WomanUpAvl 2025
This morning, Katy Wyatt and I had the profound honor of attending the 2025 WomanUP Celebration & Awards Ceremony in Asheville, hosted by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. WNC Business+2Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce+2 It was a vibrant gathering of more than 600 professionals, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and change-makers who came together to recognize and uplift women in business, leadership and community service. WNC Business
What made it especially meaningful for me was being a nominee for this distinguished event’s awards. To be included in such a line-up of accomplished women was a moment of both gratitude and reflection.
A morning of connection, gratitude & aspiration
From the moment I arrived, there was an infectious spirit of lifting as we climb. Chairs, conversations and coffee were shared by people who carried not just their own story, but a desire to support the stories of others.
The program featured inspiring acceptance speeches from the honorees — including recognition of women whose work spans nonprofits, STEM, entrepreneurship and leadership. WNC Business+1 Each story underscored how leadership is not just about reaching a goal, but about making space for others to reach theirs too.
One line in particular stayed with me: “Having a seat at the table is not guaranteed… sometimes we pull out the chair and sit down in it with confidence on our own.” WNC Business It reminded me how my own journey — through healing frameworks, creative programming, and community wellness — is part of a larger movement of women claiming their place, voice and legacy.
What it meant to me as a nominee
Being nominated today felt like a signpost — a pause to look back at where I’ve been and a breath to look ahead at where I’m going. It’s one thing to build, show up and serve; it’s another to have your work recognized among peers and neighbors who also carry high standards for service, innovation and leadership.
For me, this nomination felt especially aligned with my personal brand: #RootedRadiantReimagined. It underscored that being grounded in purpose, radiant in service, and continually reimagining what “impact” can look like — that pathway is real and visible.
It also reinforced my belief in community over competition. I wasn’t simply in a room of contenders — I was in a room of collaborators, mentors, and fellow builders. Being nominated amplifies the platform, but supporting others in that space multiplies it.
Reflections and next-steps
As I reflect on today, here are a few takeaways I’m carrying forward:
Keep building & belonging: The event reaffirmed how important it is to show up, to belong, and to bring others along. Nomination is an honor, but it’s only part of the story.
Let legacy matter: One of the awards honored lifetime achievement. It reminded me that legacy isn’t only for the distant future — it’s built in how we steward today’s work, relationships and values. WNC Business
Elevate others: Leadership without lifting others is incomplete. I commit to continuing to create spaces, train the trainers, speak out, and develop meditations and programs that help others thrive.
Tell the story: I plan to share more of my journey — from the metaphysical arc of Forgiveness + Mindfulness + Polarity Therapy (part of my dissertation framework) to the weekly “Sunday Sparks” soulful journal prompts. This nomination is a stepping-stone, not an endpoint.
A word of thanks
To the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce for curating this incredible event. Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce+1
To the sponsors, organizers, nominees, winners, and attendees who created an atmosphere of encouragement and possibility.
And to my network — to each of you who have believed in me, sharpened me, held space for me — this feels like a celebration that we share.
What’s next?
With this nomination behind me, I’m energized for what’s ahead:
Deepening my work with Let Us Play™ and Joyful Collective Studios to amplify healing, empowerment, and creative expression.
Expanding my speaking engagements and training-the-trainer tracks, grounded in the brand I’ve chosen.
Continuing to write, expand the 12-week “Sunday Soulful Sparks” series, and bring the journal prompts through 2026 into community spaces.
Honoring that the real award is not a title — it’s the transformation in lives, the connections made, the legacy built.
