For Women’s History Month, Promova is shining the light on some incredible ‘Women in Journalism” and “Women Entrepreneurs” who are changing the world and paving the path to a better future! Each week, we will highlight women who create, inspire, contribute and make a difference. Let’s rise to the occasion and celebrate #WHM!
Rachel Ingram is a luxury and travel journalist and editor. She covers boats and planes for Forbes. With over a decade in the global luxury industry, Rachel’s career highlights include interviewing HSH Prince Albert of Monaco, launching the UK’s first independent daily luxury news site, and wing walking on top of a plane in Dubai! Rachel’s favorite quote is “Nothing is impossible if one applies a certain amount of energy in the right direction,” by Nellie Bly. Keep up with Rachel here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelingram and here: https://www.rachelingram.com.
Sarah Sekula is a Maui-based adventure travel journalist, photographer, athlete and on-camera host. She writes for Lonely Planet, USA Today, CNN.com, NBC.com, espnW.com, GoEscape, Sustainability Magazine and Modern Woman. Sarah has traveled to nearly 40 countries on all seven continents. One of her favorite quotes is “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” by Helen Keller. Keep up with Sarah’s adventures on Instagram here: @sarahsomewhere and Twitter here: @Wordzilla
Heather Bailey is a three times Emmy Award-winning producer who has spent her career producing quality content, managing TV news broadcasts, and staying up on trending news topics. Heather has worked in several newsrooms, and she most recently joined the First Coast News team. Her favorite quote is: “Be the first one in. Be the last one out. Do your homework. Choose your battles. Don’t whine and don’t be the one who complains about everything. Fight the big fight,” by Barbara Walters. Keep up with Heather and all her great work at @BaileyTV78.
Jillian Godsil is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and author in Ireland. She is frequently highlighted in the top “Women in Blockchain and Crypto” lists. Jillian has been featured in BBC24, BBC Newsnight, The Bush Telegraph Co. (UK) Ltd, Huffington Post, The New York Times, The Irish Times, Vogue Italia, the Irish Independent, and others. Her favorite quote comes from her mom, who says, “ever onwards, ever upwards, maybe sideways but never backwards.” Keep up with Jillian at @JillianGodsil.
Elle Walch is the Business Development and Marketing Manager for Ball Janik LLP. The daughter of a CFO and now a mom herself, she knows the demands that go into being a working mother. “My mom worked her way up the corporate ladder and was no stranger to hard work. As a child, I would accompany her to weekend side jobs where she handled financials for smaller companies and I’d tag along before school as she cleaned the post office before it opened to afford my private school tuition. Still, she managed to be at every field trip, be a room mom, and my cheerleading coach. I am hugely thankful for the sacrifices she made to foster learning and an amazing childhood. I am honored to have witnessed her strength and drive and strive to carry these same qualities forward in my professional career and with my daughter.” One of her favorite quotes is: “Here’s to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.” – Unknown
Allison McGinley is the news director at WKMG News 6, where she has covered major news events such as the Pulse massacre, Hurricanes Matthew and Irma, and more. Her team has also pushed for legislation to end texting while driving in Florida, succeeded in passing new laws to provide pay and benefits to law enforcement officers suffering from PTSD. Her favorite quote is “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel,” by Maya Angelou. Keep up with Allison and all her great work at @McGinleyAllison.
Wellness design consultant Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS, MCCWC* writes about wellness design and home trends for Forbes.com and other publications, and is the author of Wellness by Design: A Room-by-Room Guide to Optimizing Your Home for Health, Fitness and Happiness. One of Jamie’s favorite quotes is “Risk being uncomfortable.” She says this quote applies to her personal and professional endeavors, and it has been a key to her success in both. She is certainly channeling this sentiment in preparation for her 2021 Kilimanjaro summit trek! Follow Jamie on Instagram at @jgwellnessdesign and Twitter at @JGWellnessDesgn
Wishing Adrien Maines, who leads Promova’s design and branding, a Happy Birthday! When Women Rise, We All Rise! We could not be where we are today without Adrien! A talented and accomplished graphic artist, Adrien has spent her career doing branding for companies like Lowndes and licensing designs to Wayfair, Bloomingdale’s, and Milk Snob. Her favorite quote is “Have no fear of perfection; you’ll never reach it.” – Marie Curie, chemist who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Keep up with Adrien at https://promo-va.com/about and @lemonlovegood.
Danielle Bellini is an Emmy Award-winning host & producer. She works with The Walt Disney Company and NBCUniversal creating multiplatform custom content. Dani is the first and only sideline reporter in the Madden NFL football franchise and got her start as a traffic reporter before moving into news reporting. She loves working on a variety of projects and seeking out opportunities that are energizing and inspiring. A quote that always reminds her to do what she loves is by Helen Keller, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” Keep up with Dani and her great work on Instagram: @DanielleBelliniPics Twitter: @DanielleBellini Facebook: BelliniDanielle.
Alison Lake is a Washington, D.C.-based editor, former journalist, and all-around media professional. She leads Bloomberg Law’s content acquisitions team, where she edits legal and regulatory content and sources expert authors. Alison has contributed to many media outlets including Bloomberg and the Washington Post, and has written two books and hundreds of articles. “If you are grateful, I will give you more” is one of her favorite quotes from the Quran. Follow Alison on Twitter @amlake_1.
Christi Ashby is the founder of Orange Appeal and Interior Appeal magazines and the Orlando Women’s Conference serving active and engaged women in Central Florida. Her career in publishing and events spans nearly 35 years and she has overseen 11 different magazines including local, regional and national titles. Naturally curious, she loves sharing the stories of interesting women she meets. Somewhat of a “Jill of all trades” she is often behind the camera, on a committee, in the kitchen or covered in paint. Her greatest joys are her four grandchildren ages 9 months to 5 years old. Working in the business with her daughter Kate is a true blessing. Her favorite quote and mantra is “Just Do It.” You can find her on Facebook and Instagram.
Laura Kinsler is an award-winning multi-media journalist and the editor at GrowthSpotter.com, a part of Tribune Publishing Company. Laura focuses on local government and business reporting, including the latest real estate and development in Orlando, one of the fastest growing metropolitan markets in the nation. Laura and her team have won three EPPY awards from Editor & Publisher for Best Business News Website. One of her favorite quotes is, “women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception,” by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Keep up with Laura at @byLauraKinsler.
Heather Reneau is the founder and publisher of Playground Magazine, a lifestyle magazine for modern parents. Since 2007 Heather has conceived, produced and managed all of Playground’s creative content for over 67 issues (and counting). When it comes to making creative decisions on the daily, one of her favorite quotes is “If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.” Follow @playorlando on Instagram and @PLAYGROUNDMagazine on Facebook for the best places to PLAY in Orlando with kids.
As Engineering News-Record (ENR) Editor-at-Large, Debra K. Rubin has a broad vantage for news, issues, and market trends in the multi-trillion-dollar global engineering, architecture, and construction sector for this major industry print and online publication—from disaster reporting and corporate strategy to next-gen workforce and emerging offshore wind energy development. She also is an organizer of ENR’s annual Groundbreaking Women in Construction Conference, a major industry annual forum for talent management and women’s career advancement in a traditionally male-dominated sector. Debra was on the scene for ENR, by sheer coincidence, during the devastating 1980s Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area, and her reporting on the 2001 Ground Zero attack damage, response and recovery is featured in the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. As a veteran journalist now fully inoculated against COVID-19 and still with lots to write about and accomplish, she finds this Maya Angelou quote insightful: “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” Check out her work and that of her colleagues covering the global built environment at www.enr.com.
Angela Turturro is an attorney in New York who briefly practiced insurance defense law before joining ALM Media in 2011 as Sections Editor of the New York Law Journal. Since then, she has become the head of contributed content for ALM, sourcing legal articles not just for NYLJ but also for publications like Mid-Market Report and law.com. Her most recent role, mommy to an almost-three-year-old daughter and a nine-month-old son, keeps her on her feet—literally. (She frequently wonders when she’ll ever get to sit down.) One of her favorite quotes comes from Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune.” Find her @AngelaTurturro
When Women Rise, We All Rise! Today, we celebrate Alexa Costea, photo editor at Antena 1 in Bucharest, Romania. Alexa enjoys working on news-breaking stories with her team, and she likes that every day is different. Her favorite quote is, “no one is you, and that is your power.” Keep up with Alexa and her many adventures on Instagram: @AlexaCostea
Cand o femeie se afirma, noi toti ne afirmam! Astazi o sarbatorim pe Alexa Costea, fotoeditor la Antena 1 in Bucuresti, Romania. Talentul deosebit al Alexei si al echipei sale de a prezenta ultimele stiri este unic si diferit in fiecare zi. Favorita ei expresie este ” nimeni nu este ca tine si in asta consta puterea ta “. Urmareste-o zilnic pe Alexa si multele ei fantastice noutati la Instagam: @AlexaCostea
Kim Vranceanu has grown a Bucharest-based property management company into the first ground-up residential rental organization in Romania. She moved from the U.S. to Romania in 2008 with her family, and in 2015 she and her husband founded Vitan Estates (www.vitanestates.ro), focused on the introduction of the American model of ground-up development of wholly rental buildings with top-class amenities that are in high demand. The business has become one of the most active multi-family rental properties in the capital city. In her free time, Kim enjoys sailing with her husband and plans to circumnavigate the world on a sailboat someday. One of her favorite quotes is, “A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.” -John A. Shedd
Kim Vranceanu este creatoarea uneia companii de constructii imobiliare din Bucuresti, Romania. Nascuta in U.S. , Kim si intreaga ei familie s-a stabilit in Romania in 2008. Muncind cu pasiune si cu darzenia care o caracterizeaza, Kim si sotul ei a reusit sa puna bazele centrului imobiliar Vitan (www.vitanestates.ro), axat pe introducerea modelului american de cercetare si dezvoltare in construirea la nivel superior a unor blocuri de apartamente pentru inchiriat. Complexele imobiliare create au adus un incredibil plus de calitate si frumusete orasului Bucuresti, fondat cu mai mult de 500 de ani in urma ! Dotata cu o deosebita educatie in domeniul imobiliar si fiind mare iubitoare a folclorului romanesc, Kim este pasionata de iahting si viseaza ca in viitor sa navigheze impreuna cu sotul ei, in jurul apelor continentale. De aici si favorita ei zicala : ” un vapor ofera perfecta siguranta in port, dar nu pentru asta este vaporul construit “. – John A. Shedd
When she’s not working with the USTA, the Orlando Magic, or WWE, you can find Tara Collingwood on the jogging trails, in the yoga studio, or her kitchen whipping up a healthy meal for her family! A talented sports nutritionist, public speaker, and the author of several books, her favorite quote is, “don’t miss out on something that could be amazing just because it is difficult.” Keep up with the Diet Diva and her adventures on Facebook @DietDiva and Twitter @DietDivaTara.
When Women Rise, We all Rise! Today we celebrate Diane Sears, the CEO, editor, and publisher of i4 Business, a monthly print and digital magazine, and an online TV show covering the people, projects, and priorities shaping Central Florida. She is the author of the books “Tapping Your Inner Entrepreneur: Making the Move from Employee to Business Owner” and “Inside AP: A Guide to Today’s Accounts Payable Profession.” A career journalist, Diane previously served as editor-in-chief of Financial Ops; editor-in-chief of Venture Woman; a business writer for Florida Trend magazine and its sister publications Florida Small Business and Business Florida; an editor and reporter for The Orlando Sentinel newspaper; and assistant metro editor for Florida Today. One of her favorite quotes is “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” by Helen Keller. Follow i4 Business on Facebook at @i4biz, Instagram @i4 Business Magazine
Jackie Hirsch is the founder and CEO of Crowne Atlantic Properties, an Orlando-based business brokerage. Jackie became an entrepreneur at age 24, and she says “I wish I could tell people who are apprehensive about starting a business to take the first step and move forward. Yes, it feels a bit scary and uncomfortable, but that’s what any new adventure with risk and uncertainty feels like. Entrepreneurship is a challenge, a journey, and part of the fun is to create something from absolutely nothing. The biggest reward is seeing your potential and also how you manage adversity, stress, and the complete unbridled rollercoaster ride of owning your destiny. Of course, you’ll have naysayers, but often you will be your harshest critic to overcome. Follow Jackie on Instagram at @CrowneAtlanticBusinessBrokers.
When Women Rise, We All Rise! Today we celebrate Pushpa Gowda, a tech entrepreneur, and businesswoman. As the head of Global Technology Engagement for JLL, Pushpa is also a leader for the JLL Technologies’ Global Diversity & Inclusion efforts. With over 25 years of industry experience, Pushpa is a spokesperson and strategist who raises awareness and promotes JLL’s digital vision and technology offerings to improve productivity and profitability for the firm and its clients. She is on the Board of Advisors for DisruptCRE, a commercial real estate technology conference series, and a member of Women in Technology International. Beyond raising awareness for technology, Pushpa has played a leadership role in the JLL Business Resource Groups since 2015 when she became Chair of the Americas Women’s Business Network. In that role, she launched, produced and moderated a monthly webinar series for five years. One of her favorite quotes is, “Confidence isn’t thinking you are better than everyone else, it’s realizing that you have no reason to compare yourself to anyone else,” by Maryam Hasnaa. Keep up with Pushpa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pushpagowda.
Emily Blomquist is the founder of Big Dreams Bloom, a virtual STEM program focused on empowering girls across the country. One of Emily’s favorite quotes is by Harriet Tubman which fits perfectly with what she is up to these days, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Read more about Emily and her business here: www.playgroundmagazine.com/
As we wrap up #WHM, we celebrate Promova’s founder, Ioana Good, a former journalist and entrepreneur who brings her experience and expertise to a diverse client base and has created jobs during the pandemic. Ioana says, “Ever since arriving in the U.S., my dream was to run my own company and give back. Colleagues would always ask me for advice and help, so I saw a clear demand, and I launched Promova. I am inspired and excited to wake up every day and work with my incredible clients and the media. Read about her career path here: http://orlandovoyager.com/interview/hidden-gems-meet-ioana-good-former-journalist-launches-promova. Follow Ioana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioanagood
