CHARLESTON WOMEN Get to know some of the Charleston women making our community stronger, brighter and more beautiful. Want to be featured or nominate someone you know? Let us know at editor@charlestonwomen.com. We Are CHARLESTON WOMEN BY KATIE FINCH ROSLIN Fields & RONDA Taylor Founder and Executive Director (Fields) Program Director (Taylor) of Youth Empowerment Services Inc. (Y.E.S.) For readers who may be new to Y.E.S., can you share the mission of the organization? The mission of Y.E.S. is to empower girls through Christian values to discover, embrace and appreciate their selfworth leading to a healthy and productive lifestyle. Why is it so important to introduce girls and young women to entrepreneurship and leadership early in life? We at Y.E.S. have found that many girls have creative instincts but do not know how to express and showcase that creativity. Through our programs, we provide girls with the tools, resources and motivation to discover and display their creativity. We are intentional in accomplishing this goal by giving them opportunities to hear and interact with motivational speakers and be mentored by women entrepreneurs and leaders in our community. If you could give one piece of advice to young women who dream of starting something of their own, what would it be? Believe in yourself. Be tenacious and don’t give up despite disappointments. Identify and connect with a mentor who will serve as a motivator, coach and accountability partner. Everyone is born for a purpose and can give back to their community. MOLLY Fleming Co-Founder & Managing Director Sipland.co What drew you to New Morning and its mission to provide contraceptive care to women across South Carolina? I've always believed (and history shows) that when women thrive, societies thrive. In a world that can feel increasingly polarized, I'm drawn to causes that unite. Access to contraceptive care is one of those rare issues. You’re currently helping to lead fundraising efforts. What impact have you seen so far? What’s been most meaningful is watching my Charleston friends (old and new) come together and form their own real circles of support for New Morning within the community. At the end of the day, we’re wired for connection, and it really does take a village. For women who want to make a difference but aren't sure where to start, what are some meaningful ways they can support causes they care about? There's no one right way to show up. It can be financial support, time or simply using your voice and your network to spread awareness. The most effective movements are built on a combination of all three: people, energy and resources. Start where you are and trust that it matters. JESSICA Munday Founder & CEO of TRIO Solutions Inc TRIO is celebrating 25 years in business. What first inspired you to launch the agency? From day one, the goal was to build something that delivers real results and stands the test of time, all while living out my philosophy: work hard, enjoy life and make a difference. How have you seen opportunities for women entrepreneurs evolve during the past two decades? When I started, there were fewer seats at the table and even fewer women leading the conversation. Today, women aren’t waiting for a seat; we’re building the tables. We’re launching, funding and scaling businesses across every industry, and doing it with confidence and purpose. What has Charleston meant to you personally as a place to build a business and creative career? Charleston has been everything to me. It’s a place that values relationships, and that’s exactly how I’ve built this business. The community shows up for one another, and that support has mattered more than anything along the way. What advice would you give women who are considering starting their own business today? Find joy in what you do. If you don’t, do something else. Life is too short to be miserable while building a dream.
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