Below, you’ll find such a magical story from our dear Inkandescent friend and partner Cynthia de Lorenzi, an artist, activist, entrepreneur, and founder of the international women’s group Success in the City: Cynthia.art.

What always amazes me about this truly amazing woman is her effervescence, humor, and the joy she brings to everyone she meets. Of course, we wouldn’t imagine this powerhouse with anyone but a truly amazing man. Larry Nelson was that gentleman. He bought elegant clothes for Cynthia to wear to events with legislators and her posse, cared for her children as if he were their father, made all of her girlfriends feel beautiful and special (he bought me a necklace that said Hopejust because he saw it in a shop and thought I’d like it; Cynthia has one, too!).

His battle with cancer was long and painful, and Cynthia never left his side. She remained hopeful and vigilant to the end, which sadly was last Sunday. The details of death are never as important as the legacy left behind. With Cynthia, Larry will live on. And the thousands of people who love them both will be here to support her and cherish his memory.

Scroll down to read Cynthia’s tribute to Larry on Facebook. Grab a tissue.

Stacy LaMotta, founder, Southern Delaware Wine Festival

And don’t miss our monthly Empowered Together webinar where our members open their hearts, minds, and lives to discuss a topic that touches them deeply. This month’s courageous conversation is no exception.

Up next: We look forward to having you join us on May 7. Our dear friend Stacy LaMotta shares her journey as the founder of the Southern Delaware Wine Festival — and how she has kept the organization going as she copes with a life-threatening illness.

Reserve your free spot on Eventbrite. Learn more about Stacy here.

Cynthia and Larry in New Mexico

Cynthia + Larry: A Love Story

October 17, 2025: Cynthia writes on Facebook — It is with a broken heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Larry Nelson.

Our love language was humor! It wasn’t his good looks, success, and sports cars that attracted me to him. It was his beautiful, gracious soul, a twinkle in his eyes to match one of the best senses of humor of anyone I’ve ever known. He was my George Burns, and I was his Gracie — our laughter was the soundtrack of our life together.

He loved me, our children, and our granddaughter fiercely and unconditionally. He was generous, loyal, and blessed with a wit quicker than someone could draw a gun in a Western. He loved his friends dearly, but he had a special fondness for all my girlfriends — not in a salacious way, but in the way that only a man truly confident in himself can be. He was endlessly delighted, amused, and inspired by the brilliance, sass, and sparkle of the incredible women in our lives.

Larry’s father passed away in a fire when Larry was just 18 months old. I’ve always believed much of his humor, resilience, and charm came from his mother, who raised her children with grit, love, and a hearty dose of folksy humor. She taught him to face life with a joke, a wink, and an open heart — lessons he carried through every day of his life.

Before moving into technology, Larry had a long career as a stockbroker and Vice President at Prudential Securities. Later, he reinvented himself and found his calling helping businesses with their computer networks. He was as clever with circuits and servers as he was with punchlines. He told the best “dad jokes” — though our granddaughter Isabel often reminded me, “Poppi is way funnier than you, Didi,” and she’s absolutely right.

Larry was the love of my life — my partner in laughter, mischief, travel, and everything in between. The world feels somber without his quick wit and gentle presence, but I know his humor, generosity, and love will echo through all of us who were lucky enough to know him. I’ll share details soon about how we plan to celebrate his remarkable life. For now, please keep Larry — and our family — in your thoughts and hearts.

If you really want to honor him, tell someone a terrible dad joke today. He’d love that.

Click here to follow Cynthia on Facebook • Learn more: Cynthia.art

We shared thoughts, ideas, wisdom, and inspiration — and opened up the room so all of our attendees can learn from each other. Don’t miss the conversation!

Listen to our podcast • Watch the video • Scroll down to learn more about the Year of the Fire Horse.

Click here to join the Empowered Together Network!

About us: Learn more about Cynthia, Alina and Hope.

Illustration by Michael Glenwood Gibbs, michaelglenwood.com

The Fire Horse in Chinese culture: The Horse is known for its energetic and dynamic nature. It symbolizes vitality, speed, and perseverance. People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to possess similar traits, such as being hardworking, warm-hearted, and independent.

The Horse is also associated with success and good fortune. There is a phrase “马到成功” in Chinese, which represents achieving success swiftly and smoothly, just like when a victorious horse arrives at the battlefield. It implies that success can be achieved rapidly and effortlessly. Some people may wear clothing or accessories depicting horses or incorporate horse imagery in their homes for positive energy and fortune. During ancient times, horses were used to transport goods, kings, soldiers, and messages—the legend of the White Horse Temple tells the story of the origins of faith and China’s first Buddhist temple.

People born in the Year of the Horse are independent, enthusiastic, popular, cheerful, and quick to compliment others. said to be outgoing and cheerful and enjoy being part of a crowd, but only when they can take centre stage. Some famous folks with this birth year include Barbara Streisand, Clint Eastwood, Sandra Day O’Connor, George Soros, Vladimir Lenin, Paul McCartney, and Emma Watson.

Learn more about the Empowered Together Network on Inkandescent Women magazine. We invite you to join us! Find details about the benefits of membership here.

Today, we are thrilled to talk with one of our new members: Meet strategic marketing consultant, content creator, and data analyst Kylene Ye

I’m Hope Katz Gibbs, founder of Inkandescent® PR + Publishing Co.

Before we jump into our Q&A, here’s a little about this truly amazing woman.

Kylene Ye is a strategic marketing consultant, content creator, and data analyst with 7+ years of experience helping Fortune 500 brands optimize their digital presence. At LinkedIn, she advises top companies on B2B marketing, data storytelling, and campaign strategy. Today, she focuses on empowering women-led businesses to grow their impact through LinkedIn and social media. Outside of work, Kylene creates content on YouTube where she’s built an engaged audience with over 25K+ subscribers. She’s currently based in Maryland and enjoys green tea, long walks, video games, and yoga.

Be sure to listen to and watch our interview where we talk with Kylene about:

• Tell us more about your background and your current work.
• You mentioned an ethical dilemma in your career advising brands who use AI—how has that shaped your perspective of your own career?
• What has been your journey with your YouTube channel?
• You believe that everyone should have an online professional presence. Why is that?
• How can people brand themselves online in an authentic way? What are some common pitfalls you see in this process?
• What motivated you to join this women’s network, and what kind of community are you looking to be a part of?

Don’t miss it!

Learn more about the Empowered Together Network on Inkandescent Women magazine. We invite you to join us! Find details about the benefits of membership here.

Today, we are thrilled to talk with one of our new members: Andrea Walton, MBA — the founder & CEO of the Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation based in Alexandria, VA, at Howard University, and in Cape Town, South Africa

I’m Hope Katz Gibbs, founder of Inkandescent®.

Before we jump into our Q&A, here’s a little about this truly amazing woman.

Andrea Walton is a seasoned HR executive, published author, and purpose-driven philanthropist committed to building pathways to education for Black and Brown girls around the world. As Founder and CEO of The Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation, Andrea leads with a deeply personal mission-having once been a teen mom who earned her GED before climbing the ranks to become a Chief People Officer in the biotech and education sectors.

Since 2020 Andrea has awarded nearly a dozen scholarships under the banner “From GED to MBA,” and recently formalized the Foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. With global partnerships spanning the University of Cape Town and Howard University the foundation is scaling a bold vision: to eliminate systemic barriers to higher education-one student one scholarship and one opportunity at a time. Andrea also leads Concrete Strategies LLC her HR consulting firm and hosts the podcast The Table I Built where she shares unfiltered conversations on leadership resilience and equity.”My work is rooted in the belief that education saves lives. It is true for me, and it is my life’s mission to help others write their own stories. Where we came from creates a foundation. What we do next is up to us.”

Be sure to listen to and watch our interview where we talk with Andrea about:

• Your story is incredibly inspiring—from teen mom to corporate executive to founder. What personal turning point led you to believe that your past didn’t define your future?
• You’ve written two powerful books, From GED to MBA and All the Smoke. What inspired you to share your journey so openly, and what impact have those stories had on others?
• The Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation began as the Andrea Walton Scholarship in 2020 and has now grown into something global. What does it mean to you to see it evolve in this way, especially with the new South Africa partnership?
• You also launched a podcast, The Table I Built, to amplify underdog voices. What do you hope listeners take away from your episodes—and why was now the right time to start it?
•  You wear many hats—author, executive, founder, mother. What keeps you grounded and motivated as you pour into others through your work and philanthropy?

Listen to Andrea’s Podcast, The Table I Built: A bite-sized podcast on real-life resilience purpose and leadership in Season 1 of Andrea’s show you’ll find episodes under 10 minutes for builders who are short on time but big on vision. “Each episode offers raw, reflective insight on grit, healing, and building something meaningful after life turns sideways,” says the woman who went from teen mom to executive. “I am happy to share hard-earned lessons, true stories, and bold encouragement for anyone who’s ever had to start again.” In Season 2 Andrea will interview leaders who have also gone from pain to purpose and want to share their hard-earned wisdom. Click here to listen.

Check out Andrea’s books:

From GED to MBA: Defying the odds to win! As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who became a teen mom, the odds were stacked against Andrea. “Through my faith, family, and resilience, I fought through,” she explains, and hopes her story motivates readers when the odds are stacked against them. “Today, choose to look doubt square in the eyes and say, I will not quit!” Click here to buy the book.

All the Smoke: From Pain to Purpose Author Andrea Walton has shared her life and educational journey in From GED to MBA. Now, “All the Smoke” details Divorce, Depression, and ultimately Destiny. The native of Pasadena, CA grew up with a single mom, sister, and brother. Like many teens that become pregnant, she was on welfare and dropped out of high school to raise her daughter. At 19, she took the GED and passed, but it took several years before she was ready to apply to college. The first in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree, she forged on to complete her MBA two years later. She then spent decades as a human resources expert with positions at Nestle, Target, biotech companies, and more. She now mom to three children, all of whom are thriving in Northern VA.

Contact this truly amazing woman: Email: Andrea.Walton@concrete-strategies.com • Cell: 626-233-1409

Today, we are thrilled to talk with one of our new members: Philanthropy advocate and podcast host Megan Bell.

I’m Hope Katz Gibbs, founder of Inkandescent, where the work of the professionals we have the privilege of working with never ceases to amaze us.

Before we jump into our Q&A, here’s a little about this truly amazing woman.

Meg Bell is the Director of Engagement at Daylight, a professional learning platform for philanthropic advisors. With over 15 years of experience building mission-driven partnerships, Meg is passionate about making philanthropy more accessible and integrating giving into everyday wealth conversations.

She hosts Illuminate Philanthropy, a podcast that spotlights everyday practitioners who are advancing generosity and innovation across the sector. She also created My Aunt Is a Nun, a storytelling project inspired by the women religious who were, in many ways, among the first philanthropists—committed to serving those most vulnerable and shaping a more just world. That same spirit of generosity and solidarity continues to inform Meg’s work and her belief in the power of community and giving to drive systemic change.

A proud graduate of Seattle University and former Jesuit Volunteer Corps member, Meg currently sits on the advisory boards of Vitanya—an organization that advances brain health and emotional resilience for those on the frontlines of service, helping caregivers, veterans, and mission-driven professionals sustain their impact and strengthen the communities they serve.

Be sure to listen to and watch our interview where we talk with Megan about:

• What is your favorite childhood memory?
• What advice would you give your younger self?
• What inspired you to get into this field?
• What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
• What life event has shaped you most?
• What is your purpose statement?
• What is your superpower?
• What is your anthem song?
• Why My Aunt is a Nun? And, what do you hope people will take away from these conversations?

Check out Megan’s podcast here: myauntisanun.podbean.com

Today we are thrilled to talk with one of our new members, Rúna Bouius, founder of the TRUE Power Institute.

About Rúna: A serial entrepreneur and visionary thinker who grew up in Iceland, Rúna’s life of adventure and exploration has unfolded in wildly different settings – Reykjavik, Santa Fe, and Los Angeles. For 20 years, Rúna was a trailblazer and the industry leader in Iceland’s beauty and wellness industry. After her husband’s death, at the height of her commercial success, Runa moved with her sons to Santa Fe and embarked on a no-holds-barred soul journey. Today, the published author and international bestseller co-author resides in LA, where she co-founded the Conscious Leader Network, the Conscious Capitalism LA Chapter, the Together Network, and her firm, True Power Institute. She serves as a mentor to CEOs and other visionary professionals who are hungry for a more purpose-driven world. “I am often referred to as a futurist and conscious leadership influencer,” shares Runa, who uses her keynote speaking, coaching, and social impact initiatives to promote the evolution of the human spirit. “I invite leaders on a journey toward a thriving world.” Learn more: truepowerinstitute.com

Today, we ask this truly amazing woman about:

• The origin story: Tell us about your life as the accidental trailblazer — You describe yourself as an ‘accidental entrepreneur’—can you take us back to the beginning and share how you became a female founder at a time when that was rare? What early leadership experiences challenged or inspired you to redefine success on your own terms?
• The leadership alchemist: Tell us what that title means to you—and how it captures the essence of your work with leaders now? Your current work centers around TruePower and transformational and conscious leadership. How do you define TruePower, and how is it different from traditional concepts of power in leadership? You talk about helping leaders evolve their inner game. What does that inner game consist of—and why is it more critical now than ever?
• Power shifts + Future-Ready Leadership: You often speak about the power shifts happening in business today. What are the most important shifts you see—and how are they impacting leaders, especially women? We’re living in a time of increasing complexity and rapid change. How can leaders today begin to lead differently to stay relevant, resilient, and impactful? You’ve said that the future of leadership requires multidimensional intelligence. What does that mean in practice—and how do leaders begin cultivating it?
• Leadership in the age of AI: In a world shaped by AI and exponential technology, what human capacities do you believe are most essential for leaders to strengthen right now? You talk about the integration of intuition, emotional intelligence, and body intelligence—how do these show up in leadership decision-making today? What would you say to leaders who feel overwhelmed by the pace of change but are committed to evolving their leadership for the future?
• The alchemy of Inner Power + Presence: Many high-level leaders struggle with burnout or a sense of inner misalignment. How do you help them realign with their inner compass and reclaim their energy? Let’s talk about power dynamics—especially for women leaders. How do we shift from ‘power over’ to ‘power with’ and own our voice more fully? What does it mean to lead with presence—and how can leaders cultivate that in the middle of stress, speed, and expectations?
• Programs, Purpose + What’s Next: You’ve created powerful experiences like the TruePower Leadership Roundtables and The TruePower Leadership Accelerator. Can you share what these offerings are about—and who they’re for? Your next program is called The Alchemy of Leadership. What can you share about what’s coming—and how this program takes leaders to their next level? What excites you most about the future of leadership—and what role do you see women playing in shaping that future?

Don’t miss it! 

Learn more here: truepowerinstitute.com

Today, we are thrilled to talk with one of our new members: journalist, author, and activist Natalie Jacobsen.

I’m Hope Katz Gibbs, founder of Inkandescent where we never cease to be amazing by the work of the professionals, we have the privilege of working with.

Before we jump into our Q&A here’s a little about this truly amazing woman.

Who she is: Natalie is an award-winning journalist, writer and marketer who devotes her time and talent to the nonprofit sector, inspiring others to take action and change the world.

What she does: Natalie has reported on civil rights in Virginia and defended journalists’ rights in court. One of her passions is filmmaking; she has shown three projects at film festivals. In her spare time, she can be found at cultural festivals, boarding planes, volunteering, and in greenhouses. Natalie is also the author of the 2024 book, “Ghost Train.”

Why she does it: “I grew up in a global-minded, aviation family hailing from the Pacific Northwest, and spent her summers creatively writing in my backyard. After graduating college, I lived in Japan for years as a magazine writer and a photographer for television stations, fostering my love of untold stories.”

 Let’s get started with our questions:

• What was your first “Ah-ha!” moment? When did you realize what path, you were set on?
• What changed along the way, and how did you reach where you are now?
• How can parents provide foundations for these steppingstones to success for their kids? How did your parents shape or encourage you?
• How much of your work is inspired by what’s happening in the world, and what is a call to action for anyone listening?
• Tell me about some ways people can support communicators — journalists, writers, authors — or work on aspiring to be one.

Thank you, Natalie, for a great interview! We are so happy to be featuring you on www.InkandescentRadio.com and www.Inkandescent.tv and can’t wait to see what you will accomplish! We’ll talk with you all again soon!

Today we are thrilled to talk with one of our new members, Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro.

A longtime Inkandescent client who started working with us in 2012, it is amazing to see what this award-winning financial planner has accomplished in the decade since we met. You’ll learn all about it at the website we created to share all of her work and insights, www.MargueritaCheng.com and to date we have published two of her book, www.WealthManagementRules.com and www.DiaryofaCFPPro.com. Plus, last year we finished episode 105 of her podcast/video series, Margaritas with Marguerita. Amazing!

I’m Hope Katz Gibbs, founder of Inkandescent, where the work of the professionals we have the privilege of working with never ceases to amaze us.

On today’s episode, you’ll learn:

• What drew you to become a financial planner?
• Helping others is a passion and priority of yours. You sit on several boards to ensure that your industry stays strong and compliant and that women have a seat at the table. Tell us all about it.
• You regularly win awards, speak at events, and share your wisdom. What can we look forward to in 2025 and beyond?
• On a personal note, you travel the world to run marathons. Tell us about some of the fantastic places you have been, and what’s coming up next.
• Parting thought: Please share a critical idea about how to care for our financial futures in this volatile time.

Thank you, Rita, for a great interview! We are so happy to be featuring you on InkandescentRadio.com and Inkandescent.tv and can’t wait to see what you will accomplish! We’ll talk with you all again soon!

I’m Hope Katz Gibbs, founder of Inkandescent where we never cease to be amazing by the work of the professionals, we have the privilege of working with.

We’ll get into some of the big life changes Kim has made since the pandemic, all of which are fascinating and awe-inspiring.

First, let me share that Kim’s passion is as a personal branding photographer. At her famous monthly Headshot Parties, Kim creates powerful  portraits that brand corporate and entrepreneurial women — and men —  in a fashion that brings out that internal sparkle we all want the world to see. In 2018, she launched a video and photo series entitled, IdentityRVA!

Kim has also filled galleries with her art, including the Crossroads Art Center where bold, beautiful portraits of 11 women — along with inspiring videos of each (filmed and produced by the Richmond firm Memories Videography) were featured. While helping women look amazing in their pics, Kim is also a champion of young girls about body image and what makes them beautiful from the inside out.

And that’s just a bit about this truly amazing woman that you’ll learn today! Welcome Kim!

On today’s episode, we’ll talk to Kim about:

• What drew you to become a photographer?
• This wasn’t your first career. What did you do before this?
• Tell us about your work with young girls and women — how do you help them sparkle?
• Richmond, VA was home for a long while – but the new big story is what you have been doing since 2020!
• Tell us about your experiences on the road! What has been the best place you’ve visited and why?
• What has happened that you weren’t expecting, and how did you handle it?
• What advice do you have for others who want to go on a similar adventure?
• What’s next for photographer and artist Kim Brundage?

Thank you, Kim, for a great interview! We are so happy to be featuring you on InkandescentRadio.com and Inkandescent.tv and can’t wait to see where your travels will take you. We’ll talk with you all again soon!

What she does: Helps people become their own life leaders.

Why she does it: “My experiences include 23 years in a corporate setting, conducting research in a K-12 environment, teaching as an educator in higher education, working as an education consultant, and a full-time doctoral student in an educational leadership program. Because of this varied cross-organizational background, coupled with a lifetime of reflection, learning, and integrating experiences, I am able to use my coaching expertise and skills to collaborate with you to gain clarity about your life path and address those obstacles that may threaten to pull you off that path. I am committed to your development—mind, body, and spirit.

“I believe we all have stories of courage, potential to develop, and obstacles to overcome. My interest is in working with people who are seeking, who want to know and learn more, live more, be more, and authentically move forward with increased clarity and focus, purpose, and joy. I want to work with seekers to know their life story, own it, and proactively live that story with joy and abundance. I bring to the table knowledge of motivational and positive psychology, leadership principles, cross-organizational knowledge, and mindfulness strategies, among others, and a wealth of life experience.”

Learn with Eva and the Empowered Together Network: Coming this year, you’ll have the opportunity to explore coaching sessions with Eva Ross: “My goal is to increase awareness of participants by having them leave with a sense of agency and also strategies they might consider using to address their challenges now and in the future. And we certainly have those!”

Classes include:

A discussion of Viktor Frankl’s 1946 book, Man’s in Search of Meaning:

This profound book chronicles Dr. Frankl’s experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. He goes on to describe his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose to each person’s life through one of three ways: the completion of tasks, caring for another person, or finding meaning by facing suffering with dignity.

• In this workshop: Eva will share quotes and insights from the book as prompts for discussion to increase awareness and inspire introspection.

Living Room Conversations:

In the tradition of gathering in parlors to talk (parlor or parlour comes from the French and means a “place for speaking”), these onversations bring people together to generate understanding and connection.

• In this workshop: With the goal of reducing anxiety after the election, we dive into thoughts on how we can move forward, avoid polarization, build a climate of peace and understanding in ourselves and our communities.

• In this workshop: Eva will explore the book’s seven key barriers to social connection and offer evidence-based strategies for overcoming them. By addressing these obstacles, connections can happen more easily.

In our March interview, we ask Eva: 

• Tell us about your background and what made you decide to be a coach?
• You say that your goal is to help your clients become their own life coach. How do you accomplish that?
• Your work as in the field of positive psychology guides your practice. How can we all access the big ideas researched in this community, including Viktor Frankl’s Man’s in Search of Meaning?

Click here to learn more about Eva on Inkandescent Women magazine, and read her essay, “One Woman’s Thoughts on Moving Forward After the Election.”