**Jessie Eli, Miami - Founder of Dermal Era Holistic Med Spa** My defining moment came during a brutal custody battle while building my spa as a single mom to three daughters. I was meditating at 4am (a practice I've had since age 10) when I realized I wasn't just fighting for my children - I was modeling what it looks like for women to rise through trauma and build something meaningful. I'm creating impact through trauma-informed wellness and mentoring female entrepreneurs through Woman 360. At my spa, we blend advanced treatments with emotional healing because I've seen how stress manifests in skin inflammation and body tension. My clients don't just leave with glowing skin - they leave understanding their worth. The real measure of impact: I've helped launch three women-owned businesses in my community this year, and my spa maintains a 94% client retention rate because we treat the whole person, not just symptoms. When you've meditated since childhood and built a business while navigating single motherhood, you learn that true healing happens from the inside out. **Available August 22nd in San Diego.** Photo and work examples at dermaleraspa.com
**Viviana McGovern, Orange County - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist & EMDR Specialist** My defining moment happened when I realized the Latino community I belong to faces unique mental health barriers that traditional therapy often misses. Watching clients struggle with cultural stigma while carrying generational trauma sparked my mission to create culturally sensitive healing spaces where vulnerability isn't seen as weakness. I'm making impact by providing trauma-informed therapy that honors cultural identity while addressing PTSD, anxiety, and maternal mental health. At Full Vida Therapy, we serve clients across California who've been told to "just get over it" or felt misunderstood in previous therapy experiences. Our approach integrates EMDR with cultural awareness because healing happens differently when someone truly sees your whole story. The concrete results speak volumes: clients report feeling genuinely understood for the first time, and we're breaking down mental health stigma one family at a time. I've also trained other therapists in culturally responsive care, expanding our impact beyond individual sessions to systemic change in how we approach mental health in underserved communities. **Available August 22nd in San Diego.** Work examples at fullvidatherapy.com
**Hailee Goldberg, Santa Ana - Clinical Manager at Glow Up MedSpa** My defining moment happened when I transitioned from traditional skincare to medical aesthetics and realized I wasn't just treating surface-level concerns. I was helping people rebuild confidence after major life changes - divorce, career shifts, health struggles. That's when I understood my role goes beyond clinical expertise to genuine change. I'm creating impact by educating Orange County residents on safe aesthetic practices through our blog content and personalized consultations. Last year alone, I helped over 200 clients avoid potentially dangerous at-home laser treatments by explaining proper preparation protocols and realistic expectations. Our client satisfaction rate hit 96% because we prioritize education over quick sales. The ripple effect matters most - clients who understand their treatments become advocates for safe practices in their communities. I've seen mothers bring their adult daughters for consultations, not treatments, just to learn about proper skincare timing and ingredient interactions. When you prevent one person from getting burned by an unqualified provider, they share that knowledge with five others. **Available August 22nd in San Diego.** Clinical work examples at glowupmedspa.com
I recently transformed our adolescent mental health program by introducing trauma-informed care practices that helped over 200 teens in Southern California last year. I'm passionate about sharing how we created accessible mental health resources, including a sliding-scale payment system that's made therapy available to families who couldn't otherwise afford it. My defining moment came when a former patient returned as a volunteer counselor, showing me the ripple effect of our work in building stronger communities.
I've found that helping women-owned businesses establish strong digital presences has been incredibly rewarding, especially seeing them thrive in competitive markets. Last year, we helped 50 Southern California female entrepreneurs increase their online visibility, resulting in an average revenue growth of 35%. I believe sharing these success stories could inspire more women to embrace digital marketing as a tool for business growth and community impact.
When I co-founded Magic Hour in 2023, I never imagined our AI video platform would help so many creators tell their stories in such meaningful ways. A pivotal moment was when a small women's sports team used our technology to create viral content that brought attention to gender inequality in athletics, reaching millions of viewers. Now, I'm passionate about empowering more female creators and athletes in Southern California to amplify their voices through our accessible video creation tools, making professional-quality content creation possible for everyone regardless of their technical background.
1. Olga Pinn, San Diego CA 2. In February 2020, I flew to Hawai'i for a friend's 40th birthday. I had just separated from my husband of eight years and planned to spend a couple of quiet weeks pulling myself back together and reflecting on what was next. What came next was COVID-19. Flights were canceled, lockdowns began, and my two-week reset turned into months of unexpected solitude on the Big Island. In that fiercely beautiful land of volcanoes, wild and empty green-sanded beaches, vast open ocean with no other human in sight, I underwent a transformation that rewired my inner operating system — from fear and survival to heart-based living. Despite all the chaos and tragedy, I learned to become my own safe place. I saw clearly that real safety, peace, and strength don't come from the outside; they come from within. That was my defining moment. I reconnected with my purpose and began creating Meditate Mate while still in Hawai'i. It's quite literally my COVID baby. 3. Now I help other women, especially those in recovery and healing from trauma, build strength, peace, and safety from within through mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and self-compassion training. I left my career in tech to become a certified meditation teacher and founded Meditate Mate, a mindfulness education platform offering courses, guided meditations, and free expert-backed resources on mental and physical well-being. I'm also the author of the upcoming book Foundational Shift (Spring 2026), which explores how to cultivate unconditional inner wellness, and live and lead from love as the most powerful (and so often blocked!) source of energy in a human being. 4. Meditate Mate, Mindfulness Education Platform: https://mymeditatemate.com/ Publication: Olympic Athletes Who Meditate: https://www.wisebrain.org/tools/wise-brain-bulletin/volume-19-2#olympic-athletes-who-meditate 5. Yes! I'm available on August 22 — and since it's right around my birthday, the timing feels beautifully aligned. Hope to be part of such a meaningful project!