How old are your kids and how long have you lived in Westport? My daughter is 3 years old and my son is 4 and a half years old. It will be 2 years in June.
How did you end up where you are now in terms of your job, or whatever passion project it is you might be doing? I grew up in the community of women — an incredible working mom, all-girls high school, Hewitt in New York, and all women’s college, Smith in Northampton, Massachusetts. Soon after college, I started SHECK’s GIRLS NIGHT OUT (an event where girls can shop the latest trends in emerging fashion and accessories, sip complimentary cocktails and beer, and sample beauty products and services) with a partner which turned into a multi-million- dollar business by the age of 29. I hit a point though where I felt I had material success but lacked purpose.
In 2012, I noticed that the people around me were not engaged in women’s issues, so I launched S.H.E. Summit as a conference to activate them as change agents to fuel movements in topics most personal to them. Since then we have had over 600 speakers and impacted over 100,000 people to rise as impactful, inclusive leaders. Today, our S.H.E. Movement stands for SHE, HE & Equity for all. S.H.E. Summit is on a mission to create a more thriving and equal global workplace and humanity by connecting, educating, and activating a new generation of leaders. We believe that leadership starts with where you are and must be whole-life and purpose-driven to create healthier workplaces and communities. What I am most excited about today is my HOW WE RISE “Whole Life Leadership” course, podcast and book which are transforming communities and workplaces through a new paradigm of personal leadership.
What is your favorite family activity to do in Westport? We love Compo Beach in the summer.
What’s your favorite app right now- for you- and for your kids? Nest Cam is my favorite app because my husband and I can keep our eyes on our kids even when we nap, and limit the mischief 🙂
What’s your can’t live without beauty product? Aimee Raupp’s nourishing face oil — she lives in Weston!
If you could pick one restaurant or store to come to Westport that isn’t here now, what would it be? Wo Hop in Chinatown, NYC
What are you most excited about in life right now? I’m turning 45 years old this year and am looking forward to enjoying the second half of my life with all the wisdom and knowledge I’ve gained from the first half… being more present, enjoying all that I am blessed with over what I feel I “must acquire” to have fulfillment, enjoying the time with my husband more and raising the kiddos together, impacting many more people with whole-life leadership training and conferences, and buying a house in Westport in the next one to two years to really settle in — we are renting right now.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? This born and raised Manhattan girl is an Auburn SEC football fan. My husband went to school there! War Eagle!
If you weren’t doing what you are today, what do you think your career path might have been? I might have been an actor.
If you had 24 hours to do whatever you wanted – what would you do? Spend the day with all my favorite authors and role models (my go-to pastors to Oprah) and learn next-level leadership from them.
What is your most marked characteristic? My hair is always in disarray but somehow that is how it looks best… or at least that’s what friends always tell me.
What was your most memorable family vacation and why? The kids are still young, so I haven’t done that many trips, but Disney World last December was pretty epic as both were old enough to really enjoy it.
What is the best white lie you have told your kids? Going to bed early gives you superpowers!
What is your proudest mommy moment? Every time they both hug and help each other. When they say, “excuse me,” or “thank you.”
What do you most value in your friends? Offering to help without me asking…we all carry so much responsibility and just by taking the initiative to do something that would be helpful/or offering to help is such an act of generosity that I always remember. Having said that, I also recognize we are all in different phases of life and never judge those who may not.
What is your greatest regret? Every time I have ever beaten myself up about something as we all need to be easier on ourselves…and self-love more.
Besides this — I just wish my father got to see my son, Jackson, more before he passed…and that he got to meet my daughter who was born on his birthday. But I’m grateful knowing he is with us every moment of every day now in heaven.
