What Happened When I Sat on a Panel About Overcoming Business Obstacles with Design Dance
In April 2017, I had the incredible honor of joining a live panel hosted by Debra Giunta and the team at Design Dance in Chicago. The panel brought together thought leaders and creators for a powerful, honest conversation about the real obstacles entrepreneurs face, especially in the early, messy, beautiful stages of building something with soul.
That hour was electric. We spoke openly about burnout, self-doubt, and the pressure to “perform” success before it’s fully landed. I shared my own story—the parts people often don’t see. The missteps, the pivots, the vulnerable moments that shaped me as both a woman and a business owner.
What I felt most during the conversation was connection. You could feel people exhale as we talked about things that so often go unspoken. The truth is, every path to purpose has potholes. And when we name them, we take away their power.
One woman came up afterward and said, “Thank you for making this feel normal. I thought I was the only one struggling.” That’s why I do this work. Because visibility is powerful, but honest visibility—that’s transformational.
Want to bring this kind of real, grounded conversation to your own organization or community? I’d love to support you.
