Moving Michigan forward...one woman at a time

I was recently asked by my friend Kim Boudreau Smith of the the i-Academy to speak at an event she is hosting Tuesday called “Moving Michigan Forward … One Woman at a Time.” As many of you may already know, I’ve spoken at events before — and I’m starting to quite enjoy it — but I am still in awe that someone wants to hear my story — again, and again, and again.

When I started my blog Glamorous Moms, I started it as a hobby. I had no idea my thoughts on beauty products and fashion and their impact on a woman’s self-esteem would take off the way they did and would be adored by so many moms not only across Michigan but across the country

When Kim asked me to speak, I was ready to get a speech prepared, plan out my presence on stage and the whole shabang. Kim said to me, “No, it’s not about that — just tell your story.”

“Hmmmm”, I thought to myself. “She wants me to tell my story?” My, how things have changed.

Growing up, I was teased by other kids about my love for beauty pageants, makeup and all things “girly.” Now, people want to fill rooms with others who want to hear my story of how I got to where I am today by loving the same subjects? I would love to!

I am so excited to be apart of this event. It’s an informal way of celebrating four ladies who are following their dreams one step at a time while helping Michigan’s economy and its citizens at the same time. The event will also support HAVEN, a domestic violence shelter in Oakland County, and women in need.

Since the day I started my business, I promised myself that everything I will be apart of from then on will be moving, positive and will make a difference in someone’s life. As a mom, I want to have a long list of positive events and actions that help others for my children to look back on. I want to make a difference because it’s in my heart. I feel a strong pull to do what I can, in my own way, to make a difference. I hope that when my children look back at that long list, they, too, will then be inspired to do the same thing when it is their time.

>I hope you all can join us. I will be speaking with Jan Coppola Bills of Two Women and a Hoe. Jan will be speaking about how she traded her corporate heels for gardening gloves. And Donna DeGennaro of DeGennaro Financial Companies will be speaking about how she was a single mom who started from scratch with a desk, a phone and zero directions. Both success stories are incredibly inspiring.

The direction of the event is to inspire other female entrepreneuers eager to get their own businesses started and who are interested in networking and collaborating with like minded individuals. The event will be held Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at the Birmingham Conference Center, 31301 Evergreen Road in Beverly Hills. Admission includes light food and beverages. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. I am excited to say ALL proceeds will benefit HAVEN.

For more information, including advance registration, please contact Kim Boudreau Smith at (248) 505-2075 or via email at kim@thei-academy.com.

I hope to see you all there!