#WomenWednesdays | August-September Recap

Monique Patrick | Founder of CreatIVPeace, Every Child Counts, and She is STILL Beautiful | Chicago, IL

Instagram: @creativpeace

Facebook: CreatIVPeace

Monique Patrick, the founder of CreatIVPeace, an online boutique whose mission is to utilize fashion and beauty to change the lives of women and children with 3 empowering initiatives: CreatIVPeace, Every Child Counts, & She is STILL Beautiful.

USWHPRO: Is there a woman who inspires you?

Monique: My grandmother is a huge inspiration! I am a bi-product of a teenage/single parent household and my grandmother was my superhero! She retired early to help raise me, my two brothers and sister at the same time. My grandmother made so many sacrifices for me and taught me so much, instilling manners, morals, and the importance of education/independence, which I am forever grateful for!

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start CreatIVPeace?

Monique: Later in life I experienced domestic violence and also became a single mom (twice). It isn’t something that I asked for, but also realized it was a cycle I had to break for myself. I wanted to start a business of my own and make a difference, while redirecting my energy towards something positive, in addition to helping women, children, + incorporate an area of interest, which is of course fashion and beauty. I took a solo trip to Puerto Rico in the midst of finalizing my second divorce and it totally changed my life! I spent the whole time self-reflecting and loving on ME! It was there that I came up with the idea of The CreatIVPeace Collection, ran into this awesome woman named Mayra, who is now my lead lady that designs and creates the handmade earrings in my collection. I then realized that I wanted to support women’s crafts, exploiting their talents and supporting them by buying in bulk and introducing them to the rest of the world. Proceeds of the collection feed into the other two initiatives She is STILL beautiful, aiming to make women (specifically those who have suffered from domestic violence) feel beautiful again and Every Child Counts, an initiative to help in providing children with necessities that all children should have access to, but unfortunately don’t!

USWHPRO: What is your favorite thing about working for CreatIVPeace?

Monique: I love waking up with a purpose and having confidence that I am working to build a brand/business that aims to help!

USWHPRO: Do you feel you have faced adversity as a woman in the business world? How were you able to overcome it?

Monique: Honestly, the only adversity is the fact that I refuse to do business for any other reason than to build the brand, I have no other motives and I’ve found that sometimes others do! It’s the struggle of weeding put bad business apples for the sake of my moral values and dignity. Not even an astronomical amount of money could change my core! I turn down any and all business proposals that don’t sit well with who I am and what I am trying to accomplish with CreatIVPeace. #sorrynotsorry

USWHPRO: What advice do you have for other women interested in starting their own businesses?

Monique: Take your time! I am moving at my own pace and trying my hardest to make strategic decisions while building my business vs. thinking I have to keep up with the status quo. Of course, it’s important to set timelines and goals, however, don’t get discouraged if you aren’t seeing results right away! Anything of quality takes time to build, in my opinion, and trial + error is necessary. Keep hustling! 🙂

Caitlyn | Founder of Wrenny Penny Designs | Roosevelt, UT

Instagram: @wrennypennydesigns

Facebook: Wrenny Penny Designs

Website/Online Store: https://www.wrennypennydesigns.com

USWHPRO: Is there a woman who inspires you?

Caitlyn: I’m inspired by women who are working towards their goals while lifting up other women. Specifically @queenofnaturecrowns she is always trying to help other women and offer words of encouragement. 

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start Wrenny Penny Designs?

Caitlyn: I was inspired to start Wrenny Penny Designs after I had my rainbow baby and first baby girl. She has been such a source of joy for our little family. I wanted to make affordable bows and accessories. 

USWHPRO: Do you feel you have faced adversity as a woman in business? How did you overcome it?  

Caitlyn: As a woman in the business world I feel like sometimes I am not taken seriously. That’s okay! I just keep working towards my goals. 

USWHPRO: What advice do you have for other women interested in starting their own businesses?

Caitlyn: Don’t give up! Put in the time and keep hustling. It takes time. I still have a long way to go. Find people that help and support you. Lean on them and try different things until you find what works. 

Marion | Founder of Queen of Nature Crowns | Las Vegas, NV

Instagram: @queenofnaturecrowns

Facebook: Queen of Nature Crowns

Website/Online Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/queenofnaturecrowns

USWHPRO: Is there a woman who inspires you?

Marion: I've not had many powerful women role models, but my grandmother Clementine was the most inspiration, she was a migrant worker. Her and her family travel a lot to find work. She raised 16 kids, two passed away but she did all she could to take care of her family. When my parents divorced she took my brother and me in just like we were hers. I learned how to keep standing by watching her.

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start Queen of Nature Crowns?

Marion: What inspired me to start Queen of Nature Crowns? Well in truth, I'm a writer I was working on a children's book on loss but it got to hard to deal with so one day I got a bunch of flowers and hand bands and starting making flower crowns seems I was good at it and it took my heart away from my pain.

Being a nerd, I made this huge mother nature cosplay for Comic Con and people asked me where I bought the crown, my response was I made it. So my daughter told me why not sell them so I started an Etsy. I've always wanted a business, wanted to do better by my children they had been through so much with me, from watching me in a domestic violence situation, homelessness, to the death of their little brother. I want them to see not just pain but beauty. Also if I can help another woman pull herself up and be the women she was designed to be, it's worth all the pain.

USWHPRO: Do you feel you have faced adversity as a woman in business? How did you overcome it?

Marion: It's not easy being a woman in business, people don't always take you serious or they say “Why flower crowns? Nobody is going to buy them. Do something that makes sense.” But I always like to do what they say I can't do. I'm not looking to get rich, that would be nice. I want to do what's in my heart and that's to create beautiful one of a kind flower crowns for the most beautiful and unique Queens and Kings. I overcome doubt by doing what I feel I was created to do.

USWHPRO: What advice do you have for other women who are interested in starting their own businesses?

Marion: We all have gifts inside waiting to get out, we can't allow others to dictate who we are. We have to live with ourselves it's better to have joy than regret. Women if there is a business inside of you, go for it! If you fail, lick your wounds get up and try it again. You can do anything you set your mind to do. It won't be easy your gonna cry, fail, and want to give up! But don't! What you have is Needed in a world were so much pain resides. We all need each other there is no me with out you, so keep at it. Never give up.

Michelle | Founder of Highly Che Healing | Chicago, IL

Instagram: @highlychehealing

Michelle is the owner/founder of Highly Che Healing home to canna infused baked goodies with a purpose.

USWHPRO: Is there a woman who inspires you?

Michelle: Honestly the women I am surrounded by today inspire me and push me to do better it’s beautiful being a part of a sisterhood that empowers and evolves your growth some are here supporting me today! 

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start Highly Che Healing?

Michelle: Being an avid marijuana consumer, I wanted to offer quality canna infused treats that can help people with PTSD, anxiety, insomnia, fibromyalgia, and a number of other health issues that marijuana can battle; it’s more than just a high. So many people offer edibles without the proper knowledge of what you are eating. My products are carefully dosed and explained to all those who consume edibles.   

USWHPRO: Do you feel you have faced adversity as a woman in business?

Michelle: Absolutely, I face this daily. Being in the marijuana industry has come with challenges, especially as a latina, we are underestimated - we fight to be treated equally. I handle that by taking the bull by the horns and taking control of the situation you have to be prepared and confident as a woman down your fort and build alliances.

USWHPRO: Do you have any advice for women interested in starting their own business?

Michelle: Find your passion and work hard for it - the goal is rest when you’re tired and get right back up again.

Tonya | Regional Service Agent/Dispatcher @ U.S. Water Heating Solutions | Arlington Heights, IL

USWHPRO: Is there a woman who inspires you?

Tonya: My Aunt – I really admire how she has gone really far in her career to become the Head of Human Resources while still being able to balance both family life and work life.  

USWHPRO: What is your favorite thing about working at USWHPRO?

Tonya: My favorite thing is the people — both my co-workers and the customers. I get to talk to so many different people everyday. I also enjoy that my job is challenging (in a good way). Building the schedule is like configuring a puzzle across 7 states for 11 technicians.

USWHPRO: Do you feel that you face adversity as a woman in the water heater industry? How did you overcome it?

Tonya: Sometimes I feel like I am not taken as seriously or that I need to prove myself more; some customers will ask to speak to someone else in the office (and all the other dispatchers are male) because they think that I don’t know how to help them or won’t be able to help them.

USWHPRO: What any advice do you have for other women in the business world?

Tonya: Don’t get discouraged – at first it may feel like a lot, but you learn little by little as you go.