LET HER SPEAK BLOG
Our community blog is filled with stories, articles, and insights from the amazing women who make Let Her Speak special. Start exploring below and consider contributing your voice to our blog!
I spend a lot of time around people currently running businesses, and planning to start new businesses. These self-proclaimed “entrepreneurs” are often focused on the “hack” that will make them successful.
We’ve all heard the proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” and other iterations of the phrase. But have you ever heard the phrase “It takes a village to build a business”? Within the business world you often hear terms like network, mentors, and advisors — but in all the years I’ve spent surrounding myself with entrepreneurs, studying entrepreneurship, and working across a spectrum of businesses, I never really heard the term “village” used. That is, not until recently.
Over the past four years, I have had the privilege of meeting hundreds of incredible women in Knoxville — entrepreneurs, leaders, activists, or all of the above. One question I started asking every woman I met is, “What legacy do you want to leave behind?” With every answer I received to that question, a common thread began to emerge.
SHE SPEAKS SERIES
The She Speaks Series was a project we produced during the pandemic (2020 – 2021) as a way for women’s voices and stories of resilience to remain visible and inspire others to forge their own paths. Watch video interviews with some truly incredible women!
OUR HISTORY, OUR VOICES
Explore this virtual collection of submissions from women creatives who contributed their voice, story, and work in celebration of the tenacity of the female spirit and in honor of Women’s History Month 2021.
The Shannon Deana Johnson Exhibit
I am a Knoxville, TN based mixed media painter. My process is intuitive. I work to create a balance between harmony and contrast, simplicity and accumulation, and stillness and motion. As the painting progresses, I often add more concrete elements such as botanical or figurative shapes. In this latest series called, “Story of a Girl,” I have been exploring the use of imagery connected to the idea of femininity and aspects of it that are meaningful to me.
The Ashley Garner Exhibit
My submission was inspired by all the many ways over time I, like all women, just had to figure it out. As a result of figuring it out, I have built a successful custom painting and furniture restoration business (Nest) as well as a writing career, writing for The Dollywood Company, Knoxville Mom's, Her View From Home, and Today.com.
The Connie Flachs Exhibit
I am inspired by movement and human growth, physical, mental and spiritual. This work in particular is part of a series of dance journal entries that have enabled me to document a time of major transition (of career, personal life, and place) in my life. The female spirit, to me, is sensual, feeling, flexible, and deep.
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