Courtney Vargas

I attribute my success to staying aligned with who I am and what feels right, even when that meant making difficult pivots in my career. When I tried bookkeeping after getting my business finance degree, I absolutely hated it because it just wasn't aligned with who I am, so I left. I've learned to follow work that is fulfilling and where I can really be helping people. Even though I loved being a behavioral aide with kids with autism - it was my favorite job I've ever done - I had to leave because it was part-time and didn't pay well enough to afford housing. But those experiences led me to independent living services, which I absolutely love. I love being able to go out and help support people in learning to be the best that they could be of themselves, learning how to navigate through Social Security and all those things that are essential to people living with disabilities, and working towards living on their own and being independent. The perseverance to keep searching for meaningful work, and the compassion I developed especially after being diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 3 as an adult, have been key to building Empower into what it is today.

Her growth has been shaped by experiences in the field and professionals within disability services, along with the individuals she serves who continue to inspire her daily.

She encourages women to follow work that aligns with their purpose, trust their instincts, and not be afraid to pivot when something doesn’t feel right.

One of the biggest challenges I see is that there are still a lot of gaps in the community as far as resources. I've noticed there's just not a lot of resources for people who have co-pays for medications and can't afford it. There's also limited support for activities out in the community - a lot of organizations are willing to donate things to nonprofits, which is why in the very distant future I would like to open a nonprofit that connects with Empower to help fill these gaps. The opportunity lies in being able to provide more comprehensive support and connect people with the resources they need to live independently. Another challenge is just the time it takes to get set up - getting vended through the Regional Center takes a long time, it took me about a year before I could see clients. But the opportunity for growth is there, and I'm seeing it now as I expand from being a solopreneur to hiring employees and looking at office space.

The most important values to me are compassion, purpose, and helping others live empowered, independent lives. When I got diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 3 as an adult, I started looking for something more fulfilling where I could actually really be helping people. That's what drives everything I do. I felt so alone when I got diagnosed, like no one else in this world knew what it was like, so I started a YouTube channel about fitness for muscle disease because I thought if I could help just one person, then this'll be worth it. I've gotten so many people that have reached out to me that said they've had the same experience and also felt alone, and I've been able to connect them with others through Facebook groups. I also value dignity and independence for the people I serve - I love being able to help support people in learning to be the best that they could be of themselves and working towards living on their own. Service is central to everything, whether it's through my work with clients, my planned social therapy dog volunteering, or the nonprofit I want to open in the future to fill gaps in community resources.