What’s in here:

• InnerVoice Studio is turning 9! 🥳

  • The quickness of the passage of time remains a total mystery.

• What I’ve been up to so far this year…🤓

  • Meetups, conferences and workshops, oh my!

• We’re only getting started, baby. 😎

  • New programs coming your way!

• A final note of thanks. 🤗

  • None of this happens without you.

InnerVoice Studio is turning 9 in April!

Can you even believe it?!

Me, personally? I absolutely cannot.

Also personally, I just went down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about the number 9.

Did you know that in four-dimensional space, there are nine paracompact hyperbolic honeycomb Coxeter groups, as well as nine regular compact hyperbolic honeycombs from regular convex and star polychora?

Me neither. Also…I do not know what any of those words mean.

But I do know that I am damn proud to be here on the cusp of InnerVoice’s 9th year having this little email chat with you.

InnerVoice Studio was born out of the ashes of my previous company OpenVoice Studios (more about that here, if you’re interested) and it was very much intended to be a ‘temporary solution until I figure out next steps for my life’, and, well…we’ve just kept stepping together ever since.

(👆 Finding a fresh start.)

Throughout this journey, me, and this project called InnerVoice Studio, have gone through many evolutions and growth spurts. We’ve hit lots of roadblocks and speedbumps, and we’ve tried to break up like half a dozen times. We’ve put on a brave face while we hit rock bottom, and then hit it again, and then again, and we’ve joyfully celebrated major milestones, exciting victories, and amazing breakthroughs along the way.

When I chose the name OpenVoice Studios, the intention was that all would be welcome. It would be a big open hug. And, to be fair, all are still welcome, and whenever possible, there are hugs.

However…

The reality is that the type of energy I ended up putting into OpenVoice Studios was that everyone was welcome here, and I’m dealing with the trauma of divorce, and I will hold you all, but I don’t know how to do that with healthy boundaries, nor do I have the capacity to care for myself at the same time, and I will stubbornly duct tape this massive thing together as best I can…and…wait…oh no…ohmygoodness…I’m collapsing.🤕

While sifting through the rubble and choosing a name for my next project, InnerVoice Studio was a very instinctual invitation to come back home to me. I wanted a place to heal myself from my divorce and from closing OVS, as well as to pick up some new skills and tools, to regroup, and to grow into a new version of myself, while continuing to generate an income and find interesting new ways to support others along their journeys, as well.

Life carries on…and so did I. Tinkering, exploring, learning, trying new stuff, getting stuff wrong, getting stuff right, and always doing whatever I could along the way to stay true to myself, my values, and my desire to use my tools to create positive change in the world around me.

And anyway…here we are heading into our 10th year. ❤️

✂️ 2023 was a year of pruning and consolidating.

Lots of hermitting. Gently shedding more layers of my life and business that no longer served, allowing myself to focus on more of the things that make me feel joyful, powerful, and resourced. Trying new things and also exploring parts of myself that were always there but didn’t have a place to be fully expressed in previous chapters of my life. Truly coming home to what makes me authentically me. Learning to appreciate and trust myself in entirely new ways.

🌱 2024 has begun as a year of fresh growth.

Gently opening the doors to my hermitage sanctuary and softly reaching back out to the world around me. Feeling refreshed and curious about what’s possible, as well as a renewed sense of interest in opening up, welcoming in some new people, and enjoying new ways of fostering conscious communication and connection.

How that’s looked so far:

In addition to my regular online coaching practice, and an expanded engagement with one of my favorite corporate clients, I’ve also started branching out into the local community, including:

🌿 Own Your Voice: Women | Confidence, Communication and Community

Similar to our meetup group of the same name in California, I created this group for local women to build communication skills and explore deep friendships. We’ve already enjoyed 8 amazing events! (Join us!)

🌿 Own Your Voice Workshops

I’ve hosted 2 in-person workshops and I am in the early stages of discussion with some local organizations to potentially host similar workshops for their teams or members. (Fun times!)

🌿 Women-Owned Business Fair at Siena College

This was the perfect event at which to have a vendor booth for the first time since The Before Times. I met the most incredible heart-centered entrepreneurs and amazing community members, while also hanging out with a dear friend who also had a booth. I built some new confidence and tested out some new ways to talk about myself and my business. (Photo below.)

🌿 Speak with Impact: Communication Skills for People in Tech

I recently created this meetup group for people in the local tech community who would like to improve their communication and meet some other cool folks. Our inaugural event is next week and I’m super excited. (Join us!)

🌿 CRHRA & CRATD Annual Conference

It’s just been announced that in May, I’m scheduled to host a breakout session at the second annual conference jointly hosted by the Capital Region Association for Talent Development and the Capital Region Human Resources Association. The title of the session is Unlocking Voices: A Unique Approach to Building a Culture of Communication and Collaboration, and I can’t wait to bust out group sirens with a bunch of HR folks. 🙂 (Learn more.)

(2024 Women-Owned Business Fair at Siena College.👇)

Thank YOU so much!

Together, we are rippling waves upon waves of positive change out into the world. Sometimes it feels like the world itself is determined to go backwards, but nevertheless we keep showing up to do our best work to be our best selves and to help others do the same.

On days when I feel like the world is burning down, all I have to do is think of all of you amazing people determined to release the old ways and courageously step into something more healing and hopeful.

You freeing up your voice helps others to free theirs. So thank you for you.

Whether or not we are currently working together, in addition to you Owning Your Voice, there are several ways to support this mission, if you feel inclined:

• Tell your friends, colleagues and leaders about InnerVoice Studio

• Write a Yelp review here or here (or email me a testimonial)

• Fill out the 2-question survey about the services and topics you’d like to see

• Upgrade your subscription to this email list for subscriber-only content (button below)

• Suggest a conference or event you think would be a good fit

Thank you so much for reading this email and for being on this amazing journey for Nine ✨ Whole ✨Freaking ✨ Years.

I love you all so much you have absolutely no idea.❤️