Pearl Chiarenza

I have to say my faith is number one. My husband is a huge supporter we've been together for over 40 years, so my husband is number two. And just knowing that there's a plan laid out, if I just have to trust the process. When we lost our oldest son in a tragic car accident almost four years ago, I realized that two days before he passed, he told me 'Mom, now you've figured out your stuff' after I tossed him a water bottle. As crazy as it sounds, my son left this world knowing that I figured out my stuff and that he was proud of me. To be able to still find the strength to get out of bed and to continue being what I call the SHERO - strong, happy, empowered, radiant, and original person I was meant to be - it means that I need to continue doing that, because that's not something he would want me to stop doing. My proudest moment was knowing that my son was proud of me before he passed, and that gives me the strength to keep going and help other women.

The best career advice I received came from Jim Macklin, my former boss when I did mortgages. I was 8 months pregnant and working as a loan processor, and when I came back from being out of town for our baby shower, he told me all my loan officers were gone and they needed to put me in what's called a banker office. I said I'm 8 months pregnant, they're not going to want to work with me, and he said they're just some sweet little older ladies who will be like little grandmas for you. He pushed me out of my comfort zone even though I was afraid to take the step. He helped me learn that taking the step outside of our comfort zone can make big changes. I always wanted to do it, but I didn't have the belief in myself, but he believed in me and pushed me forward.

I would say that there is no myth to the 'give from the overflow' - you have to fill your cup up first. What are your dreams? What are your goals? Fill that cup up first, because we're not promised tomorrow. If tomorrow doesn't come and all I can say about you at your eulogy is what I saw you do for yourself, what are the five things that five different people will say about you? You want to leave that kind of legacy in the world, because somebody's going to slide into your job, somebody's going to take care of your kids, somebody's going to do all that stuff, but nobody can get more time with you. So they have to be able to look and see what you did for yourself. Give from the overflow is factual, it's not false, and it's not just a cliche. If you don't have an overflow, you've got nothing to give. And you can say no, like you won a million dollars, as happy as you say yes.

Pearl believes one of the biggest challenges in the personal development space is helping women overcome societal expectations that encourage them to constantly prioritize others. Many women struggle with burnout and loss of identity because they have spent years focusing on the needs of others. However, she also sees a significant opportunity in the growing movement around women’s empowerment, leadership development, and self-care, as more women are actively seeking guidance and support to create balanced, purpose-driven lives.

Faith is my number one value it's what gets me through everything. My husband and our relationship is incredibly important to me - we've been together for over 40 years and he's been a huge supporter through everything, especially after we lost our oldest son. I believe strongly in trusting the process and knowing that there's a plan laid out. Family is central to everything I do - even after the devastating loss of my 25-year-old son in a car accident, I found strength to continue because that's what he would have wanted. I value authenticity and being the original person I was meant to be, which is why I teach women to reconnect with themselves. I also value community and connection - I love being at the beach, which is why my retreats are there, and for the past 20 years I've helped organize French students to come to the Tampa Bay area every July, finding families for them to stay with for two and a half weeks. It's about creating spaces where people can connect and support one another.