance on yourself, being willing to learn, and not letting fear make your decisions for you.

I would encourage young women to remember that there is no one right way to build a career or create a life you’re proud of. Your path may change many times, and some of the experience that seems completely unrelated today may end up being exactly what prepares you for what comes next. Be willing to learn, ask for help, surround yourself with people who support your growth, and don’t compare your timeline to someone else’s. You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going to keep moving forward.

One of the greatest challenges in grief-related work is how misunderstood grief still is. People who are grieving often feel pressure to be doing better, moving forward, or returning to who they were before their loss. At the same time, I see a tremendous opportunity to change that.

Through writing, education, community, and simply being more willing to talk honestly about grief, we can help people feel less alone in what they are experiencing. I believe there is incredible value in bringing people together who understand each other and creating more places where people can talk about their grief without feeling like they have to explain or defend it.

Authenticity, vulnerability, courage, family, and connection are the values that guide both my personal life and my work. Family has always been at the center of who I am, and losing both of my parents changed the way I look at life, relationships, and the time we have with the people we love. I believe in being true to who I am, allowing myself to be vulnerable, and having the courage to keep growing even when life takes me somewhere I never expected. I value genuine connection with people, and I hope that comes through in everything I do, both personally and professionally.