Meet Cheryl: In her own words - "My dad always told me I could be anything I wanted to be in business; gender was never a part of the conversation. He is a natural speaker, salesman, gifted writer and was a successful adverting executive in what is known today as the “Mad Men” years of advertising. So when it came to career paths, there was no judgment from him, just unconditional support. When I did graduate college however, my dad told me “If you know how to sell…you will always have a job”. Sales? There was no degree in it, no formal training, no career path; and at that time, it was not a line of work women aspired to. Sales was surely not what one would say when asked “what do you want to do when you grow up?” So, as I took my college degree, my high school years of theater experience and my  ‘gift of gab’ to the Help Wanted section of the newspaper (there was no internet, no Linkedin, no ‘click and apply’), I got my first job at The Chicago Sun Times doing outside sales for their automotive advertising department. I sold print advertising to big car dealers with big cigars, often asking from their showroom floor, “What’s a girl like you doing selling auto ads out here?” And it was there that I found that I not only enjoyed the challenge of creative selling and connecting with interesting people, but realized I also enjoyed being paid based on my own efforts and success. As a side adventure, I also signed up for Improv classes at Chicago’s Second City; and it was there that a fellow performer (who happened to be a radio sales manager) hired me to take my sales (and Improv skills) on to the stage of Radio Sales. With no training and just a phone book for leads, I was back doing door to door creative sales. It was the beginning of a phenomenal 30+ year career. With incredibly talented leaders helping me along the way, I rode the wave of some of the very best years of the radio industry. I got to work with big personalities and sports teams at the infamous Loop, selling programs such as Jonathan Brandmeier, Steve Dahl, The Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks and more. It was a job filled with concert events, major sports team outings, celebrity sightings and one that was filled with excitement every single day. Radio Sales was THE place to be in those days. I learned how to survive and grow my career amidst endless management shuffles, ownership changes, format adjustments and even heard about getting another new boss while in my wedding reception line! Moving up the ladder from salesperson to manager to Regional VP, sales gave me the platform and the stage to tell stories, win customers, coach young people who were new to the field, build lifelong relationships, and lead teams to success. I never could answer the question “Where do you want to be in 5 years” because I was already ‘there’, for my entire ride. Not by design, not with a strategic plan, but by simply doing what came naturally; talking, connecting with people, a touch of humor, a bit of Improv, and leading a team to do the same. Becoming a mom, and keeping that job front and center, along with my radio and now TV career with Weigel Broadcasting, continue to be simply the best jobs of a lifetime. If we are lucky, we get to use the gifts we are born with to build a fulfilling career. I look forward to continuing to lead, coach and mentor the next generation of professionals, helping them turn their unique gifts into a lifetime of accomplishments.  Thanks, Dad!" *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Cheryl. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 27 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!***

“It’s a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy” - Lucille Ball Meet Amanda: In her own words - "As a teenager and even into my early twenties I never realized how important it was to invest in myself, love myself or even understand who I was as a person for that matter. My thoughts always went to what others would think, I never even gave myself a chance to have a say in who I should be. I let the opinions and treatment from those around me define what I thought or felt about myself. This led to years of struggling internally with self-confidence, hard life lessons about the people I surrounded myself with and never taking care of my health. I honestly don’t know if it was a moment or a combination of life changes that made me start to “wake up”, but either way something changed and I wanted a different life then I was leading. I wanted to be an example to my kids that would guide them into a healthy mind frame of who they were and who they would become. To do that I had to really stop and adjust how I mentally thought about myself every day. When I start to think negatively about what I am capable of achieving or how I look, I stop and identify one positive thing about myself. In addition to a positive mental outlook, I surround myself with others who believe in me, cheer me on and let me know when I am off course, this has impacted my life in ways I never thought possible. The standards I set for how I treat myself have been raised to where they should have been all along. My growing confidence and love for myself is a work in progress, but it has put me on a path that my twenty something self would never have thought possible. I am the founder of Independently Driven, the creator of the VictoryBand. I am leading a company not only making amazing products, but we are creating a community that supports young girls and women so that they can learn to love themselves in a world that doesn’t always foster that mindset. If you take anything away from this let it be that investing in yourself is the best thing you can do. You are amazing and inspiring so give yourself the chance to prove it! I believe in you!" *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Amanda. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 26 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!***

Meet Belinda: In her own words... "A few months ago, I was asked to speak about my decades-long career path (to date) and what I have learned along the way on stage for The Welcome Conference. If the James Beard Awards are the restaurant world's equivalent to the Oscars, then The Welcome Conference is like giving a high stakes TED talk in front of all of your restaurant business idols and baring your soul to them, too. As I set to writing the speech (with a little help from my friends, of course, as writing is a very arduous and slow process for me), I realized that mentorship and the lack of available women mentors in my field have been a prominent theme throughout my career. I have worked for mighty and successful leading men, but never a woman. The world of high stakes Michelin-starred restaurants is intense – crazy long hours, working in close quarters always in the fire and often in a state of panic, dealing with sometimes abusive guests and co-workers and employers and win (those stars) or die trying mentalities. You might have read about some of the results of this, especially as #metoo hit our world early on. In this environment, in my early career, I burned through everything: relationships, alcohol, money, and any life outside of work in pursuit of being the best and making my wine program the best. And winning those awards – I got me some James Beard Awards a few years ago and there was a cost. Maybe if I had women role models to show me a better way then, I would have found self-awareness, balance, and mental wellness sooner. And still won the awards. As we move up the ladder, find success, and grow professionally, I know that it is my and all of our responsibilities to lead the way. Find our replacements. We must do everything that we can for the young women who come up behind us. And I hope that they will exceed all of our achievements. It is our job to mentor, support, amplify, and even give the gift of glamour at every opportunity to make that happen. I have also learned that there is a bizarro-world to mentorship, inhabited by what I like to call secret squirrels, those people who would rather horde knowledge out of fear that sharing will create competition. Secret squirrels would instead withhold their knowledge than use their powers for good. I've encountered my fair share of secret squirrels, and I don't understand the mentality—they're the human embodiment of the Technical Challenge in the Great British Bake-off. You know the one. Paul Hollywood or Pru decides to subject the bakers to making an obscure treat or confection but provides minimal guidance about the process. Secret squirrels would rather see you stumble than grow as they look for ways to block, thwart or otherwise impede from your potential. I am not a secret squirrel. Do not be a secret squirrel. Be a force for good. Do as much good as you can." *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Belinda. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 25 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!***

“Be like water making its way through cracks…adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. Be water, my friend.” ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I never expected to kick off a piece about me with a quote from someone as wise as Bruce Lee. (My senior quote in high school was, “What’s the matter Colonel Sanders? Chicken?”) That eighteen-year-old Mel Brooks fanatic had no idea what the next several years would throw at her. “No. Sorry, not this time. Need a bigger name. Not old enough. Too much. Not enough. Nope.” I’ve been fortunate to work as a professional actor for the past ten years, and to be honest the “no’s” don’t get easier. There are several ways one can deal with rejection. Here are three: 1. Quit. 2. Take up knitting and try not to think about it. 3. Make your own work. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I’ve done all of these things in the face of “no.” Don’t get me wrong, knitting is awesome, but the best I have ever felt was when I decided to give myself the “yes” and create my own opportunities. On a whim in 2013, I auditioned for a cabaret venue in Wicker Park called Davenport’s. I had written two parodies for fun and sang them for their booking manager. She asked if I could have a show ready by August. “Sure!” I naively replied. All summer, I rewrote lyrics to fit the show I was creating. I spent hours writing in a coffee shop in Kalamazoo by day and performing an entirely different show by night. I don’t think I’ve ever been more terrified than when I finally stepped into the space and performed my own words for forty-four minutes straight. From 2013-2015, I performed six variations of that show. One was an expanded seventy-minute show to a sold-out crowd in my hometown and another I took to the Metropolitan Room in New York City. “No.” Okay, then I’ll learn comedy writing at The Second City!. “Nope.” Alrighty, on-camera classes it is! “Maybe next time.” Hello, NYC! “Nah.” Short-form comedy! “Bye.” I think I’ll learn screenwriting! This fall, I’m launching the third season of my award-winning comedy web series, “NewB!” It’s been a ton of work and a massive learning experience, but it’s made me a better person and artist. The community that has formed around this thing is extraordinary – a family of actors, musicians, creators, filmmakers, fans, collaborators. I could not be luckier to make comedy with them. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 The way I’ve chosen to move through life is by saying, “yes” to myself. I never imagined what I’d get in return: an ever-growing network of talented and glorious people, skills I never thought I’d master, a body of original work, and so many more opportunities than I could’ve dreamt. “Water off a duck,” my dad always says. I choose to let the rejection roll off and forge a path where there wasn’t one before. *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Erin. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 1 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!*** #writer #actress #comedy #amyboylephotography #newB #newyorkcity #52PhenomenalWomen

Meet Becky: In her own words… ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “Whenever I am asked why I do what I do, I say the journey that began as a child. I grew up in the projects – Washington Park Homes – in a home where alcoholism and domestic violence were common. I am the second of seven children. My mom was the best I could ever ask for. She made the best out of the worst situation. This environment’s normal was almost daily gunshots. We were located right between two rival gang members. Running home after school – yeah, it was normal – ducking behind cars in between the gunshots – you became good at it. Then it would stop – until the next time. 25 years of character building, I call it. I believe that it is what gave me the courage and compassion needed to reach back into those same communities to show kids what normal really looks like. This was the driving force behind the outdoor community gospel festivals, which began in July 1998. When I became a teenage mom at the age of 17 years old. Choices that were solely my own. As a single parent of four kids,I learned early about consequences for the decisions that we make. Those choices led me into a relationship that caused me to endure 14 1/2 years of domestic abuse. Another hard lesson that I had to learn. But, I never blamed anyone for my choices. My mother always taught her kids, you make the bed that you must lay in. So now, my story and my journey is my why. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 My liberation came that night when fear opened the door again, I had had enough beatings. I needed just enough so that I would not judge other women or men for the choices that they made. This prepared me for my work with the Shama Ministries. I was the child of an imprisoned parent who would receive gifts from various churches during the holiday season. This experience was the reason I began supporting kids through the Angel Tree Program. We started with 40 kids, but because of people like Dani Jachino and a host of other co-workers, we began supporting over 250 kids through Angel Tree and over 100 kids at Maria’s Shelter. For a long period of time, I would go into prisons as a volunteer with Prison Fellowship Ministry. I would wonder what happens to individuals when they are released. This question led me to use my home as the answer. I began receiving individuals directly from incarceration in 2008 – our first was as hardcore as they could come. She was my training. I had never done anything like this before, but in my heart I wanted to see lives change and I wanted to be a part of that process. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 What began was first a home for women then a second that would house men. The residents could not understand why I would give up my homes for people I didn’t know – I would answer “love”. They would look at me with disbelief. There are so many other reasons over the years – the “why” to what I do – that I would gladly share. But, it is important for me to note that without financial and volunteer support over the years these efforts could not be possible. These wonderful people are the wind beneath my wings, and they never ever say I can’t fly. My absolute faith in God and belief in my journey led me to my purpose. And now House of Refuge will begin a new journey, it will become a Rescue Home for adult women fleeing human trafficking.” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Becky. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 2 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!*** #52PWP #Chicago #Year2 #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life! Meet Sarah – In her own words… ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “I’ve lived by this motto all my life and it’s shown up in the form of entrepreneurship. Even as a little girl I loved using my creativity and leadership skills in entrepreneurial ways. I’ve always marched to the beat of my own drum finding creative ways to feed my ambition and feel happy. One day I’d be running a book sale out of my bedroom and the next a neighborhood newspaper in my basement- always having a blast and putting my little sisters to work. Storytelling came naturally to me so I’d start by saying something like “What If today we started a candy store in the backyard?” and build the story from there. Before you know it my sisters and all the neighborhood kids were in on the fun loving every minute of their new jobs. With that attitude of entrepreneurship at age 29, I thought “What If I start a boutique promotional marketing company with a showroom on Michigan Avenue?!” And poof! I built Sublime Promotions, my first multi-million dollar business. I was focused on my creative vision, hired an amazing team and loved growing the company I’d imagined. Five years later, after I sold it, I found myself feeling miserable with limited creative juices flowing, working as an executive inside of the large male-dominated public company that purchased my business. The playful little girl inside me missed the challenges of entrepreneurship and was starving for a fun new creative experience. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 At the time my son Harry was 3 years old and I absolutely adored vacationing with him. My husband and I were traveling regularly and exploring new places as a family. It was so fun experiencing the world through little Harry’s eyes! So I thought to myself, “I would love to find a job where I can travel to fun new places, stay in luxury hotels and bring Harry along too. I wonder if that exists?” Next I thought, “What If I invent a new career for myself that’s all about traveling with my kid? What If I create a luxury family travel magazine? What If I donate a portion of proceeds towards giving other kids opportunities to explore the world?” Out of my questions WellTraveledKids.com was born. Now, Harry is 9 years old and we are working and playing with the “work” I created. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I’m so grateful for all the gifts I have manifested out of my burning desire to do what I love most in life. My advice to anyone who is struggling working at a job they hate- Get creative! Remember what fuels your inner child and focus on your life’s passions. Open your mind and ask yourself WHAT IF? Trust your gut, make a plan, take a leap, and never look back as you get busy living your best life!” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Sarah. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 3 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!*** #52PWP #Chicago #amyboylephotography #travelblogger #travelingwithkids #52PhenomenalWomen

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference” Winston Churchill Meet Alyssa: In her own words – ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “During my first job out of college, I briefly worked at Smith Barney in Chicago as a sales assistant, and I will never forget the way one stockbroker brought so much joy to the office. Whether markets were up or down, if it was pouring rain or sunny and bright, she always had a cheerful attitude. She would greet everyone with a boisterous hello and a warm greeting. If asked how she was, she would enthusiastically reply “Terrific”, “Fantastic” or something equally cheerful. When she was at the office, the mood was always happier and brighter. She made a difference through her positivity. Sadly, it wasn’t long before she developed a brain tumor that would end her life much too early, but throughout her fight, she remained positive and would wear the brightest and most cheerful scarves to cover her head and brought light to everyone around her. Although I am sure I never told her, she made a huge impact on my life and I aspired to be like her, wanting to emulate her and her positivity. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 While I’ve been blessed in so many ways, I’ve also experienced difficulties and losses firsthand. While living and working in New York, I witnessed the second plane hit the World Trade Center on 9/11. Life changed for everyone in that moment, and my ability to “stay positive” was challenged to the core. Being able to find happiness or to even muster a smile was incredibly difficult and I longed to feel like I had before those tragic events. Eventually I moved back to Chicago to be closer to family and friends, and given how hard the financial markets were hit, a good friend and mentor suggested that I look to other industries for a job. I never would have dreamed I would find myself working in the auction industry, but I excitedly joined Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. My career continued to take me on different paths, but I’ve recently rejoined Hindman, and am so thankful to be back. Oftentimes we work with clients who are selling property due to a death in the family, or various other reasons that are out of their control. While a few clients have cried on my shoulder, there have been so many joyous occasions and friendships made as well. And whether it’s with colleagues, clients or advisors, I always try to focus on the positives and bring a smile to the day, especially on those rainy and dreary days when some extra light is needed!” ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Alyssa. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 4 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!*** #Dressforsuccess #52PWP #Chicago #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen

Meet Melissa and Brittany: We need to understand that there is no formula for how women should lead our lives. That is why we must respect the choices that each woman makes for herself and her family.” – Hilary Rodham Clinton ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “A little over a year ago, my best friend and colleague, Melissa and I were commuting home together and using our carpool commute to decompress after a long day. We had gone from being next to each other on stage at dance recitals as young girls, to gossiping at sleepovers as teenagers, to finding our own selves in our adulthood. Although, we weren’t as close in our early twenties, we were still always the friends that would be there in a moment’s notice if the other needed. And now we were working together! Daily, we share struggles and wins; we lean on one another for encouragement and inspiration. While we excel in our careers, we sometimes feel as though we are failing in our mom lives, and vice versa. Looking at the working moms around us and in the media, we often wonder, how are we doing it? We needed inspiration. And that is our why. The why behind The Chaotic Commute. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Female empowerment has taken over society, and quite frankly it is about time. Many articles and media outlets showcase female high-level executives, but often these pieces fail to highlight that women wear more than just one hat. We felt the need to find real inspiration—and content–geared toward encouraging everyday working moms who are navigating the challenges that come with trying to balance it all. We felt that if we could create a place where us and fellow working moms could ask for advice, find meaningful guidance, or simply share thoughts about the frustrations and triumphs that come with being a mom as well as a professional, that women wouldn’t feel so alone in our journeys, and ultimately would give themselves the respect and support that we really deserved. From this we started our blog and community, The Chaotic Commute. As leaders at Produce Alliance, a produce management company servicing national brands, we are trying to inspire an industry that has been historically managed and run by men. We are trying to show that working moms can lead a team…or a company, for that matter. We are also trying to inspire other moms that work for Produce Alliance to change the conversation around the “water cooler” and create an atmosphere of support, whether by providing a shoulder to lean on when your child was up all night or sharing a picture your childcare provider sent you when you were in a big meeting. We hope to inspire our own kids to grow up to be independent, goal oriented, and determined to stand up for what we believe in. The Chaotic Commute is our way to inspire women at Produce Alliance and beyond while creating an outlet for working moms all over the country to access–through laughter and tears. For, at the end of the day, we should all be in this together!” ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Melissa and Brittany. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 5 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!*** #Dressforsuccess #52PWP #Chicago #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen

Meet Jenn: In her own words – ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “After learning that exercise can reduce cancer recurrence for breast cancer survivors by up to 50%, I founded Recovery on Water (ROW), a rowing team for patients and survivors of breast cancer in 2007. ROW started as a volunteer effort and became an incredible passion in my life. The women on our team are strong, resilient and fierce. After being immersed in the team’s energy, in 2010 I decided to take on a challenge of my own and row the 1,500 mile perimeter of Lake Michigan. After two years of training and preparing, I started my journey in the summer of 2012. After 59 days at sea, and despite a variety of set-backs, I finished my row and raised over $150,000 for the organization. With those funds we bought our first boats and created sustainability for a team that could grow and thrive. ROW now serves nearly 100 women a year in Chicago with regular year round exercise, 7 days a week and in 3 locations. During the spring summer and fall our boats continue to row on the Chicago River and our indoor programs take place in Bridgeport, West Town and Wilmette. In 2018 we launched Power10 Camp, a 4 day rowing camp open to survivors from all over the country, inspiring women outside of Chicago to get active after their diagnosis. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Rowing and this team have given me so much, and for all the years I’ve led this organization I continue to learn and grow each day. Arguably life’s most important lessons can be learned in a boat. The movement itself requires focus, patience, and determination because while it is a repetitive movement, rowing demands a technical finesse that cannot be achieved or compensated by sheer strength or brute force. We must be coachable, willing to accept feedback, and be patient and compassionate with ourselves in the process. The good news is that if you mess up on one stroke, in any given practice you have hundreds of opportunities to pick yourself up and try again, take more strokes and improve. In the boat you must follow the leader and save your criticism for yourself. Following the leader in a rowing shell is tough, especially since everyone is rowing backwards and the leader is usually a small, bossy person who is the only one who can see where the boat is supposed to go. Trusting the process, your teammates, and focusing in on what you can control and contribute is key. We all know that in life it can be tempting to point fingers instead of looking in the mirror. Rowing demands our best. The best part is when we swing together and work together, the boat gets “run” and glides along the water, all together as one. It isn’t easy to maintain, but we can’t let up because of the people in front of and behind you. In life and in rowing, we can go faster and further together than we ever could alone.” ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Jenn. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 6 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!*** #Dressforsuccess #Rowing #Survivor #BreastCancer #Chicago #Crew #amyboylephotography

Meet Joyce: In her own words… ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “I am impassioned about my role as a public speaker, where I share a message of positivity and attaining self-love. I believe in a deeper philosophy than just mental health, but mental wealth. Mental wealth is how we transcend our mental health issues and welcome great prosperity, both personally and professionally. My intention is to always help others rise to their own success. My life has been dedicated to helping others deal with and overcome mental health challenges. During graduate school, I wondered if my goal of becoming a psychotherapist would be questioned due to my own experiences with anxiety. Instead of giving in to worry, this concern served to increase my desire to destigmatize mental health. After becoming a psychotherapist, I created my first practice from scratch, focusing on a culture that would support work/life balance. Urban Balance grew to 100 therapists working from ten locations in three states during my 13-year tenure as CEO. After selling it for a seven-figure multiple in 2017, I became a spokesperson for the brand and was able to expand my mental health speaking engagements. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Every day, I work to inspire people to create a more fulfilling life, free from anxiety, depression, and addiction. Achieving optimum mental wellbeing is what I strive for, personally, professionally, and for those I hope to inspire. I believe we are all dealt a different hand of hardships and blessings, and these experiences serve to shape and mold us. By honoring our feelings and understanding how our past affects our future, we can create the life we want. By working to accept and love ourselves, we are empowered to reach our potential. My earlier experiences blessed me with gifts of empathy, insight, and compassion for others. By harnessing those gifts, I embraced my own personal power and utilized it to become an advocate for others. Being an advocate allows me to meet annually with Senators and members of Congress to encourage them to support bills related to mental health. I promote access to these services for children, the elderly, veterans, and the poor. Over the last decade, I have been fortunate to serve on multiple Board leadership positions, affecting real change and measurable results. And my own journey is still ongoing! I am always working on myself through therapy, coaching, yoga, and continuous learning. I strive for authenticity and compassion, which are necessary traits for expanding my comfort zone and putting myself out there. Prioritizing motherhood and creating a business that supported that role has been a constant balancing act that forces me to live consciously and courageously. Whether through my role as a mom, a motivational speaker, or an entrepreneur, I enjoy every moment of meeting others and offering support and encouragement. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 My ideals and philosophies are tried and tested. I live them every day! My goal is to help you care enough about yourself to welcome the life you deserve, through the affirmation that you are ALWAYS enough. Period.” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Joyce. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 7 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!*** #Dressforsuccess #52PWP #Chicago #amyboylephotography #MentalHealth #52PhenomenalWomen

Meet Kate: In her own words – A journey of a thousand miles (or in my case, 140.6) begins with one step. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “I’ve wanted to complete an Ironman for several years, but as a working mom, it seemed difficult to fit it in. Conquering the laundry seemed enough to tackle, rather than layering in an event that consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and full marathon. I have completed several smaller triathlons, but Ironman represents the pinnacle of endurance events for triathletes. How could I achieve such an aspiration, within the tiny slivers of time that danced in and out of my day? When my mom was diagnosed with Cancer last year, I found my answer. I was reminded that life can change in an instant, and we never know what lies on the path ahead. There is no better time than the present, and if we want something, we need to move toward it one step at a time, just as my Mom would be doing with her recovery. During seven intense months of training, I realized that we are blessed with powerful minds and strong bodies, and we can conquer so much more than we think we can. I also realized that although Ironman is an individual sport, it absolutely requires a team to get to the finish line. The unconditional support and patience from my family and the encouragement from my friends and fellow triathletes allowed me to cross the finish line, just as my mom beat Cancer. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 What I found at the finish line was so much more than I set out for. For me, this has been more than an endurance event. Looking back, while also looking ahead, I realize I have found my happy, my community, and a renewed energy around what is possible. I believe that when we find something that brings us joy, the joy spills into other areas of our life – we perform better at work, are more present at home, and we bring this energy with us to other arenas of life. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I am so grateful for this journey. My advice to women who have a vision for something more yet struggle to ‘balance it all’ is to start your journey with just one step. If there is something that is calling your name, or a goal or challenge that may seem insurmountable, tip-toe towards the vision. Once you start, these small steps will likely accelerate into boundless sprints. Rally your support network, follow the vision, and lead with your heart. It may take you to places that you never knew you could achieve, and with this realization, you will likely find something or someone you never knew possible. As we set out on this journey – we take those tiny little cracks of time, expand them into vast open spaces that swell with love, and discover our better selves.” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Kate. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 8 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!*** #Dressforsuccess #Cancer #52PWP #training #amyboylephotography #ironman #52PhenomenalWomen

Meet Jen – In her own words – “My kids get so annoyed every time I do it, but there is nothing better than driving toward the city on Lake Shore Drive on a crystal clear Chicago night, holding up my arms with our incredible skyline in between my hands, and telling them how lucky I feel to sell this city every day. I own Suite Home Chicago and my job is to help those in transition, whether it be during a relocation, a home displacement, or maybe an extended project or TV show, and find them temporary housing for their extended stay. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Like many in my industry, I stumbled into this career. I definitely did not set out to be a corporate housing provider, nor did I actually know much about this market segment at the time. It is a niche industry that I discovered when briefly working for a company involved with property management. It took just a few months for me to turn my back on my journalism training to pursue the life of a service provider. In one way, when I took on this career, I had unintentionally come full circle. As a child, my family was relocated several times to accommodate my dad’s job, and we would live in serviced apartments until my parents found permanent housing in our new city. Knowing what it feels like to be uprooted now provides me the tools I need to understand what our guests must be feeling when coming to Chicago for the first time. There is so much anxiety, stress and nervousness and you just want to feel at home again. I love being in a position to be one of those first contacts here to make them feel welcome. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 This may also be the reason why I have planted such firm roots here in the city. When people ask me where I am from, sometimes I tell them Texas where I spent my early years, or sometimes I tell them London where I finished high school. If I really want to create some conversation, I let them know that I was born in Saudi Arabia. I am done with being a nomad, and I proudly identify as a Chicagoan now. All 5 of my children were born here and my company is conveniently called “Suite Home Chicago,” which would make a move difficult (a strategic move on my part). I really thought I was coming to Illinois after college to get a job at a newspaper or magazine and to pursue my journalism career. I never expected that a brief stint in a temporary job would have changed the entire course of my professional career. There is that quote, “sometimes on the way to a dream, you get lost and find a better one.” Looking back, I certainly believe I did. I am 22 years into my corporate housing career, and a few months away from celebrating Suite Home’s 15-year anniversary. It’s been an incredible ride- and not just down Lake Shore Drive 🙂 “ ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Jen. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 9 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!*** #Dressforsuccess #52PWP #Chicago #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen