Bold Moves Only: Stories of Brave Women in Business

Host (Maya):
Hey friends — welcome back to the Ammora Podcast. Today’s episode is a special one. We're not breaking down frameworks or strategies. We're telling stories. Stories of courage, of pivots, of saying “yes” to the unknown. We're calling this one Bold Moves Only, and I’m joined by three incredible women who’ve made bold moves in their businesses and lives.

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We’ve got Tasha Bryant, a former teacher turned leadership coach; Amira Chen, who walked away from corporate law to build an ethical fashion brand; and Jessie Ford, a single mom who launched a design studio from her kitchen table. Welcome, ladies!

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All Guests:
Hi Maya! / So excited to be here! / Thanks for having us!

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Maya:
Let’s jump right in. Tasha, I’m starting with you. You were a high school teacher for over a decade. What pushed you to walk away?

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Tasha:
I loved teaching. But I didn’t love the system. I was burning out trying to work around policies that weren’t supporting kids or educators. Then COVID hit, and I remember standing in my living room thinking: If not now, when? That question led me to coaching — helping women lead from integrity and impact, beyond the classroom.

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Maya:
That’s huge. What was the boldest part of that decision for you?

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Tasha:
Leaving stability. The paycheck. The benefits. The identity. I had to grieve the version of myself I was outgrowing. But I also had to trust that the new version would be even more impactful — just in a different way.

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Maya:
Amira, your turn. You were deep in the corporate law world. What shifted?

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Amira:
Honestly? I had a panic attack in a boardroom. That was the beginning of the end. I had spent so many years trying to prove I was worthy by being “the good girl” — top of my class, perfect daughter, ideal employee. But my body finally said no. That’s when I started exploring sustainability and storytelling — and ultimately launched my brand, which uplifts artisans and centers slow fashion.

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Maya:
Such a powerful pivot. What was the scariest part?

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Amira:
Disappointing people. My family didn’t get it. My colleagues thought I was reckless. But I had to redefine success for myself. Trading my six-figure job for peace and purpose? That was my boldest move.

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Maya:
Jessie — you’ve got a very different story. You were a stay-at-home mom rebuilding your life after a divorce. How did launching a design studio even become possible?

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Jessie:
Out of necessity. I had no savings, no plan, just a toddler and a used laptop. But I had skills. I knew how to design. And I had this fire in my belly that said: You’re not going to just survive. You’re going to create something beautiful. I started by taking $50 logo jobs. I’d design during naptime, send invoices at midnight. Slowly, it grew.

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Maya:
That grit is next level. What kept you going?

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Jessie:
Honestly? My daughter. I wanted her to grow up watching a mom who didn’t settle. I wanted her to see that bold doesn’t mean fearless — it means willing.

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Maya:
All of you just gave me chills. There’s a theme I’m hearing in all of this: bold moves often begin in breakdowns. In discomfort. In a full-body no more. What would you each say to a woman who feels like she’s at the edge, but is terrified to leap?

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Tasha:
Your edge is sacred. Don’t numb it. Listen to what it’s trying to tell you.

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Amira:
The unknown will always feel scary — but staying in a life that doesn’t fit is scarier. You don’t have to leap all at once. Just take the next aligned step.

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Jessie:
You are more capable than you think. Borrow belief from the women around you if you have to — but don’t stay stuck. Your future self is waiting on you.

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Maya:
That part. Okay — before we wrap, I want to ask you this: what’s your personal definition of a “bold move”?

Tasha:
Saying yes to your truth even when it’s inconvenient.

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Amira:
Disappointing others to stop betraying yourself.

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Jessie:
Choosing growth over comfort — again and again.

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Maya:
Whew. Boldness with depth. Thank you all for being here, for being vulnerable, and for showing us what’s possible when we choose ourselves.

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All Guests:
Thank you, Maya! / This was incredible. / Honored to be part of it.

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Maya:
Alright listeners — whether your bold move is big or small, trust that it matters. Your shift, your story, your stand — it’s all part of something bigger. We’ll see you next week on the Ammora Podcast.

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