Influential Women - Read Their Stories

How She Did It

Read Their Stories.
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Here's how they did it.
Behind every title is a story — of courage, reinvention, and grit. How She Did It is a collection of real stories from real women in Influential Women who took the leap, changed the game, and shaped their own paths.

Our
Contributors

Deborah  L. Peck profile on Influential Women Jessenia Yaris  Laguna-Torres profile on Influential Women Haley M Kunert profile on Influential Women Adaure Patrice Anyanwu profile on Influential Women

The Time She Lost a Major Opportunity

The rejection that unexpectedly opened a better door.

Our
Contributors

Allison Megrath, AICP, CNU-A, GPC profile on Influential Women Dr. Ceci Gomez profile on Influential Women Priscilla Valerie Marotta, Ph.D. profile on Influential Women D'tra Gary profile on Influential Women

How She Handled Being Underestimated

Proving people wrong without letting them define her.

Our
Contributors

Destiny R. Burbank profile on Influential Women Linda Ellington profile on Influential Women Kelley Gusich profile on Influential Women Jodi Lynn Barone profile on Influential Women

The Moment She Stopped Comparing Behind the Scenes to Someone Else's Highlight Reel

Finding peace in her own journey

Our
Contributors

Stephanie Whitehead profile on Influential Women Lauri Arntsen profile on Influential Women Suzanne Banas, Ph.D.  NBCT profile on Influential Women Susan Keup profile on Influential Women

When She Had to Learn an Entirely New Skill

Starting as a beginner again after years of experience.

Our
Contributors

Dawn Hargrove  Avery profile on Influential Women Pam Thomason profile on Influential Women Gayle Kuehn profile on Influential Women Payel Maitra profile on Influential Women

Building a Business While Raising a Family

Navigating competing priorities without abandoning either dream.

Our
Contributors

Solange Collins profile on Influential Women Danielle Diniro profile on Influential Women NORMA  E BAILLERES profile on Influential Women Leslie Lassi profile on Influential Women

The Mistake She Thought Would End Everything

How owning a major mistake became a turning point instead.

Our
Contributors

Jodi Franklin profile on Influential Women Kandise M. Finley profile on Influential Women Victoria Boston profile on Influential Women Leila Ladjevardi profile on Influential Women

When She Had to Make the Most Difficult Business Decision

Letting someone go, closing a division, raising prices, or making the call no one else wanted to make.

Our
Contributors

María Angélica Deeb profile on Influential Women Mara Fortin profile on Influential Women Elsa Polanco profile on Influential Women Emely Rumble profile on Influential Women

The Customer Who Changed Her Business Forever

How one conversation completely reshaped her approach.

Our
Contributors

Jasmine Thomas profile on Influential Women Michelle Neyrey profile on Influential Women Heather Issers profile on Influential Women Phuong Le profile on Influential Women

How She Earned Trust When No One Knew Her

Building credibility from scratch in a new industry, community, or role.

Our
Contributors

Ashley Valdes profile on Influential Women Laura A. H. Elliott profile on Influential Women Heather Quisenberry profile on Influential Women Julie Muster Bryson profile on Influential Women

The Time She Had to Walk Away From Success

Why leaving something that looked successful became the best decision she ever made.

Our
Contributors

Arleth Snyder profile on Influential Women Lori Ann Hauser profile on Influential Women Gina McKenna profile on Influential Women Olivia Lauren Bruce profile on Influential Women

Redefining What Success Meant to Her

She stopped chasing someone else’s version of achievement.

Our
Contributors

Sherry Bolds, SHRM-SCP profile on Influential Women Julia Kintner profile on Influential Women Kimberley Robinson Alexander profile on Influential Women Kimberly S Bishop profile on Influential Women

Building Confidence One Decision at a Time

Confidence was not instant. It was practiced.

Our
Contributors

Jae Renee Harvey profile on Influential Women Joanna Walker McClain profile on Influential Women Julie Lawson profile on Influential Women Nikki Burton profile on Influential Women

Making Peace With Being Misunderstood

She stopped shrinking herself for approval.

Our
Contributors

Jen Mendoza profile on Influential Women Jessica Buckley profile on Influential Women Cherie Privett profile on Influential Women Annette  M. Suh profile on Influential Women

Healing While Still Showing Up

Navigating grief, heartbreak, burnout, or healing behind the scenes.

Our
Contributors

Kristin M. Gummoe profile on Influential Women Lubicristin Lora profile on Influential Women Candy Kirchner profile on Influential Women Lena Caponigro profile on Influential Women

The Advice She Finally Stopped Following

Trusting her own instincts instead of outside expectations.

Our
Contributors

Lenore A. Brinson profile on Influential Women Marianna Chrysiliou profile on Influential Women Addison Wilczak profile on Influential Women Simran Padam, MD profile on Influential Women

Rebuilding After Public Failure

What happened after things fell apart in front of other people.

Our
Contributors

Zaneta Artis profile on Influential Women Lisa Soss profile on Influential Women Danielle Burch profile on Influential Women Ellen A Wood profile on Influential Women

Letting Go of the Timeline

Success did not happen when she expected and that changed everything.

Our
Contributors

Lisa Eva Eva Gold profile on Influential Women Caroline Eckman profile on Influential Women Elizabeth Gay profile on Influential Women Dana J.  Caviness profile on Influential Women

Finding Her Voice in Male-Dominated Spaces

Earning respect without compromising who she is.

Our
Contributors

Karli J. Klismith profile on Influential Women Dr. Mercedes Davila profile on Influential Women Amber Bussey profile on Influential Women Kerrie Mallory-Thompson profile on Influential Women

The Skill She Almost Overlooked

What came naturally to her ended up changing her career.

Our
Contributors

Sandra Daubert profile on Influential Women Samona Pheils profile on Influential Women Victoria Durnell profile on Influential Women Jessica Figueroa profile on Influential Women

Learning to Rest Without Guilt

Why slowing down became part of her success story.

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