Founder

“When I founded my first company, I wanted to be one of the guys so badly. I quickly acquired the startup lingo from acclaimed entrepreneurship books. But the thing is, these books are all written by men. Men without monthly cycles and seasons of pregnancy.

I ignored the rhythm of my own body for years, convincing myself that the constant hustle and exhaustion was necessary and noble. My masculine armor grew stronger when investors joined the company and I was making decisions based on spreadsheets instead of my gut instinct.

The day arrived when selling and leaving my business became the only path to reclaim my true self beyond the masks I had adopted.

Luckily you don’t have to leave your company to be your unapologetic self. It is fully possible to be authentic while changing the world. It is absolutely within our reach to turn our natural body rhythm into our biggest strength, to negotiate like a queen, and lead our teams with empathy and heart.

All without working yourself into the ground.

It simply requires us to rewrite the rules of succesful entrepreneurship. When a system doesn’t serve us, it’s time to build our own. I envision OneMillionWomen to be that place.

In the words of Diane von Furstenberg, femininity is not a weakness, it’s a force.” Let’s put it to use.

Love, Valerie

Co-founder

When I stepped into my first leadership role, I unconsciously wanted to be one of the guys. With more men than women at the table, I started to play by their rules to succeed. So, I focused on delivering fast, studying leadership frameworks, and learning how to "speak the language" of success, fitting into a mold that left little room for the realities of being a woman.

Then I became a mother.

At first, I continued the juggle of my former global marketing career with being a mom. But when my third son was born, everything shifted.

Motherhood forced me to pause and tune into a new kind of energy. At first, I resisted. Slowing down felt like failure. Eventually, I started listening to my body, my intuition, and the whispers of my feminine side that I had been ignoring for so long. And what I found wasn’t weakness, it was strength.

It wasn’t an easy path. But reconnecting with my body brought me back to myself. I stopped following the rules of a system that no longer served me and started leading in a way that felt right.

And you know what? I realized I didn’t have to choose between success and being true to myself. By honoring my rhythm and embracing both my masculine and feminine energies, I found a way to lead boldly, sustainably, and wholeheartedly.

Now, I help other women leaders do the same. Whether you’re a founder, a visionary, or a changemaker, I’ll walk with you as you rediscover your truth and rewrite the rules of leadership on your terms.

Are you ready to lead with heart, purpose, and wholeness?

With love,
Elise