March 2024 | Issue No. 46

Hello & welcome to my March newsletter. This month I'm very excited to share stories of some inspirational local women in honor of Women's History Month! It's a privilege to have such a strong & diverse population of women to learn from & grow with as entrepreneurs  in our community. 

 Women's History Month!

My approach to this month's newsletter is a bit different than normal. It was more personal, requiring reflection & sharing from these beautiful & talented souls. And hopefully, it will inspire some reflection for you too. I asked each of them these 5 questions to get to know them better:

 

1. Why did you decide to start your own business?

2. What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?

3. How have you grown personally from becoming an entrepreneur?

4. How do you define success?

5. If you ran the world, what's one thing you'd change?

 

I was incredibly inspired by their responses. 

Karina is the visionary behind Albuquerque's first vegan & gluten-free cakery, Planty Sweet. The idea for the business grew out of need, so Karina thought “why not be the first in the city to start a plant-based dessert business!”  Her bravery to explore uncharted territory is rivaled by her artistry & dedication to her craft. Clearly not afraid of hard work, or a challenge, Karina reflects that setting boundaries is actually how she has grown personally from being an entrepreneur; that it's sometimes necessary to step back in order to go forward. If she ran the world, she would love for schools to teach kids to grow their own food, teamwork to cook their own food, & clean up after themselves.  Like everyone else, I am a fan of Planty Sweet & am grateful for Karina's uncompromising commitment to supporting the Albuquerque community.

Gina's background in the food industry & non-profits led her to open Flyby Provisions, where the “unique culture & flavors of New Mexico" are celebrated. The business is comprised of a boutique gift shop & corporate gifting service that highlight local, small business-made products. She offers creative, thoughtful gifts that are community-focused & sustainable. Her business is intrinsically linked to fostering meaningful connections  & she reflects that she has grown personally through “learning the importance of collaboration & mutual support, recognizing that we're all in this together.” Her key to success is her personal growth & being better each day than the day before.  Another facet of the business of revitalizing downtown is the landing place she gives local makers by hosting pop-up markets that invite the community to support & spend time together in partnership & friendship.

Brooke found the perfect marriage of her passion for art, psychology & relationships in portrait photography. She shared with me that she created her own path in a career where she feels fulfilled & inspired, because she struggled in a traditional school setting. Her philosophy on her personal growth mirrors the empowerment she hopes her clients feel…she reflects that “becoming an entrepreneur showed me that I am limitless & that the only thing that ever holds me back is myself.” If you follow me on social media, you know that I can attest to her gift of nurturing a safe & inspiring space during her sessions. As you can see, she is the embodiment of using her gift to lift others up. The portrait you see below illustrates how she sees each & every client, & the energy she hopes to put into the world. One meaningful relationship at a time. 

Cass has been in the real estate business since she was 19, never really planning on starting her own business. But her dedication & trustworthiness were invaluable to her clients so she seized the opportunity 11 years ago & has never looked back. She works tirelessly, sharing her knowledge, constantly learning & helping others along the way. She reflects that she has grown personally & professionally by acknowledging there's always more to learn. She defines success as “balance-balance of outer success, prosperity, happiness, goals achieved, inner peace & balance…” Cass is the glue that holds people together & truly makes them shine brighter. I can definitely say that my business is more successful & organized as a direct result of having her on my team!

Jennifer (re)mixes  imagery in inspiring & imaginative ways as the creative voice of LadyJennD.  She never “decided” to start her own business, but felt that it “HAD to happen" as her side hustle took on a more prominent role in her life. Her favorite part of being an entrepreneur is being her own boss & she is continually learning to prioritize work-life balance & communication as she grows in her creative skin. Jennifer's art is truly a reflection of her honesty & innate search for knowledge & beauty in her world. To view the world through her eyes is a magical journey that's inspiring & thought-provoking. I have several of her original works in my home that evoke new emotions each time I look at them. The artwork is beautiful, as is the artist who creates it.

Michelle started her business to “make a change in the way massage was performed” after working at franchises that valued profit over well-being. She specializes in 60-120 minutes of massage customized to her clients needs. As someone who understands pain, she strives to truly make a healing impact on each person she sees & defines success as “having clients that appreciate you, just as much as you appreciate them.” As an entrepreneur, she has become more confident in her abilities & was recently certified in Lymphatic Drainage Massage. She values learning to continually grow as a person & “turning feedback into positive change.” As a long-time client of Michelle's, I am grateful for her healing touch & her ownership of how she impacts everyone she serves.

Helen, the owner & operator of NV Nails & Spa, uses her business to spread beauty & to empower her clients. She opened her salon so that she would have flexibility to support her family, but soon realized it was so much more than that. She could also give other women a safe & comfortable space where they feel empowered & beautiful, as well as a nurturing place for her staff. She has learned to be more observant both in her personal & professional life. For her, success is more than financial freedom, it's “always learning to improve ourselves & the ability to stand up after failures.” If she ran the world, Helen would focus on freedom for women, in all facets of life. She is fiercely driven to make the world a better place for her children & achieves her goals through hard work & investments in real estate to secure a stable future for them.

Opening Blue Moon Marketplace was a natural path for Carol, who has always been a “maker." Her vision of creating a shop that kept “the makers & the planet in mind”  has been fully realized in her beautiful Old Town location. The foundation of her business focuses on offering locally-made, fairtrade & vintage goods to customers, giving them a way to positively impact the world & the local economy. She reflects that she has “grown more into (herself) through Blue Moon" by way of the connections to the artists, customers & co-workers/friends who share her vision. She opened the shop in 2014, so this is their 10th Anniversary! Over the course of the last decade, Carol has built a business based on sustainability & creativity that is a favorite Albuquerque shopping destination. It is definitely the spot I always know I will find the perfect gift. Keep reading for a special offer from Carol, just for YOU!

March Special Offer!

I feel very fortunate to live in a community that is diverse & incredibly supportive of small business & women-led entrepreneurial endeavors. These are just a few of the resources available to women here in Albuquerque & throughout New Mexico for business for networking & business-building. 

Founded in 1975, the New Mexico chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) offers a support network of businesswomen to women-owned & small businesses throughout the state.  This organization serves these interests in a legislative capacity on the state & national levels. They organize networking events from local meet-ups to national conferences serving the interests of  & advocating for NM business women. You can visit their site for more information or to get involved.

WESST is an excellent resource for all New Mexicans who are starting or growing a small business. The Albuquerque campus is also home to a Women's Business Center (WBC) Program, that has been an invaluable support resource to countless local women entrepreneurs. Just a few of the many tools offered by WESST are classes & workshops on topics such as business planning, finances, marketing & more. They are an incredibly supportive & well-rounded organization that helps with all aspects of business development from training to funding & everything in between. 

Another important Albuquerque community resource is the Women's Program offered at the Hispano Chamber of Commerce. They support their members through mentoring, internships & leadership development programs. The organization engages in legislative issues affecting women in business  to grow & support the influence & scope of women-owned entrepreneurs. Activities centered around personal development & work-life balance such as book clubs & yoga retreats build networking opportunities & community support systems. 

The real estate market in Albuquerque continues  a slow rebound in inventory of homes. As you can see, we are finally in the positive compared to last year, however there is still a need for more available houses for sale. Please reach out to me if you are considering selling your home; this spring looks to be a strong sellers market! You'll find a recap below of the 2023 Year in Review. 

 

I'm thrilled to have been recognized as the #1 RE/MAX agent in Albuquerque & #4 RE/MAX agent in New Mexico for last year! I am so grateful & share this accomplishment with all of my dear customers-past, present & future. I'd love to hear from you & help you realize your real estate goals for 2024.

As you can see, our Albuquerque community is a nurturing environment for so many women-owned businesses. Personally, I think this is worth celebrating 365 days a year, but definitely this month gets a little more attention as we honor Women's History Month by way of celebrating the everyday heroes of the present.  I'd love to hear some of your answers to the 5 questions too. I'm thinking a follow-up sharing more from my mini interviews may happen in the future. Stay tuned! Hope to see you here again next month.