Meet Juanita: In her own words – ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “What are you? Throughout my entire life as a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic person, I have repeatedly been asked this question. I might be studying, shopping, or in route to school or work, and people I had never met before would walk up to me and ask: “What are you?” When I was a little girl, this question puzzled me. And I would ask myself: Does “what” I am ultimately define “who” I am? As I grew older I figured I should find a genuine response to this question, and in my fierce quest to find one, I came to realize that people who asked me this question were asking for the purpose of compartmentalizing and conceptualizing their own mental schema. They had the correct interrogative, but not necessarily the applicable perspicacity or insight. They were inquisitive about my ethnicity or what I do. Yet, “what” I am to them, in this respect, cannot be defined any other way than by them incorrectly projecting their own personal perspective onto me, and that is not “who” I am. It would be limiting to allow their perspectives to define “what” I am. I had become aware as a young girl that I cannot be defined by how society identifies me by race, as the ambiguity of my color and ethnicity was highly contrasted within my childhood environments. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I grew up in a rough neighborhood which consisted of all black people. Conversely, I attended a prestigious college prep high school, with few to no other children of color. I was well accomplished within these groups, achieving a nomination for Minnesota’s Dave Winfield Award for outstanding Academic and Athletic abilities for students of color, yet I did not fit within these stereotypes. We moved to an affluent neighborhood before my father moved my family once again to live in Uruguay to learn my grandparent’s native language of Spanish. Interestingly, not one person in Latin America asked me “What are you?” as they were simply inquisitive about my life story. U.S. society seems to regulate that I cannot be reared in a tough neighborhood and be highly educated, and that I cannot be Spanish, Black, White, and Indigenous all at the same time. So which race, group or experience defines who or what I am? My quest to understand identity led me to read scores of books and attend seminars on this topic. One of the most impactful books I had read is Eckhart Tolle’s: “The Power of Now” teaching me that we are all simply a being with stories. Another person’s attempt to define me can never be accomplished without them actually being me. I also studied the amazing Nichiren Diashonin’s Buddhism and became inspired to affect a positive bearing on our world with compassion and understanding. This would require me to execute courage with compassion, in part, by not limiting myself to constraints of societal labels. Both of these doctrines taught me that we are neither our ethnicities, nor what we do for a living. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “Who” we are is not how others define you. And “What” we are changes country to country, and even moment to moment. We are ever evolving stories and each of us is enriched by the insight, understanding and compassion they provide. How we impact the world with those stories is “What” we are. Inspired to enlighten others, the next time someone on the street asks me “What are you?” I might just have to caution them that – it’s a long story.” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Juanita. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 44 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!** #52PhenomenalWomen #52PWP #amyboylephotography #Dressforsuccess

Do you… like good news? like to be inspired? like to support others? Today I am announcing that my 52 Phenomenal Women Project will continue for a second year – AND WE NEED YOUR HELP… SUPPORT 52PWP Today Year two begins on Sept 5th and I can’t wait to get out to meet even more Phenomenal Women! Please consider backing this project. https://www.patreon.com/52phenomenalwomen With my gratitude, Amy #52PhenomenalWomen #52PWP #amyboylephotography #Dressforsuccess

Taking on challenges: Sometimes you have to dive right in Meet Susan: In her own words: ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “I started taking on challenges at a young age. Having grown up with an entrepreneurial father who took me under his wing to mentor me to work and aspire in a man’s business world, his work ethic rubbed off in many aspects of my life. It started small, with working on my tennis game and playing in club tournaments during otherwise lazy summers, to joining the local swim team and competing. In high school, I desperately wanted to work and get my independence, so found a job sewing shoes in a factory across town. My parents were mortified that I would work in a factory, but they said little about it. That adventure evolved into a variety of other not so exciting jobs, but I liked trying new challenges. It allowed me to channel into skillsets and discover what I did want to do and what I did not. Next, never having left the safety and comfort of New England, I took my first plane trip halfway across the country to go away to college in Denver. My choice to challenge myself and take thoughtful risks has permeated my life and is honestly addicting. I have started and managed two successful investment firms, the most recent merged with a larger firm in May of 2019. I have participated and continue to do so, in triathlons around the US. I love the challenge of stepping up my training and then completing the race—often in the top three in my age group. However, the most important, the most emotionally rewarding and the scariest challenges has been in my personal life. My second daughter was adopted from an orphanage at the age of five. The agency never prepared us for the challenges that we were going to take on considering her background and experiences in some of the most formative years of her life. Had I done a thorough job of investigating the trials and challenges of older child adoption, I most likely would not have done it. How glad I am that I skipped all the details! I would not have had this wonderful human in my life who has brought me such joy. Hence, the most valuable lesson I have learned and implemented in my life: sometimes you have to dive right in. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I do enough research to determine if taking on a certain challenge is something I can get excited about, and then I just do it. If you spend a lot of time investigating every aspect of your new venture, you will probably find enough information to support not doing it. A more recent challenge I dove into was becoming a mentor to an inner-city girl. I was nervous about taking on this responsibility but chose to give it my best. It was scary but I am so thrilled with my little buddy, Shanti. She will be the first to finish high school in her family. She is an honors student and we are beginning to talk about colleges and scholarships. She is such a joy. As a look to the future, I will continue embracing challenges, especially when they venture into unknown territory. That’s what makes life exciting and rewarding.” ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Susan. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 43 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 #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen

Meet Gita: In her own words: ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “I was made in India, on the coconutty west-coast along the Arabian Sea. What luck to have been nurtured by a playful father, an orderly mother, and both my grandmothers. In my first few years, I was held for long hours by my beloved Badi, an elderly adivasi (indigenous) woman who cared for me while my parents worked. My first foods were her unusual grains cooked in clay. I cried for her when we moved away from that early home. The story is that I refused food, chanting “Badi” a hundred and eight times before my father lost count. His mother, Mein, prepared bhakri, confident that it would break the spell. Hours past bedtime, she placed the spiced bread in front of me. I regarded it silently, looked up and wailed “Baaadiiii!” Exasperated, she said “Eat your Badi’s fat chapattis” and snapped off the lights. The next morning, there were no signs of bhakri and no more chanting. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 We subsequently moved to Goa, land of seafood, meat and chicken curries, but being Gujaratis, we were vegetarian. Meals were prepared indifferently by servants who did not know our cuisine. I was uninterested in eating. Grandmother Bai, coaxed me by telling me stories and bygone kitchen tales. I moved to Bombay to attend University and came to live with grandmother Mein. I remember my first meal, wordlessly experiencing our traditional thali, with tamarind flavored lentils, cooked and fresh vegetables, perfectly steamed rice, thin ghee-smeared chapattis, green aromatic chutney, curds, a divine murrabba. Something came alive and I begged to learn her art. She taught me to handle ingredients but more importantly: that flavor was affected by all the elements: the sun, water, soil, air and the mind of every being that touched it on the way to my plate. I got a degree in Philosophy from Bombay University, but Mein, with her sweet-sour gujarati touch, led me to realize that I was continuation of a self that preceded her and all the ancestors. While men are remembered by names and records, women are remembered in kitchens by recipes, scents and stories. At twenty-two, I left India to pursue film studies in California, Mein sobbed funereally. She felt all would be forgotten. In my fifties, on the other side of the world from the Arabian Sea, I weep with her. I grew all three of my foreign children in a land-locked snowy-climate. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Project Mystic Murrabba was created to perpetuate the traditions that were passed down the generations. To remember those that make us, I share the art of cooking, through classes and meal service. Recipes and stories will be compiled into a memoir for the generations that follow.” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Gita. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay projecthighlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. . This is week 42 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!** #52PhenomenalWomen #52PWP #amyboylephotography #Dressforsuccess

Meet Kishori: In her own words… “Inspiration: Be kind, be patient, and always have a sense of humor” – Pema Chodron “We are women who have struggled, who have tried to fit into the mold that society dictates is “the way” a woman “should” be, as if there is only one way for all of us to be and to express our powerful beauty! We are the women who have decided to not let fear guide us, and instead to step into our power and our brilliance. All of our stories are phenomenal and unique, yet intertwined. We are women, striving to be heard, to be seen and to be treated as the phenomenal sentient beings that we are. My story is similar to that of many other women, women who are not afraid to transform, to shed their layers of pain and fear, to dig deep, to heal, to shine and to inspire others to heal. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 My birthday wish has always been the same ever since I was a child. I blow out the glittering candles and I wish: I want to be happy. And, as I reflect, I see that my life journey has been about making that wish come true. As I shed my own layers, life lessons teach me that being happy comes from within, something we tap into deep inside. It has nothing to do with aligning ourselves with what society dictates. It has everything to do with connecting ourselves with who we are, from the inside out. My personal mission is to align with my authentic self, to be the best version of myself, so that I can be a better human in this world, and to lead others by inspiration. Thus far, life has taught me to fuel my happiness by making choices based on hopes and not on fears. By practicing yoga asana and meditation daily. By traveling and exploring life with a curious and open mind. By cooking yummy food for the people I love because there is something magical that happens when we cook with and for others. When we gather to feast, we feed all of our senses as we share of food, conversation, and memories. This act of sharing gives us an incredible ability to communicate and to heal body, mind and soul. Art work: Vivian Borsani – ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 As the leader of Well-Being and Organizational Development at Ciranda Inc., the initiatives I have launched are all grounded in my own personal work around positive transformation towards happiness, and the interconnectedness that humanity shares. Our initiatives include yoga and meditation for all staff, and mindfulness practices for improved communication, collaboration and resiliency. When we practice mindfulness, we pay attention to what is going on in the present moment. This focus enables us to make better decisions, to improve communications, and to be more resilient in the face of challenge. One of the challenges in my work that ignites me the most is preparing and holding space for people to grow, to learn, and to be heard. I strive to create a safe environment for anyone to practice yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. With these practices we learn to foster gratitude, acceptance, compassion, forgiveness and kindness. Leading in this way has allowed me to observe people transform, taking the lessons learned through yoga and mindfulness practices into their meetings and into their relationships. And as I observe these changes I am humbled to see the direct impact each human has on the life of another. My work provides me with the privilege of supporting the well-being of my fellow colleagues, and of simultaneously feeding my desire to serve in a way that is meaningful.” Resources that have had a powerful impact on my journey: https://onbeing.org/ https://www.resilientoption.com/https://www.thetrainingfire.com/delicate-lodge-teachings http://www.wisdom2summit.com/ https://www.heartmath.com/ Some references from by book shelf: The Sacred Path of the Warrior – Chogyam Trungpa; Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras; Finding the Space to Lead – Janice Marturano; Calvin and Hobbes – Bill Watterson Art work: Vivian Borsani – ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Kishori. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. . This is week 41 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!** #52PhenomenalWomen #52PWP #amyboylephotography #Dressforsuccess

Meet Pam: In her own words: “My journey actually began several years ago, 2012 to be exact. I don’t have a history of Alzheimer’s in my family so it wasn’t really on my radar. My first symptoms included difficulty learning and remembering events and conversations. At that time I was working at Intel corporation leading a new division of our inside sales organization. I remember sitting in the office and really struggling to comprehend a training seminar. I was taking notes and doing my best to understand what was being said but it wasn’t sticking. My brain wasn’t able to hold the data. I continued to write things down, almost word for word so I could brief my staff regarding our technology updates. When I met with them a few days later I had to read from my notes versus speaking from memory which is something that would have been easy for me normally. Unfortunately at that point I didn’t know the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and I assumed I was just tired or getting old. Mind you, I was only 55. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 A few months later as part of my routine physical my doctor recommended a comprehensive blood panel. Two years later in 2014 I was still struggling and repeating myself and relying more and more on my notes. It was then that I started the long and arduous path of getting a diagnosis. I was diagnosed with MCI and sent back to the neurologist. By then things were getting very difficult at work so I took a medical leave of absence. That was a very hard decision, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Stress is not good for anyone, but it’s really not good if you have AD. And as I mentioned my job was extremely taxing and the pace and stress, along with all the travel was not conducive to someone in my condition. So finally, on July 20th, 2016, two years after my initial doctor visits and four years after I learned of my genetic markers, my husband and my daughters joined me at UCSF in a room filled with doctors and research scientist from around the world. Together we finally learned the cause of my symptoms. After my diagnosis I started searching online for help, and thank God I found the Alzheimer’s Association website. I was searching for a new purpose and so I filled out an application to become an Early Stage advisor and got connected to my local chapter. I was asked to join the Northern California BOD, and a year later was appointed to the National BOD. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 My life changed and was filled with hope when I got connected with the Alzheimer’s Assoc. I found my purpose. I believe God only gives you what you can handle, and he knew I could handle this challenge. I lean on Him and trust Him and know that everything happens for a reason. I had a strong purpose at Intel and I have an even stronger purpose now. I know the work I’m doing and the money I’m raising might not help me, and I know that there may not be a cure in my lifetime, but I will die trying and with a smile on my face because of all of you and your support to #EndAlz. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 My doctor told me that the most important thing I could do was to ‘do what makes you happy’ and being here with you makes me very happy! Being part of the cure by participating in clinical trials has also been a true gift, and definitely makes me happy. The staff at UCSF is fabulous and they are now part of our extended family.” To follow Pam’s journey – Check out her blog: www.myjourneywithalzheimers.com Also Twitter and Instagram *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Pam. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 40 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!** #EndALZ #52PhenomenalWomen #52PWP #Dressforsuccess

Meet Andrea – (in her words) “I started teaching fitness classes back in the early eighties when leg warmers, Reebok hightop gym shoes, and thong leotards with a matching headband was the attire everyone was wearing. Fast forward more than 35 years, a part-time job led to a multi-faceted career in the fitness world and I’ve loved every minute of where it has taken me… all over the world, meeting so many people, and seeing people make changes to liver happier and healthier. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 The journey in these years has led me to many ways of sharing my knowledge and passion for living healthy. With more than 100 TV appearances over the last 15 years including the NBC Today Show, Steve Harvey, and Fox News Chicago, I learned quickly how to break down complex fitness myths, diets and news to bite-size easy-to-understand concepts. This led to editorial assignments, brand integrations, and even a best-selling book. But being in fitness has made me an entrepreneur in so many ways. From producing television shows, to opening my latest Studios FUSE, cooperative style fitness studio. Just over a year ago, it opened and is home to four fitness studios, including my Barre-Pilates, Surf and Yoga studio: Hang 5 Fitness. Studios FUSE share common areas, locker rooms and front desk similar to the popular share work spaces of this decade. I have found that believing in yourself is key. Have the courage to see your path and ask for what you want. The worst that could happen is that someone will say no or you’ll find another way to get where you want to be. I once cold-called the president of NBC Chicago to ask for a paying job on television which led to almost a decade of being part of the NBC 5 Fitness team. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 One obstacle that I struggle with is asking for the money. It makes me uncomfortable and I would rather just send a bill and hope it is paid or trust someone else with it. But as an entrepreneur, you have to stay on top of your finances. You have to know where the money is going and coming from. At times, it would be difficult to find the right way to ask for the bigger dollars so I used an alter-ego email Michelle, my (made-up) assistant to do the hard talk and it helped me find my voice to be able to do it as myself for myself. But my proudest accomplishment is my three children: Bruce Metcalf, M.D., (29) recent medical school graduate, Maddie Metcalf, Regional Director of Sales, Midwest for Reno Tahoe USA, (28) and getting married this July and Charles Metcalf (26) the creative music/photography producer and Sales Associate for Southern Glazer Wine & Spirits. I couldn’t imagine my life without my kids….they are my besties for sure. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I guess, most of my life has been defined by movement.. but it’s not just physical movement, it is being moved by people’s stories, achievements and spirit. I am blessed to work with people on a day-to-day basis that is so rewarding in seeing them lose weight, gain confidence and live better.” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Andrea. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 39 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!** #Fitness #52PWP #AndreaMetcalf #Chicago #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen #lifestyle

Meet Kenna – In her own words… ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “When I was 6 months old my 100 year old great-grandmother held me on her birthday, rubbed the bottom of my tiny feet and said, “Oh the miles and miles these feet will travel.” Turns out she was right. A common thread among all of the different types of work that I do being a guide. It brings me great joy to hold space for other people to have transformative life experiences. I’ve had the honor of hosting live classes for the online education network CreativeLive for the past nine years. I explain to new CreativeLive instructors that I’m there for three reasons – to energetically guide and support them while they teach on a new platform to tens of thousands of people live (not scary at all!), to guide our studio audience through the in-person experience, and to guide and be the voice of our global community participating through questions and chat online as they learn together. I love guiding conversations for our podcast We Are Photographers where I get the real human stories for you about my guests’ wins, struggles and why they do what they do. Every single day I witness creatives having a-ha moments realizing that they can do the work to be their authentic self. Those lightbulb moments come down to the same themes of getting out of your own way and showing up for yourself to do the work even when you feel like an imposter. When people tell me, “CreativeLive has changed my life!,” I hold up a metaphorical mirror and say “Yes, we’ve provided you access to world-class creative education by leaders in their fields. However if your life has changed, it’s because you have done the work. There is always something to be learned from taking classes, however the true transformation comes in the actual doing of what you’ve learned and only you can do that.” It’s such a gift for me to see this self-recognition sink into people’s hearts and minds as they smile and realize what they have already created for themselves and that they have the power to do that over and over again. Our CreativeLive community is full of people holding up mirrors for each other. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Over five years ago I began leading photography tours as my side gig, combining my passions of travel, photography and creating bucket list experiences for people. I fell in love with the country, culture and people of Cuba which I now call my internal zip code. December 2019 will be my 12th trip to the island which is so close to us in the U.S. and yet so far away. What I’ve learned most from the people of Cuba is that many of the most innovative ideas are born without resources. I believe creativity is making something out of nothing and find the resilience of the human spirit in others to be empowering for myself as well. My daily practice is letting go and finding presence in the moment. Beyond Cuba I lead tours and meditation retreats to countries including Bhutan, Nepal, Kenya, Tanzania, Costa Rica, Morocco, Italy and more to come. I invite you to ask yourself, what brings you joy? What do you talk about with your friends day in and day out? Whatever it is, therein lies your passion. That’s the twinkle in your eye. For me it’s personal transformation. I believe we have something to learn from everyone’s story, and yes, that means your own. I’d love nothing more than to help guide you to find your heart’s power as you experience the world, and yourself, in a new light. ” ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 KK Bio Kenna Klosterman is a photographer, travel guide, retreat leader, international MC, speaker, educator and creative community connector. She is the Lead Host of the online education network CreativeLive and hosts the We Are Photographers podcast. Kenna is passionate about building, motivating, and supporting a community of creative individuals who are transforming their own lives. Kenna is a published travel, documentary, and portrait photographer whose personal mission is to empower change in the world through visual storytelling. She is available to host or MC events, panels and conferences in Seattle and worldwide. Join Kenna on one of her upcoming tours to Cuba or Kenya and see the world in a new light. *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Kenna. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 38 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 #travel #CreativeLive #seattle #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen

Meet Amanda: In her own words – ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “I distinctly remember the sound of the metal gate latching behind me as I walked out of the White House for the last time. Four years had gone by as quickly as the motorcade that I had become accustomed to riding in as one of the official White House photographers assigned to document former First Lady Michelle Obama. Twenty countries, countless cities and so many lessons learned. When you’ve worked hard and done well and walked through that door of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. Instead, you reach back and give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed. Both President Obama Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama repeated this principle countless times to audiences around the world. Sometimes the words changed slightly but the message was always the same. Their words challenged me to think deeply about my path to the White House. What opened those gates for me? I can say unequivocally that the arts changed my life, gave me hope and allowed me to dream. And it’s a priority for me to share that gift with others. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Since leaving the White House, I have continued to work with the Turnaround Arts, a program created under Mrs. Obama’s leadership, which focuses on the lowest-performing 10% of elementary and middle schools throughout the country. The integration of high-quality arts education strengthens school reform efforts, boosts academic achievement and increases student engagement in schools facing myriad tough challenges. The program is now run by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. And as a Turnaround Artist, I visit schools across the country to share my passion for photography and storytelling. I’ve witnessed the transformative power of the arts on students, teachers and schools. Bringing the arts into underserved communities is a priority for me and this mission is constantly evolving. I’m currently working on a pilot arts program with a team of artists and mindfulness practitioners in Memphis, Tennessee. Our program “Be What A Bullet Can’t Be” brings arts and mindfulness practices into juvenile detention center to help reduce youth violence. Our team of artists are enthusiastic about the upcoming expansion of our work into a non-profit social startup called “Grounded.” We will be launching our website in several weeks, which will highlight our collective works of photography, film, books, music, curriculum, performance and art installations—each piece of “conscious content” is created to spark important conversations, reduce the culture of violence and inspire positive choices. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I strongly believe that each of us can make an impact on the world—by sharing our unique gifts.” Amanda Lucidon is an award-winning documentarian, filmmaker and New York Times best-selling author. Lucidon served as an Official White House photographer responsible for documenting First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017. She is one of only a few female White House photographers in history. Lucidon is the author of Chasing Light and Reach Higher. She is also a motivational speaker represented by Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau. Amanda recently presented Documentary Photography: Creating a Life in Storytelling at Creative live in Seattle. *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Amanda. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 37 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!** #turnaroundarts #whitehousephotographer #52PWP #firstladymichelleobama #CreativeLive #documentaryfilm #amandalucidon #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen

Meet Jackie (aka my Mom): It’s Mother’s Day week, and I can think of no one more phenomenal than my own mother. Much of my creative side comes from her constant craving to learn new things and to share the beauty of handmade gifts of the heart with others. -Amy In her own words “As far back as I can remember family and quilting/sewing have always gone hand in hand. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Some of my earliest memories are of my mother stitching away on her old Singer treadle sewing machine. This was shortly after the Depression and, of necessity, most of our clothes were made by Mom. Nothing went to waste and every little snip-it of fabric was saved for quilt tops. What beautiful tops these little left over pieces of fabric made. Then came the exciting part — Mom would pack up the tops, batting, backing, thimbles, thread, scissors and off we would go to the country to meet up with Mom’s sisters, sisters in law and a dear friend or two for the weekend. One room held the huge quilting frame surrounded by ten chairs. I still can hear the hum of the voices sharing everything new in the family — My cousins and I had the most wonderful secret play area under the quilt — we would happily play the whole day surrounded with family love and watching the magic take place from under the quilt. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Jackie with a portrait of her Mother and Father My personal quilting came much later in life, but I never lost the thrill of seeing all the pieces go together — how each stitch taken is a token of love to the recipient of the quilt and the hope that the next person to receive the quilt will share in the history and love.” ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Jackie with one of her latest quilts for now Eagle Scout grandson, Edward. Pictured 4 of 7 grandsons – Drew, Geoffrey, Edward, and Colin *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Jackie. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 36 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 #tiesthatbind #Chicago #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen

Meet Holly: In her own words “At the age of nine, my dear mother allowed me to do her hair and make up for a night out with my dad. At eleven, I was taking her shopping and making her feel great. I spent my pre and post teen years flitting around make up counters, shoe departments and endless racks of clothes with my mother parked in the nearest chair. She did not enjoy shopping but she supported my passion for it with her endless hours in malls and by repeating often, ‘if only someone could pay you to shop.’ ⠀ ⠀ Well, now they do. ⠀ ⠀ I help women look and feel their very best; empowering their true nature and helping them show up to do their work in this world, whatever that is. “Every morning I struggled with what to wear, beat myself up in the mirror and felt out of place and insecure all day at work. My closet was a mess and filled with clothing I never wore, some with the price tags still on! After working with you, my closet is tight and edited. It takes me minutes to get dressed in the morning. I look sharp and feel confident. I enjoy running meetings and speaking to groups. I don’t think about what I’m wearing because I know it’s right. I don’t waste time feeling bad. I do my job and I feel good.” -C.B., SVP Human Resources ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 What you wear matters. It guides your day and projects a brand to others whether you are aware of it or not. It’s a struggle for many and I find great satisfaction and joy in helping navigate this very common dilemma. I help women look and feel their very best; empowering their true nature and helping them show up to do their work in this world, whatever that is. What are you here to do? Let’s work together to dress you perfectly. Let’s get started to help you show up! ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 We’ll dive into your closet, mix and match what you have, get rid of what doesn’t work and then shop to create your unique look. After college, most women experiment with looks for work and tend to repeat a version of that look for sometimes decades. I find at around age 40, something wonderful happens. Women want to stand out and be heard like never before and they hire me. Some clients abandon dresses altogether and simplify their lives by buying only pants. Even though their mom and friends always complimented them in dresses, they really felt like their true selves in pants. So we find the perfect pants and have them expertly altered. Those pants become the making of their signature look and, from there, we carefully build a wardrobe. Taking the time to explore what matters to you will free you up, make you feel heard and help you enjoy they way you look. No one is like you and, in our work together, we will identify what sets you apart and celebrate all that you are. Isn’t it the time in your life to stop just getting by? Honor yourself and invest in what is special about you. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I invite you to work with me and love the way you look. It’s time. “ Contact Holly *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Holly. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 35 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!** #fashion #Dressforsuccess #52PWP #WomenonFire #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen

Meet Heather: In her own words “In a world where gender stereotypes can prevent women from pursuing careers where they will thrive and succeed, I have found that coaching girls in a team environment can show them opportunities and experiences that they would not otherwise know. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I have coached girls in soccer, softball, cross country and track. Sports are obviously great exercise and improve mental health. They also teach life lessons that are just as important as the mechanics of a sport. My teams are encouraged to believe in themselves, work together, listen to learn, treat failure as a growth opportunity, reach their goals through planning and, of course, have fun. My coaching of girls extends beyond sports to many places where I have been able to introduce opportunities in science and engineering to children. I’ve spoken in classrooms about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers, including my years as a biologist. I’ve judged a high school science fair where students find interest in scientific endeavors. I’ve advocated for STEM funding at local schools with a high percentage of underprivileged children to provide more opportunities for kids to become interested in STEM subjects. When children and other families see a woman, such as myself, engaging in STEM projects, I believe it empowers them to see that their girls have a place in science and engineering. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 My most rewarding coaching opportunity this past year was co-coaching an all-girls robotics team. Team Bumblebee is made up of 5 middle school girls, including my daughter, and competes in the First LEGO League. During the competition season, the team worked on computer programming, the scientific method, problem solving and robotic design as well as interview and research techniques, elevator speeches, presentation skills and conflict resolution. Achieving success in STEM requires not only understanding the science, but also articulating and communicating it to the world. This season Team Bumblebee won the Champions Trophy (the top all-around award) for regionals. I loved watching the awe of the other children in the auditorium as the all-girls team walked on stage to accept the trophy. To see Team Bumblebee in action, visit their Instagram and YouTube channel. I serve on the board of directors for multiple not-for-profit organizations where I can help more people, but I have found that coaching teams allows me to personally engage children in a way that is more humbling and rewarding than I ever could have imagined. The children I coach may never know how much they have inspired me, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to coach them. Their tenacity, relentless pursuit of knowledge, competitiveness, support and respect for each other, confident grasp of technology, and general fun-loving attitude is awe-inspiring.” ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Heather is a Personal Brand Coach and Social Media Strategist, coaching clients to create strong, authentic and unique brands through her business, Creative Brand Coach. She lives in Chicago with her four kids and wonderful husband. Twitter Instagram Website Blog *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Heather. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 34 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