Unbound Turnarounds

 “Who do I want to be in this situation?”   It’s a question life coach Vera Ilnyckyj asks herself—and her clients—daily.    After two decades in the corporate and nonprofit marketing worlds, she knew it was time to give more of her authentic self to the world. That meant becoming a full-time coach focused on helping mid-life women grow through divorce and job loss.   Leave...

Nutrition means listening to your body—really listening.   Heidi Williams believes all foods fit into your diet, and she would know. As a Registered Dietitian, Sports Dietitian, and NSCA Certified Personal Trainer, she’s passionate about transforming our relationship with food and our bodies.   “Weight loss isn’t the answer to happiness. There’s so much more to life.” Unfortunately, wome...

Your best self lives at the intersection of science and wisdom. She’ll draw you a map.   Tiffany Grimm Fulton is known for her infectious energy, insatiable curiosity, and knack for connecting the dots. When she earned a degree in Sports Medicine, it was in pursuit of a clear goal: become a kickass team doctor. She was driven, passionate, and powered by her self-proclaimed “push mentality.” &...

She had confidence in her skills, just not in herself.   Chiropractor Dr. Karen Quinn (aka “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” in Nicole’s brain) doesn’t do all or nothing—not anymore. It’s one of the lessons she’s learned building her own practice, her way.   Like most women business owners, she struggled, doubted, and waited tables in a kilt to make ends meet. Over time, though, she learned to...

Sit next to her on a plane, ask what she does, and she’ll say “I grow resilience in people.”   Lorca Smetana has learned how to be with hard things beautifully—but that wisdom came at a cost. After surviving the Mt. Hood climbing tragedy at sixteen, she quickly realized ‘security’ doesn’t exist. Life is unpredictable, and our only real choice is how we show up in the face of uncertainty. &nbs...

She’s like a gentle chiropractor for your soul, except you get to feel better for free.   Mallory Underwood loves talking about wellness, and this episode reveals why. From youth team sports to pre-kids beach volleyball, yoga teacher training to endurance fundraisers, fitness has always been a sure-fire way to nourish her soul.   What she didn’t realize was how quickly her active lifesty...

Ponies, punches, and panic attacks—just your typical cowgirl kickboxer’s wellness journey.   Nicole Ross can’t remember the last time she worked out in a traditional gym. Perhaps… never? Her approach to physical fitness has always been simple: do whatever you (genuinely) like. Period.   Instead of heart-pumping runs, she opted for heartwarming days brushing and riding horses—more of a wo...

Inside a musty utility closet, dubbed the ‘pumping room’ for office mothers, Abby fought back tears.    She’d saved up three weeks of PTO to stay home with her new baby. She’d finagled a special paycheck schedule to continue covering her health insurance premiums. And she didn’t get a single day of paid maternity leave.   The “American Dream” felt anything but dreamy.   Abby Ni...

She’s not saying getting laid off is a good thing. But she’s not not saying it either.   Jen Ribble, Founder of Jen Ribble Writes, never planned to be her own boss. (Like, ever.) After all, she’d spent decades building her corporate resume and network of emotional support humans. She was good at her craft, comfortable, and well compensated.   Until she wasn’t.    In January of...

She’s a proud mother of two—a young daughter and a boutique web design business.   Sarah Cauble is a self-proclaimed work-from-homebody, but her favorite title will always be “Mom.” It only took three months interning in the corporate world to realize that life wasn’t for her… and never would be. While entrepreneurship feels risky to many, she thought, “What do I have to lose? I can always ap...

If she didn’t do it, someone else would.   Carolyn Williams, Founder of Zephyr Cycling Studio, hadn’t known the destination—she just kept taking the next right step.    After graduating with an English Major and Music Minor, Carolyn moved to New York City to work… not in English or Music. She soaked up lessons in professionalism, project management, and marketing that her future sel...

She’s most proud of not quitting. But she certainly considered it.    Rachel Downey, Founder of Share Your Genius, has worn a lot of hats—and not just because she majored in Theater. From digital marketer to bartender, Rachel was used to juggling jobs and making ends meet. Yet, she didn’t trust herself. Was she smart enough? Were her dreams big enough?    She tried climbing the...

She had a plan. The universe had a very different one.   From therapist to Uber driver, executive assistant to Human Design Coach, Ashley Wilhite knows a thing or two about pivoting. Armed with a Masters degree from Columbia, and a heart for disadvantaged people, she set out on a traditional career path in therapy.   After a while, though, hefty student loans, workplace politics, and bur...

Sometimes you have to step back to take a step forward.   Margo Stoney, Founder of High Mountain Creative, knows this all too well. Her entrepreneur origin story has a few stops and starts, but she’s grateful for the ups, downs, and turnarounds that got her where she is today.   A graphic designer by trade, and a snowboarder by choice, Margo lives for fresh powder, passport stamps, and o...

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but that help might not be free.” Preach!   Jenn Vernarsky isn’t afraid to invest in herself, and it’s paid off—big time. Despite an established left-brain career in nursing, her right-brain creativity kept pulling her deeper into the world of photography.   What began with a family vacation and a starter DSLR camera quickly grew into a passion.  &n...

The key to success? Rad women who've always got your back.   Darby Knoll, Pack Leader at Darby's Dogs and Executive Director of Backcountry Squatters, shares her roundabout path from wannabe veterinarian to entrepreneur. Plagued by teasingly-diverse interests, and eventually health challenges, she reflects on how she learned to create a (far) more sustainable career *her way.*   Thanks t...

She still remembers flying to Montana and learning to 'eat the frog.'   Stefanie Jansen, Founder of Word4Word Writing, shares her origin story of becoming a freelance copywriter while raising four daughters (and one husband). After a fruitful career in corporate marketing, she decided to bring her talents in-house (literally) for the flexibility, financial freedom, and control she craved. &nb...

Even on the toughest days, entrepreneurship was still better than the alternative.   Mallory Underwood, Founder of More You and Co-Founder of Business Unbound, shares her story of juggling cross-country moves, two toddlers, and an insatiable craving for connection. Despite a fulfilling career in the nonprofit sector, life circumstances kept nudging her toward a new path—one that would once ag...

It turned out her authentic self was only 1,500 miles and one business away.   Nicole Ross, Founder of Creative Quarterback and Co-Founder of Business Unbound, shares her story of professional and personal rebirth. After a decade of corporate life, and chronic panic attacks, she stopped wasting her 'energy thimble' pretending to be fine—and pivoted to actually being happy.   It meant qui...

Stop doing business alone. From surprise tax bills to operations overwhelm, juggling work and family to imposter fatigue, women entrepreneurs face challenges only fellow business owners truly understand. We're Nicole and Mallory, friends, confidants, and "business besties." With more than 13 years on the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, and 100 clients combined, we've lived the struggles, put in our...