Donnelly.Media’s EmpowerHer: A Women’s Health Event featured several female entrepreneurs who shared their stories at the Community House of Moorestown last month.
Women from various area industries came together to connect at Donnelly.Media’s EmpowerHer: A Women’s Health Event, presented by Closet Factory at the Community House of Moorestown on Oct. 23.
The morning featured interviews with several female entrepreneurs who shared their stories.
Rev. Dr. Hilda Covington is the founder and executive director of the social services organization SisterHood Inc. Since starting the agency in 1996, Covington has transformed it into a pillar of support for underserved communities, providing essential services such as food assistance, clothing donations, mentorship programs and rehabilitation services.
“If you see a need and you don’t try to meet it, then you’re really a part of the problem,” Covington believes. “We don’t count numbers, even though numbers are so necessary. We really count souls. Who have we touched that’s going to stay touched?
“Sometimes you meet a person, depending on their situation, across the board and you’re able to say, ‘You’ve done good. Look where you are today.’”
Brittany Palko-Harris, senior design consultant for Closet Factory, worked in the retail sector of business and had various management roles for brands such as Michael Kors and Louis Vuitton. Her father opened Closet Factory’s Philadelphia franchise to design and install closets and other home organization solutions in 2017.
That’s when she transitioned to a creative job that she says gives her the best of all worlds.
“Having a closet or an entertainment center or whatever … in the home is aesthetically very pleasing, but I think it goes a lot deeper than that,” Palko-Harris said. “These days, women are multi-tasking. We’re moms, we’re working full time, we’re dropping kids off at school …
“But then you come home to your house,” she added, “and you want it to be peaceful. We’re not only trying to create something that looks really nice, but a place where you can organize your life and feel at peace when you go back to your home.”
Isabela Veloso is a master trainer for Edge Fitness Clubs, where it’s all about community, she noted. From her perspective, there’s no judgment, help is always there and the staff is always welcoming. Veloso has a military background, but her love for health and fitness started when she was young.
For women who might feel intimidated coming to the gym – don’t, she advises. There’s no reason to feel bad or shy for stepping out of your bubble.
“There’s something very beautiful about pushing yourself to do something that you’re not used to,” she explained. “We all need a purpose when you start (going to) the gym. Not a goal, not a reason. Is it for you? Is it for your kids? Is it that you’re getting older or you have health issues?
“I cannot teach you purpose,” Veloso added. “It’s within you. You have your own purpose, and you have to keep showing up for yourself.”
Laura Beard, a nurse practitioner and owner of Serenity Health Primary Care, dreamed of creating something where she could interact with her patients and help them experience health care that enables them to feel heard. Giving her patients a voice as she saw her dream come true has been rewarding.
One piece of advice she has when it comes to health care is all about self-care.
“Take care of yourself like you take care of everyone else,” Beard recommended. “Women do not. We put ourselves last all the time. We need to step up and realize that self-care is a priority for us. You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
Christine Dash founded the Christine Dash Real Estate Group after working in the pharmaceutical industry for 20 years. She realized her job no longer made her happy, and after she became a real estate agent, Dash never looked back. She says that while it’s okay to lead a business with kindness, it’s also important to be direct with others.
“Have a little bit of tension there so that you know you’re in charge of the situation and you know what you need to do,” she observed. “It’s okay to get there with kindness, but the important thing is to not back down off something that you believe is true and is right.”
Noelle Brown Diamond is the co-founder of NDA Medical Spa in Moorestown, one of the event’s sponsors. She and her husband Stuart both worked in health care, but decided to create a medical spa that blends luxury; design; aesthetics; and medicine, according to its website.
Diamond advised women looking for a lead in the health and wellness space to simply be innovative.
“The market is saturated and there is a lot of information out there with Instagram and TikTok,” she commented. “If you start your practice, whatever it is, and then listen to your patients, think, how can I help them?”
Other sponsors of EmpowerHer: A Women’s Health Event included Edge Fitness Clubs; Moorestown Super Buy Rite; Delran Eye Associates; Christine Dash – Keller Williams; New York Life; Discover Health; REALM Fine + Fashion Jewelry; Alloy Fitness; and Serenity Health.
All of the event’s presentations will air on Donnelly.Media’s “Beyond the Pages” podcast across Apple, Spotify and YouTube.
