Introducing: The Woman Symbol
"Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women." - Maya Angelou
As we celebrate International Women's Day, I am proud to have the honor and privilege to feature on It's Danielle Marie, the creative genius behind The Woman Symbol, Aimee-Lynn Rivera (pictured above). Since launching IDM, I knew I had to interview my good friend for an exclusive. After personally working with Aimee-Lynn for the last five months on various projects, I have gathered that Aimee-Lynn is one ambitious woman who deserves recognition for her amazing advice, and for her incredible vision to bring together extraordinary females. Her passion and leadership are examples of strong qualities we all should strive to replicate in our daily lives. Society can definitely use more people like Aimee-Lynn. Continue reading for the full exclusive!
It's Danielle Marie (IDM): Tell me about your new platform - The Woman Symbol - you initiated.
Aimee-Lynn (AL): The Woman Symbol is a platform encouraging women to find their own power by magnifying our strengths together. I was motivated to start The Woman Symbol for a few reasons... We are living in a time where we desperately need cohesion in female empowerment. I learned at a young age that there is nothing more emotionally quenching than the support of another woman and we don't have enough of that today. TWS is a place where I will highlight both the women which motivate myself and the world around them.
IDM: What does female empowerment mean to you?
AL: Female empowerment, to me, means to righteously demand what is owed to us (women). It's the process of becoming stronger and more confident.
IDM: What are some ways your occupation as a business consultant go hand in hand with TWS?
AL: As a business consultant, I was exposed to the harsh realities of being a woman in the workplace. My opinions were often times belittled. I was constantly interrupted while addressing a group (of men) and assigned minuscule tasks as if I was not equipped to handle more. Of course, not being a novice in the business world, I quickly shifted this dynamic and spoke up for myself... but I wondered if there was anyone else living in this element? Are they speaking up for themselves? Do they know this is not okay? So I decided to conceive a voice and then came the birth of TWS!
IDM: When did you know you wanted to live your dream as an entrepreneur?
AL: I grew up in an entrepreneurial environment where every single person in my family owned their own business. So, at the age of 7, I decided to "venture off" and start my own business - a lemonade stand on the front lawn. Surely, I was convinced the big bucks were going to start pouring in... My girlfriends and I sat and waited discussing what we were going to do with our profits. Hours passed, our lemonade was hot and we were halfway dehydrated. I thought to myself, we are doing something wrong. Then, my eureka moment. If our neighbors weren't going to come to us, we would go to them. We rang every doorbell on the block and sold all of our lemonade before dinner. Now, as an adult, I learned two huge lessons from my lemonade business: 1). Perseverance and 2). Vision.
IDM: What are some pieces of advice you would give to girls trying to start a brand of their own?
AL: The best advice I can give is to relentlessly pursue your dreams and vision. If it keeps you up at night, go after it! I take most of my best notes while I'm laying in bed, while I'm in and out of sleep. Don't be afraid to make mistakes... The best lessons lie in your biggest mistakes!
IDM: What is the hardest part about being an entrepreneur?
AL: The hardest part about being an entrepreneur is failure. I've failed plenty of times. Learning to lift yourself up after failing is challenging. Momentum, faith, and hope are very accessible when things are going in the right direction, but takes a tremendous amount of inner-strength to maintain when things go astray.
IDM: What would you say are the most rewarding parts about being an entrepreneur?
AL: Being an entrepreneur has been rewarding in so many ways... It has brought out the best parts of me, parts I never knew existed. Entrepreneurialism has put me in uncomfortable places which forced me to use my instincts, rely on my solid decision making, conjure up lessons from previous experiences, and inevitably grow.
IDM: Name the top three things in your life right now that keep you motivated.
AL: My top three things are: A). Social responsibility because of the time we are living in. It's important to stay aware and involved. B). Personal legacy - I want to be remembered for the work that I did while I was here. C). My Mother, Grandmother, and Sister. Three strong female leaders in my life.
IDM: Any last minute tips you'd like to share?
AL: The best tools for empowered women = Bubble baths, great books, and your tribe.
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