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As an autistic parent, there is intense isolation and no matter how supportive your friends with typical children want to be, you need to have someone who understands your life.
-Candice Hartford

Candice Hartford is a NICU nurse with a heart of gold. She’s spent her career caring for critically ill newborns and their families, first in her native California and now in Boston at Mass General
Brigham Hospital. She’s also the mother of twin boys who were born prematurely and later diagnosed with autism.  It is this life-changing experience that led Candice to found Raising Harts, www.raisingharts.org, a 501c3 charity that is creating community, connection, education, and support for families with autistic and neuro-diverse children and their siblings.  Says Candice:
“While there were support groups in a clinical setting for families with autistic children, I really wanted someone to come over with their coffee (or a bowl of wine) and cry with me today.”  Her sons Grady and Keaton are now 7 and the community their mother has created has nurtured them and hundreds of autistic and neurodiverse children and families.  In this interview, Candice shares her non-traditional upbringing outside of Pasadena as well as her lifelong mantra:“Anything that scared me, I felt like I had to do. I learned early on to be strong and resilient.”   #autism #neurodiversity#NICU

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I’ve spent my adulthood working with the Greatest Generation.  My average client is 89 years old and they’ve taught me that even if you live 100 years, it is the blink of an eye.   -Erin DiCarlo

Erin DiCarlo‘s career path has been inspired not only by her lifelong devotion to her grandparents Nanny and Da, but by the joy she gets from working with the elderly. A wife and mother of four, Erin is the Founder & President of Dovetail Companies which she created to address the vast needs of families dealing with dementia and the overwhelming landscape of elder care. Nominated as a guest on the show by one of her employees, Erin’s long-term goal is to “change the way we view and support aging in America.”  In this interview, she explains that the final stage of aging is called “Legacy Leaving”.  Our elders need to be able to share their stories so that their experiences and accomplishments are not forgotten.   The women’s liberation movement brought women out of the home and into the workforce, and while this societal shift opened doors for women, it closed doors for their parents who were no longer able to be cared for at home and ended up in nursing homes instead.  For an insightful look into ageism and a quick tutorial on how we can understand the deepest needs of our aging loved ones, just hit that download button.  #ageism #dementia #eldercare  

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If you tell me I can’t do something, I’m gonna do it 10 times better than you ever thought I could. 
-Judy Briggs

We’re on the road for this episode of The Story Behind Her Success, featuring the story of Judy Briggs, mother of 4 and franchise owner of 3 thriving synergistic businesses:  1-800-GOT-JUNK, Men in Kilts/Boston and MaidPro Metrowest.  Recorded in Judy’s offices in the little town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts which is famous for being the location of the starting line of the Boston Marathon, this interview is full of wisdom for entrepreneurs, both future and present!  After pursuing a career in the insurance business, Judy purchased her first franchise in 2003 and has never looked back.   She loves what she does, often appearing at the town dump in a skirt and heels for a 1-800-GOT-JUNK drop-off.   Her four sons have played a role in the development of her businesses, and Judy speaks candidly about the joys and challenges of a family business while always maintaining the belief that no success in business can trump her loyalty to her family.  Judy’s tireless work ethic comes from watching her mother, a single mom who earned her living in a hospital cafeteria work endless hours just to make ends meet.  Judy became a mother at 21 to twin boys and in this interview, she shares how she taught her boys the value of an education by doing her homework around the kitchen table with them, completing her undergraduate degree, and achieving her master’s degree in business.  As an employer, Judy vowed to never treat an employee the way she was treated and prides herself on creating a family environment where relationships are everything, especially when it comes to growing her businesses.  A supporter of the Genesis Fund www.genesisfund.org Judy was the first woman to rise to board chair for the organization.   Her best advice?   “Don’tsweat the small stuff. Do what you love and most of all, don’t ever allow anyone to tell you that you can’t do something.  If you are passionate about it,
do it!”  For 20 minutes of plain talk from a fearless entrepreneur, hit that download button. #entrepreneur #franchise

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When I was a teenager, I had one of those diaries with a little lock.  I kept it under my bed and I would pull it out and just start writing.  -Maggie Van Galen

Do you love to write?  Meet Maggie Van Galen. Inspired by her father’s incredible ability to tell a story, this award-winning children’s book author and wordsmith has been writing since she could hold a pen.  Maggie grew up in a tiny town in Northern Michigan where “everyone knew your business before you even did it.”  She went to Michigan State wanting nothing more than to be a number and majored in Journalism until someone told her she would never make any money at it, so she pivoted to advertising with an aim to be a copywriter and ended up in corporate sales.   It was when Maggie became a mom that her father’s story of Keeno & Ernest resurfaced in her memory as she re-told it to her sons.   Teachers who heard the story urged her to put pen to paper and the series came to life, as The Adventures of Keeno & Ernest won the coveted Mom’s Choice Award.  Her latest series is a collaboration with a doctor of pediatric occupational therapy called King’s Day Outwhich empowers children as they navigate life’s adventures.  When she is not writing, Maggie shares her talents by offering her services as a ghostwriter, editor, proofreader, and content creator for social media, marketing, and websites.  www.maggievangalen.com. Says Maggie:  “Words are my gig. When I sign my books, I write:  always follow your dreams.  Sometimes, dreams are not right in front of you and that’s because life takes you in different directions.” #writer#author  #childrensbooks

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I don’t just make pretty dresses.  If I design a dress that doesn’t excite the woman who is wearing it, this is not good enough.  Every piece of art should excite you. -Anna Nieman

Born in Belarus in the former USSR, Anna Nieman learned all about perseverance and hard work from her parents.  Her father was a messanger for the resistance during World War II. Captured by Stalin’s army at only 17, he was sent to the gulag for 5 years.  Always an artist with a deep love for nature, Anna spent her days as a child, painting pictures on the banks of the Nieman River, eventually immigrating to the United States in 1991 in search of her dreams.  When the plane touched down in New York City, she knew only one word of English:  “taxi” which came in very handy.  Her rise in the fashion industry is a testimony to her strong belief in freedom, entrepreneurship, female empowerment, and the American Dream.  Once a nanny, she learned how to speak English by taking ESL classes, talking to people, and reading books. While the children took naps, Anna combed through the Boston Globe and saw an ad for a fit model.   Not knowing what a fit model was, she noticed that her measurements matched the job description, so Anna applied and got the job.  She would spend years honing her craft working with J-Jill, Talbots, Appleseeds, and Chadwicks of Boston, soaking up every piece of knowledge she could from fashion industry pros who looked at her early designs and encouraged her to go out on her own.  In 2010 she launched Anna Nieman Couture www.annaniemancouture.com.   Recently voted Best in the City as a designer of women’s formal wear by Boston Common Magazine, Anna describes her design style as “classic, beautiful, feminine and flattering.” Her devotion to her customers is what motivates her.  Says Anna:  “I give myself a grade and if I see a smile on a woman’s face, and I make her happy, goal achieved!”  For a tutorial on making your dreams come true, just hit that download button.   #americandream #fashion #formalwear

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I’m a businesswoman with old-fashioned values:  loyalty, tenacity, and a burning desire to be successful. – Cindy Stumpo

Cindy Stumpo has been paving the way for women in construction for decades. At only 23 and just days away from giving birth to her daughter Samantha, Cindy was the only woman in the room when she sat for hours to take her general contractor’s exam and would sell her first million-dollar home at 24.  In an industry dominated by men, Cindy is a role model for women in the trades and has built a multi-million-dollar luxury home construction business based on her “grindit out” motto.  www.cstumpodevelopment.com Her opulent floor plans coupled with attention to detail caught the attention of executives at HGTV and Cindy quickly became the star of the popular series Tough As Nails.  In this interview, her unstoppable personality is on full display with tough love for anyone listening. Say’s Cindy: “You’re not a loser as long as you keep picking yourself up. You’re a loser the day you don’t pick yourself up. That’s the day you quit on you.”  Born and raised on the Northshore of Boston as a child and then as a teenager in upscale Newton in a loving Italian-Jewish family, Cindy looked to her father for guidance when she wasn’t sure what to do with her life.  His response guides her to this day:  “Everybody’s got their talents and you’ve got yours.  When you find something you love to do, there’s not going to be anybody who is better at it than you.”  An advocate for speaking openly about mental illness, Cindy has dealt with anxiety and panic attacks for 26 years, sharing her story in the hopes of inspiring others. The host of the radio show Tough as Nails with Sam, Cindy is proud of her son Chad and delighted to see her daughter follow in her footsteps as a second-generation general contractor and founder of Newbrook Realty Group. Cindy Stumpo is a trailblazer with her boots on the ground every day.   “Obstacles?  I’m an excavator, says Cindy.  I just keep on pushing that rock up the mountain. “ #construction #luxuryhomes #determination #perseverance 

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Mental Illness affects everyone across all domains.  It doesn’t matter what your cultural background is, or your socio-economic background. It’s really an equal-opportunity illness that affects everyone. -Gemima St. Louis, Ph.D.

A recent survey shows that 90% of Americans believe our country is experiencing a mental health crisis.  Fortunately, Gemima St. Louis is leading the way toward solving this problem by creating groundbreaking programs that will train a diverse generation of mental health professionals at William James College in Newton, Massachusetts. www.williamjamescollege.edu. Born and raised in Port au Prince Haiti, Gemima and her family immigrated to the United States, landing in Boston on a cold day in January without winter clothing!  At only 14, Gemima did not speak the language and found herself in a high school classroom surrounded by teenagers from other countries who were also learning how to speak the language and understand American culture. Her parents raised 5 children with a sense of social responsibility, Gemima was told that she could become anything she set her mind to and that education would be the key to success.  All she had to do was remember where she came from and “reach back to bring those you left behind along with you.   Armed with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Gemima is now the mother of three children and the Vice President of Workforce Initiatives & Speciality Training, and an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology.  Determined to be a change-maker when it comes to disparities in access to mental healthcare, Gemima says:  You really have to rely on your networks of support to move systemic barriers. One person can try and it is exhausting, but when you are surrounded by others with a shared passion, you can move mountains. “   #mentalhealth #stigma

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When we talk about people, it’s very easy to talk about the things we don’t do well. We easily go to our weaknesses. My job is to encourage people to think about their strengths and what makes them a leading product. -Joanna Dutra

Today’s story is all about using our gifts, talents, and collective experience to create a new chapter in our lives. Joanna Dutra plays the piano and the violin. She sings and she’s even a stand-up comedian. After spending 20 years developing brand identities for Fortune 500 companies, she decided it was time to use her skills to help people instead of products. As the founder of The Creative Confidant. www.thecreativeconfidant.com Joanna is sharing what she knows with clients who come to her in search of a personal brand that reflects “who they are and where they stand.” In this interview, Joanna credits her grandfather with inspiring her work ethic. Born in Italy, he came to the United States at 9, unable to speak English. His compelling personality and zest for life propelled his personal and financial success story despite many obstacles. The way he lived his life became a roadmap for Joanna. A graduate of Georgetown University, it was Joanna’s love of sports that brought her to Boston where she has remained for decades, raising two daughters who inspire her every day. A big believer in taking chances, Joanna says: “We don’t grow when we are comfortable. We only grow when we are uncomfortable.” For 24 minutes of passion, purpose, and high-spirited wisdom just hit that download button. #passion #confidence #coaching

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It’s hard to Innovate because It’s not a linear process, it’s often circuitous. So if you fail, pick yourself up and learn from it. You might go in a new direction. -Carrie Allen

Having a great idea and acting on it, nurturing it into reality, and believing in its merit is a lot like finding buried treasure at the bottom of the ocean. If your idea works, the rewards are huge. Carrie Allen has spent her career focused on innovation: helping people steward new ideas, methods, and products. Her clients are trailblazers who have taken great ideas and turned them into dreams come true to form thriving businesses. As Managing Partner of CIC Captains of Innovation in Cambridge, MA. she and her team provide bespoke white glove innovation consulting from new idea generation to commercialization, and in the process, www.captains.cic.com is creating a global network of doers and dreamers in a city that is home to both MIT and Harvard. Says Carrie: “the companies that succeed are those that can navigate ambiguity.” Raised in Kentucky by her father, after her parent’s divorce divided the family in two, Carrie admits to learning how to be resilient as a child and names her beloved grandmother as her role model. Her passion and determination are evident in everything she does, including taking on work-life balance in a blended family with love and grace, while scratching her own creative itch with handcrafted linens she markets through her website: www.augusttable.com. For a brief encounter with a creative guru, hit that download button. #innovation #entrepreneur