Beyond Mom Heather Monahan launched her personal brand to empower women and give them the insights and tips she had longed for as a young professional. Her brand, ‘Boss in Heels’ celebrates being a woman while still commanding respect and delivering results in the workplace. She was the Keynote speaker at the Corinium CRO conference and held the main stage at the LOAC in NYC. Heather was recognized as a Glass Ceiling Award winner and as one of the Most Influential Women in radio in 2017. In Heather’s new book Confidence Creator, she explains that confidence is like a muscle that needs to be developed daily and can grow over time and can be lost if you don’t work at it. Heather’s relatable journey and tips will help you leapfrog the villains in your life and develop your confidence simultaneously. She lives in Miami, Florida with her son Dylan. Find out more about Heather below!

What makes you a Beyond Mom?

After being terminated a few months ago, I have leaned into my passions instead of pursuing what I had always done. I have taken a leap of faith in myself that has not only put me out of my comfort zone but has really challenged me to figure out what it is I want to do in life and what my appetite for risk is in order to truly pursue it. I have always told my son to pursue his dreams at any cost and for the first time I am living that mantra.

What are the parts of you that have grown and expanded since becoming a Mom?

Everything! Being a mom has changed me so much. My son has taught me how to build confidence by teaching me to write reminders on my shoes of how fantastic I am. By being a mother I have realized how important it is to identify who you are and what makes you special so you can build a life around those superpowers and step into your strengths. I never knew this before becoming a mom and I am so happy to finally be learning from my littlest teacher. Being a mom has taught me to slow down and appreciate what really matters. In the past it was easy to get caught up in negativity or stress and the rat race at work; being a mom teaches you to be grateful for the small things in life that bring so much happiness like a picture your child made for you or a kiss. My son has helped me to evolve and shift my perspective in countless ways.

Can you share a collaboration/success story with another woman; what helped the collaboration become successful?

I have recently been collaborating with Perry Ellis International’s female brand, Rafaella. The women on the Rafaella team have been amazing to work with. Previously, I have had some experiences in business where women have tried to hold me down and sabotage me in the workplace and the women at Rafaella are the complete opposite. They embrace me with support and appreciation each day and have allowed me to be myself and encourage me to shine my light which is so refreshing. Our shared values to elevate and empower women have been the perfect synergy for our most recent collaboration. Working with women that support and empower other women makes all the difference. The success story here is that we all want one another to succeed and we operate with trust and candor which is a beautiful thing.

What relationships help you stay connected to yourself?

My relationships with my girlfriends keep me grounded and connected to myself. I have a fantastic circle of girlfriends here in Miami that I have shared the last decade with and I have my life-long friends from Boston that remain a big part of my life today. Having great friends that have been through your challenges, stuck by in the good and bad times always helps to bring perspective to whatever may be going on in life today. My girlfriends help to remind me what I am capable of because they have seen what I have already accomplished and believe in me sometimes more than I believe in myself.

Do you have a ‘Beyond’ dream that you are pursuing?

My Beyond dream that I am pursuing is spending my time elevating and empowering women. Having grown up poor, I did not have much confidence and I thought that certain people were just born beautiful and talented and I just wasn’t. What I have learned is that all of that is a lie and the truth is we are all equal and that anyone can build their confidence muscle, shine their light and rise up to be their best self at any point in time. My dream is to share my message and experience with others that may not be aware of this yet and help them to shine their light. When one woman owns her voice, she affects another woman who will inspire another – this domino effect can change our culture and our world for the better.

What wellness activity can you not live without? What is one thing you do daily that balances you?

Working out is my stress release. I injured my back this summer and not being able to work out was devastating for me. What that experience taught me though is that there is always a solution and rehabbing my back, while slow, has shown me how strong I am and how progress is always available to us. I am back working out now and have regained my strength which makes me feel so proud.

How does style influence the way you stay feeling ‘Beyond’? Who is currently your favorite designer?

My clothing choices have a big impact on how I feel. It is important to note that within 10 seconds of a person seeing you they are already forming an opinion of you.

Our clothes affect how others view us but realizing that our clothes impact how we think and feel about ourselves is a direct link between clothing and confidence. In the world that we live in today it is no secret that every woman needs to own her confidence, her voice and her superpowers to help change the world. My favorite brand is Rafaella because the focus on how the clothes fit me and make me feel help me to own my confidence in any moment and to do it without breaking the bank. Wonder Woman has her cape and I have my real luxe stretch.