Ellie Bianca Celebrate's International Women's Day!
This past year has been a historical one for women. Between the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, women across the globe have been using their voices to speak up on critical issues, which makes today – International Women’s Day – all the more important this year. To commemorate the occasion, we spoke with 3 strong women (including our own founder, Evelyne Nyairo) who share their motivations and challenges in their day to day lives. Oh, and did we mention they each run their own businesses?
Who: Evelyne Nyairo – Founder of Ellie Bianca
What keeps you going every day?
I simply love success period! But what is deeper than that is my daughter Ellie, the name sake of our brand. I want her to learn that if you work hard you will achieve anything. My passion to inspire hope across the globe drives me. I simply want women to know that this is our time. Ellie Bianca as a brand was built with a focus on advancing the gender equality movement and that involves women and men to achieve. The foundation of Kind to Women is where positive change begins and will continue to grow as we have the conversations and take action towards equality.
What has been your biggest challenge?
I love a challenge. With every challenge an opportunity exists. I have trained my mind to search for a jewel that may be hidden in a given challenge. I love the growth that comes with every challenge as well. But don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy being a single mom and running multiple corporations.
Who: Kim Engbrecht – Founder of Narrow Road Home, a recovery centre for women
What keeps you going every day?
What keeps me going every day is being able to witness the transformation and restoration of women’s lives. Each day we are able to watch this surrendering of self, pride, ego, and addiction which allows a woman a rebirth into a life of overcoming and personal success and empowerment. We get to witness women who have previously had no hope or job or future now working and volunteering and giving back to the community and their families.
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge has been to learn when to cease and surrender in the battle for someone’s life when they don’t want it as much as I or their loved ones do. Over the years of running a treatment centre I have seen that it is the givers that get well and not the takers. Until one reaches that point in their journey of giving back and serving others, the likelihood of a full transformation is very slim.
Who: Chrysta Lewis – Founder of Scarlet Edge Beauty
What keeps you going every day?
Knowing that my kids depend solely on me – which can sometimes be tough as a single parent and as an entrepreneur. I do everything I can to stay positive. I surround myself and my kids with loving and uplifting role models, so we are always reminded that we are blessed. It may not be a perfect day (toddler tantrums are lovely) but hearing them sing Twinkle, Twinkle for the tenth time in a row and seeing them playing tea party –that’s the good stuff! I want to raise them with the expectation that they can do anything if they work hard, but it’s also important to do it with a smile and put love into everything you do.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Right now, it’s child care. Over the last 2 years I have slowly increased my schedule from working 2-3 days/week when the girls were 10 weeks old to now working 6 days/week. I had friends and family help me for a while, and now I have a full-time day home, babysitters & some amazing friends and family who help me when needed. There’s a lot of juggling but as long I stay as organized it works out. In a few years, I won’t have such a huge cost for child care and my son is getting very close to being able to babysit. We do what we can to make it work. They say it takes a village to raise a child; I couldn’t be more proud of my village and the love and support we all share.
Use #KINDTOWOMEN to share your story!
By Karina Yaceyko
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