Anxiety, Boldness, and the Courage to Show Up as a Woman in Business
Anxiety is a bitch.
As a small business owner and artist, I’ve learned that putting yourself out there isn’t always glamorous—it’s sweaty, shaky, and sometimes occurs on the verge of tears. Recently, I had the honor of speaking on a panel of Spark Award recipients for the Women in Business Networking lunch, hosted by the Better Business Bureau of Dayton and the Miami Valley.
It was an incredible opportunity, but my body didn’t exactly get the memo. My hands trembled, my voice wavered, and I fought back tears for no reason other than anxiety rearing its ugly head. And yet, the entire theme of the panel was about boldness and courage in business—and that’s exactly what it took for me to sit at that table.
When Anxiety Silences What Matters Most
The frustrating part of anxiety is that it makes it hard to communicate the things that matter most. I didn’t get to share that every one of my bags is named after a badass woman from Dayton’s history. I didn’t get to announce that I have two new collections launching October 1st, including one that will raise funds for the Artemis Center in Dayton, an organization supporting survivors of domestic violence.
Those are the things I wanted people to know—but anxiety made me stumble over my words. It convinced me I didn’t belong, when in reality, I deserved to be at that table.
Courage Looks Different for Everyone
Boldness doesn’t always mean being the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes it looks like walking into a space where you stand out as the creative, the artist, the one whose story doesn’t match the rest. Sometimes it’s in the details—choosing clothes that make you feel powerful, sharing vulnerable truths, or admitting you don’t have it all figured out.
The women in that room reminded me that courage is about showing up, even when your heart is racing. They nodded as I spoke (even if I barely heard my own words), and afterwards, several came up to tell me how much they related to my story. That’s when it hit me: more people understand than we think. Anxiety tells us we’re alone, but connection proves us wrong.
To Every Woman Afraid to Take Up Space
If you’re a woman in business, a creative, or anyone battling self-doubt—hear me when I say this: you deserve to be in the room. Your words, your work, your story all matter. Anxiety might scream otherwise, but boldness is simply doing the damn thing, even when it terrifies you.
So here’s my advice: show up anyway. Launch the project. Apply for the award. Sit on the panel. Do the thing that scares you. Because growth lives on the other side of discomfort, and I promise—it will all be okay.
