Angela DeMarco Snow

I attribute my success to my entire journey and the courage it took to break through my fears and believe in myself. Looking back at where I was in a controlling marriage where I had lost myself, and seeing where I am now after years of developing the strength to leave a corporate job and the classroom as a professor to do what I'm doing, that's my biggest achievement. Writing my book 'Searching for Ladybugs' and putting my life out there for people to see, even though not all of it was pretty, was a huge step. As a coach, I don't sit here pretending like I have all the answers or that I'm perfect, because I can only take people where I go. I think I have a genuine superpower of being intuitive and really being able to connect with people. I honestly love people, and I love helping them find their superpowers. My father, who passed away in 2008, was a major inspiration. He couldn't stand my husband and could see that my light was diminished. Before he died, he had a very serious conversation with me about losing my light and made me promise I would find it again. He was the one who inspired me and sparked the need for getting out, helping me realize I didn't have to stay married for my children and that they didn't need to see their mother being treated that way. I couldn't raise my sons to think they could treat women like that. So I attribute my success to that entire journey of transformation, to my father's wisdom, and to my genuine love for helping others discover their own light and superpowers.

The best career advice I've received, which I've lived out, is that you can have a career in a field that you love and be able to have a successful career doing it. I left the corporate world and took the plunge to start my own business, which has been successful for the last 10 years. I always knew I wanted to be a business owner and help people, and I learned that you don't have to stay in a traditional career path if it's not aligned with your passion and values. Even though my ex-husband told me to get a 'big girl job' and didn't support my dreams of being an actress, I eventually found my way to doing work I'm passionate about on my own terms. The lesson is that you can pursue what you love and make it work, even if it means leaving security behind and believing in yourself enough to start over.

My advice to young women entering this industry is that you can do it, just never give up and always keep shining. I would also tell them to recognize unhealthy relationship patterns early so they can stop the cycle before it starts. It's so important to love yourself first and know your worth, because when you do, you know how to create boundaries to nip toxic situations immediately. Don't let anyone dim your light or tell you that your dreams are just a hobby. I had someone tell me to get a 'big girl job' when I was pursuing my passion, and it took me years to break free from that and believe in myself. But once I did, I found my calling and have been successfully running my own business for 10 years. So believe in yourself, develop that strength, and never let anyone make you feel like you have to settle or stay small. You have superpowers within you, and this work of helping others is incredibly rewarding when you do it authentically and from a place of genuine love for people.

The biggest challenge and opportunity in my field right now is being able to help others while also maintaining a healthy life with my family and children. It's about finding that balance between being there for my clients who need support in their relationship journeys and being present for my own family. Another major opportunity I see is in prevention and education. I'm launching a new program specifically for teens and parents so they can recognize unhealthy relationship patterns early and stop the cycle before it starts. There's also the challenge of helping people understand that finding love isn't transactional. When I worked for a corporation, I saw how they were playing with people's hearts, treating matchmaking like a business transaction rather than genuinely caring about helping people. The opportunity now is to do this work authentically, to really connect with people and help them build relationships from the inside out, starting with self-love. With online dating being so prevalent, there's a huge need for coaching and support to help people navigate that world in a healthy way, which is why I'm launching group coaching programs to provide that additional support.

The values most important to me in my work and personal life are authenticity, genuine connection, and helping others find their light. I don't sit here as a coach pretending like I have all the answers or that I'm perfect, because I can only take people where I go. I believe in being real and vulnerable, which is why I wrote my memoir and laid out my life story, even the parts that weren't pretty. Family is very important to me, and I spend a lot of time with my family and friends. I also value staying connected to my passions. I've started getting back into theater and the things I'm passionate about, like going to shows, comedy, and music. I come from a family of musicians, so I love going to concerts and live music events. I also make time to read a little bit every day and to date myself, spending quality time with the people I'm closest to. Another core value is supporting other women and giving back. I stay active with That's What She Said project, where I spoke last October, and I support This Girl's Story, which helps teen girls tell their stories. I really do try to support companies that are owned and run by women. I'm also passionate about causes related to domestic violence. In my spare time, I enjoy theater and music, but I'm always there to help others as a coach. Travel is another thing I love and wish I had more time for. Ultimately, my values center around genuine love for people, helping them find their superpowers, maintaining strong relationships with family and friends, and always being there to support others in their journey.