Ruth Grizzle

I attribute my success to the strong women in my family, especially my mom and grandmother, who always pushed me to be more than just beautiful - to be smart and capable. My mom encouraged me since I was little to keep going and not let my gender define me. She told me I could do anything, whether it was karate or any other pursuit. My grandmother owned a beautiful flower shop in Venezuela, and she started all of us as little entrepreneurs. Working in that family business, the boys did deliveries while the girls did the flower arrangements. We learned to be creative, try new things, ask questions, network, and have conversations. Every bouquet we made had a story - whether for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or saying goodbye to someone who died. We learned to be present for people's stories and represent them through our work. That was a beautiful learning experience for us as children, to do something beautiful for others. Those lessons about resilience, creativity, and helping others have carried me through my journey from arriving in this country with two suitcases to where I am today.

I believe in being resilient and not giving up when things don't go your way. Keep trying, because there is a reasoning behind every struggle. When you're trying to achieve a goal, whether it's as simple as trying to get a loan, be resilient about it and try different avenues - don't give up on your dream. That's the best advice I can give. Second, don't let anybody tell you that you're not capable of doing something in life. It doesn't matter if it's a language barrier - in my case, I didn't speak very well and I'm self-taught in English. Don't let negative sounds stop you. Keep proving yourself and continue to always be curious, meaning ask questions, be always intuitive, keep trying and asking questions about anything, because that's what is going to take you to the next direction. It's important to say to our little girls that you are beautiful, but you're also very smart. You come with this wonderful package to continue to grow and do great things for whatever is your purpose.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is overcoming language barriers, navigating limited resources for entrepreneurial ventures, and understanding complex U.S. systems, particularly when it comes to preparing children for college and accessing opportunities. At the same time, I see tremendous opportunities through the growing number of support networks, mentorship communities, and platforms that amplify diverse women’s voices, create greater visibility, and provide meaningful opportunities for professional development and leadership growth.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are resilience, helping others, community, continual learning, and perseverance. I strive to stay grounded in resilience when facing challenges, remain committed to supporting and uplifting others, actively contribute to my community, and continuously pursue growth and learning while maintaining perseverance in achieving long-term goals.