I am the last one in line of my group to receive my 2015 Enterprising Women’s Honoree Award. There are 8 groups that are being honored this night… 80 women who have met certain criteria throughout the year, two of which are sales revenue and philanthropic work. As I am inching toward the stage, listening to each woman in front of me receive her award, everything goes silent and still, and all I can hear is the sound of my internal voice.

I remember a time not that long ago when I was a managing partner of a company that brought in over 50 million dollars in revenue.  It was a different time back then…. Men dominated the corporate world and I was aware of it, however it didn’t hold me back from running my company with a majority of women staff…and running it well. It didn’t happen overnight, however after awhile the men I was dealing with realized that I knew what I was doing, I was very successful doing it and I wasn’t going anywhere, so they were going to have to build a bridge and get over it…. Yep, they got over it!

The applause from the audience snaps me back to the present. Suddenly I notice that there are only 3 women left in front of me. My heart starts to beat a little faster. I remind myself to make sure I don’t step on my dress.   I take a deep breath and… I’m back in my dream state again.

It is piñata party time!! Every year I take a trip to Nepal and visit a children’s home that I support. They take in anywhere from 50 to 100 kids of all ages. The kids are either orphans or taken off the street and given a place to eat, sleep and sent to a local school. When they reach a certain age, they leave the home and begin their life.   It is so gratifying to know that I had a part in changing their future and their outlook on life.   In some instances, these children were begging on the streets because their family abandoned them and years later they are working in a hospital, or seeing the world working as a flight attendant! Some may even be inspired to start up their own business! I contribute money and time to this orphanage however, once a year, it is all about the “piñata party!” We laugh, we dance, we sing, we eat cake. We create happy memories.   These moments are magical…watching the children (and adults!) take turns trying to break that piñata to get to the candy. I hope one day you can be here and see it for yourself. The JOY is so much better than I can ever describe.

My turn next. The nerves have disappeared. I am so honored to be in this roomful of women getting this award. I have been searching for this type of organization where achievement in business and philanthropy go hand in hand, where nobody needs to prove anything, where people are comfortable in who they are, and I believe I have finally found it. These women feel like family to me and I have only just met them a couple of days ago. They can relate to where I have been and what I am doing now. It is a community … of authentic women! And perhaps, as I get to know them and they get to know me, they will join me in changing the lives of those children whose future seemed hopeless.   And also take their turn whacking the piñata!  

“…Jacqueline Muller is our next honoree…”

I am the last one in line of my group to receive my 2015 Enterprising Women’s Honoree Award. There are 8 groups that are being honored this night… 80 women who have met certain criteria throughout the year, two of which are sales revenue and philanthropic work. As I am inching toward the stage, listening to each woman in front of me receive her award, everything goes silent and still, and all I can hear is the sound of my internal voice.

I remember a time not that long ago when I was a managing partner of a company that brought in over 50 million dollars in revenue.  It was a different time back then…. Men dominated the corporate world and I was aware of it, however it didn’t hold me back from running my company with a majority of women staff…and running it well. It didn’t happen overnight, however after awhile the men I was dealing with realized that I knew what I was doing, I was very successful doing it and I wasn’t going anywhere, so they were going to have to build a bridge and get over it…. Yep, they got over it!

The applause from the audience snaps me back to the present. Suddenly I notice that there are only 3 women left in front of me. My heart starts to beat a little faster. I remind myself to make sure I don’t step on my dress.   I take a deep breath and… I’m back in my dream state again.

It is piñata party time!! Every year I take a trip to Nepal and visit a children’s home that I support. They take in anywhere from 50 to 100 kids of all ages. The kids are either orphans or taken off the street and given a place to eat, sleep and sent to a local school. When they reach a certain age, they leave the home and begin their life.   It is so gratifying to know that I had a part in changing their future and their outlook on life.   In some instances, these children were begging on the streets because their family abandoned them and years later they are working in a hospital, or seeing the world working as a flight attendant! Some may even be inspired to start up their own business! I contribute money and time to this orphanage however, once a year, it is all about the “piñata party!” We laugh, we dance, we sing, we eat cake. We create happy memories.   These moments are magical…watching the children (and adults!) take turns trying to break that piñata to get to the candy. I hope one day you can be here and see it for yourself. The JOY is so much better than I can ever describe.