Clarity, Purpose & Visibility: The Woman Who Built the Room

Sharon Ringier on Reinventing The Possible Woman, Empowering Women, and Celebrating 3 Years of Success

Some women wait for an invitation to enter the room. Others recognize that the room they envision doesn't exist and decide to build it themselves. Looking back, I suppose I've always been the woman who was willing to build the room. But here's the thing. I didn't set out to build a movement, launch a magazine, or create an ecosystem of opportunities for women. I simply saw a need. And if you know anything about me, you know I'm not particularly good at sitting around waiting for somebody else to do something about it.

What began as a desire to bring women together for something more meaningful than traditional networking has evolved into The Possible Woman, a growing ecosystem of community, collaboration, education, storytelling, media, and visibility opportunities designed to help women discover what's possible in their lives and businesses. But the journey from the original I'm Possible Women's Empowerment Conference to I'm Possible Women's Empowerment Collaborative and ultimately The Possible Woman has been anything but a straight line. It's been filled with growth, reinvention, unexpected challenges, difficult decisions, and moments when I've had to remind myself of the very lessons I share with other women.

As I reflect on three years of Possible Woman Magazine and nearly a decade since the original vision began taking shape, I realize this story isn't simply about building an organization. It's about building relationships, learning to let go, finding clarity in unexpected places, and understanding that sometimes the greatest transformation happens within the woman doing the building.

The Networking Queen Who Wanted Something More

Long before The Possible Woman existed, I was known as the "Networking Queen." As an event planner and entrepreneur, I absolutely loved bringing people together. There was something incredibly rewarding about making an introduction, watching a conversation unfold, and seeing what happened when the right people connected. My entrepreneurial journey began in 1997 with Weddings With A Flair, which eventually evolved into Sharon Ringier Events. Over the years, I had countless opportunities to bring people together, build relationships, and observe the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship firsthand.

But somewhere along the way, I began noticing something missing from many of the conversations surrounding women's entrepreneurship. We talked about networking, marketing, sales, branding, and growing our businesses. We attended workshops, exchanged business cards, and collected information about becoming better entrepreneurs. But what about the woman behind the business? Because here's what I've always believed: As entrepreneurs, we ARE our business. Our mindset influences our decisions. Our confidence affects how we show up. Our personal experiences shape how we navigate challenges, build relationships, and respond when things don't go according to plan. We can't completely separate the business from the woman who's doing the building.

I knew women needed more than another business conference. I wanted to create an experience that addressed the whole woman, not just the entrepreneur. When I began designing the I'm Possible Women's Empowerment Conference, mindset was one of the first components I knew needed to be included. How we think about ourselves, what we believe we're capable of, and how we navigate the emotional realities of entrepreneurship all play a role in our ability to build something sustainable. But there was another conversation I felt we weren't having nearly enough, and that was money.

Let's face it. As women, we're incredibly talented at turning our hobbies, passions, and gifts into something tangible. We can take something we love doing and find a way to turn it into a business. But what I noticed was that many of us weren't making enough space for the financial side of entrepreneurship. We were building businesses, but were we building financial stability? Were we understanding our numbers, making informed financial decisions, and treating our gifts like the businesses they had become? That's why I created a component called Money Matters. I wanted women to understand that empowerment wasn't just about believing they could accomplish something. It was also about having the knowledge, confidence, and resources to create something sustainable.

In February 2018, the first I'm Possible Women's Empowerment Conference took place in the Chicago area. My vision was to create an experience that encouraged women to think differently about themselves, their businesses, their finances, and the possibilities available to them. But what I hadn't fully anticipated was that the conference would become the beginning of something much bigger. I realized that one event, no matter how meaningful, wasn't enough. The conversations, connections, and relationships that developed needed somewhere to continue growing. I had created the room, and now I needed to make sure women had a reason to keep coming back.

The Power of I AM: Where I'm Possible Really Began

Before I go any further, I have to share the story behind the name I'm Possible, because it was never simply a clever play on words. There are actually two parts to the inspiration, one rooted in my faith and the other in my love for a certain Hollywood icon.

Let's start with the biblical foundation. In Exodus 3:13–14, Moses asks God what he should tell the Israelites when they ask who sent him. God's response is, "I AM THAT I AM." That passage has always been powerful to me. As a Christian, I believe I was created in God's image and likeness. I'm His daughter. And when I began reflecting on those two words, I AM, I started thinking about how often we use them without considering what we're actually saying.

Think about it. Have you ever introduced yourself by simply saying your name? Probably not. You say, "I am Sharon," or "I'm Sharon." We use those two little words constantly. But here's what caught my attention. What are we saying after them? I'm overwhelmed. I'm exhausted. I'm afraid. I'm not good enough. I'm not ready. I'm too old. I'm not qualified. Sound familiar?

Now, I'm not suggesting that we should ignore our feelings or pretend difficult circumstances don't exist. Life happens, and entrepreneurship can be overwhelming. Believe me, I know! But I do believe we need to become more intentional about the words we repeatedly speak over ourselves. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." For me, that scripture reinforces the importance of recognizing the influence our words can have on our mindset, confidence, and willingness to take action.

There's also a saying often attributed to Henry Ford: "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." I've always loved that sentiment because it speaks to the relationship between what we believe and what we're willing to attempt. If I constantly tell myself I can't, chances are I'm not going to give myself much room to discover whether I actually can.

And then there's the second part of the story. Anyone who knows me knows I am a HUGE Audrey Hepburn fan. I've admired her elegance, grace, and timeless presence for as long as I can remember. And there's a quote popularly attributed to her that I've always loved: "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I'm Possible." Now THAT spoke to me! Between the biblical meaning of I AM and that beautiful play on the word impossible, the name began to take on a deeper significance.

I wanted every woman who said "I'm Possible" to recognize that she was speaking possibility over herself. It wasn't simply the name of a conference. It was an affirmation. Every time a woman said those words, I wanted her to recognize that she was making a declaration about what she was willing to believe, explore, and pursue. Not because positive words alone could magically remove every obstacle, but because what we believe about ourselves can influence whether we're willing to take the next step. And sometimes that next step changes everything.

From One Conference to a Collaborative

After the conference, I kept thinking about the women who had come together, the conversations we'd had, and the connections that were developing. I didn't want all of that energy and encouragement to disappear once everyone returned to their daily routines. I wanted to create something that extended beyond a single gathering.

On April 29, 2018, I'm Possible Women's Empowerment Collaborative, Inc. was established, allowing me to expand the original vision into an ongoing community focused on connection, collaboration, education, and empowerment. The Collaborative gave women opportunities to continue learning, developing relationships, sharing resources, and supporting one another through different stages of entrepreneurship. But I also knew I didn't want to create another networking organization where women simply showed up, exchanged business cards, and moved on to the next event.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE networking. Remember, I was the Networking Queen! But I've always believed that meaningful relationships require something more. You have to get to know people. You have to understand what they're building, what challenges they're navigating, and where your experiences or resources might be valuable to one another.

Because my philosophy is this: We're not just building businesses. We're building BODIES! Now, before your mind goes somewhere else, let me explain. When I say BODIES, I'm talking about people. Relationships. The human connections behind everything we're building. Businesses don't collaborate. People do. Businesses don't encourage one another through difficult seasons. People do. And behind every opportunity, introduction, referral, or partnership is a relationship that someone took the time to build.

The Collaborative was about creating an environment where women could develop those relationships with intention. A place where they could celebrate one another's accomplishments, share challenges, exchange knowledge, and recognize that another woman's success didn't diminish their own possibilities. Looking back, I realize the Collaborative wasn't simply the next step after the conference. It was the beginning of my understanding that the real power wasn't necessarily in the event itself. It was in what could happen because women had been brought together.

The Hardest Part of Reinvention Was Learning to Let Go

For years, I was building, creating, developing, and exploring new opportunities. And if you're a visionary entrepreneur like me, you already know what I'm about to say. The downloads come DAILY. Sometimes HOURLY! An idea pops into my head, and before I've even had an opportunity to finish thinking it through, here comes another one. And another. And another. The challenge wasn't that I lacked ideas. It was that I could see the potential in almost all of them. And in my mind, everything I was doing was necessary. Everything!

But eventually, I had to confront something that wasn't particularly comfortable. Just because I could do something didn't mean I needed to keep doing it. I was pouring time and energy into different projects, programs, activities, and responsibilities without always stopping to assess whether they were still aligned with where I wanted to go. And let's be clear. When you've invested years into building something, letting go isn't always easy.

Sometimes we hold on because we genuinely believe in the idea. Sometimes we hold on because we've invested so much time, effort, and money. And sometimes, if we're willing to admit it, we hold on because releasing something feels like admitting it didn't work the way we hoped. I had to get out of my own head. That meant stepping back, evaluating what was and wasn't working, and asking myself some difficult questions about where I was directing my energy. It also meant acknowledging that I needed outside help. Yes, even the woman who helps other women gain clarity sometimes needs someone to help her find her own!

And believe me, that was one of the best decisions I could have made. Was it easy? Not always. Were there disappointments? Absolutely. Did I have to release some things I'd worked hard to create? You bet I did. But something incredible happened when I finally began getting crystal clear about what mattered most. I felt lighter. I felt more focused. And for the first time in a while, I could see the bigger picture without feeling as though every single idea needed to become another item on my already overflowing to-do list.

It was liberating. Once I gained clarity, something else began to happen. I started recognizing my true purpose with greater confidence. That clarity allowed me to make more intentional decisions, recognize opportunities that aligned with my direction, and release the ones that didn't. And with that understanding, I began showing up differently. I wasn't trying to be everything to everybody. I wasn't chasing every opportunity simply because it appeared. I was learning how to focus on what mattered and trust that saying no to one thing could create room for something more meaningful.

As I gained clarity and became more intentional, new ideas and opportunities began taking shape. Only this time, I could evaluate them through a much clearer lens. That's how my signature CPV Method, Clarity, Purpose & Visibility, became such an important part of my work. It wasn't something I developed simply because I thought entrepreneurs needed another framework. It grew out of what I was experiencing in my own journey. Clarity helped me identify what mattered. Purpose reminded me why it mattered. And visibility became the intentional way I could show up, share my expertise, and create opportunities aligned with that purpose.

I've often said, "Clarity creates confidence. Confidence creates movement." But there's another phrase I live by: "Action creates clarity." Sometimes we don't discover what works by sitting around thinking about it. We discover it by doing, learning, adjusting, and being willing to change direction when necessary. And sometimes the greatest breakthrough comes when we stop asking what else we need to add and start asking what we finally need to release.

From I'm Possible to The Possible Woman

In March 2023, another chapter began when I launched Possible Woman Magazine. I wanted to create a publication that would give women opportunities to share their stories, experiences, expertise, and insights with a broader audience. I knew there were extraordinary women doing meaningful work whose voices deserved to be heard, and I wanted to create another platform that could help make that happen.

But something interesting occurred after naming the magazine. I started looking at those words differently. Possible Woman. And then it hit me. We are ALL possible. It was such a simple realization, but it carried so much meaning.

For years, the name I'm Possible had represented an affirmation rooted in the power of I AM. But there was one little thing that had always driven me absolutely bonkers. People kept calling it "Impossible." And every time someone said it, I would cringe! I'd be thinking, "Nooooo! It's I'M Possible. There's a difference!" The entire point was the I AM factor. The affirmation. The possibility we were speaking over ourselves.

As I reflected on the name of the magazine and the direction of the organization, I began to recognize that the original identity no longer captured the full vision of what I was building. The Possible Woman felt different. It wasn't just about declaring that something was possible. It was about recognizing the possibility that already existed within every woman. It felt broader, more inclusive, and more reflective of the work I'd spent years developing.

I began to see the bigger picture. What if everything I'd created could be connected under one overarching identity? What if the community, magazine, educational programs, media opportunities, and strategic resources could work together rather than existing as separate initiatives?

The rebrand to The Possible Woman wasn't about walking away from I'm Possible. Quite the opposite. It was about honoring the foundation while allowing the vision to evolve. I'm Possible helped women speak possibility over themselves. The Possible Woman recognizes the woman who carries that possibility. For me, that distinction represented a beautiful evolution of the original mission.

Three Years of Possible Woman Magazine: It's About the Women

When I launched Possible Woman Magazine in March 2023, I knew I wanted to give women a platform to share their stories and expertise. What I didn't fully anticipate was how much joy I would experience watching those women grow through the process. Over these past three years, I've had the privilege of connecting with women who have shared their experiences in entrepreneurship, leadership, personal development, resilience, wellness, financial empowerment, reinvention, and so many other areas of life and business.

But when someone asks what I'm most proud of, my answer isn't necessarily about the number of issues we've published or the articles we've featured. It's about the women. It's watching a woman begin to recognize the value of her knowledge and experience. It's seeing someone who once questioned whether she had anything meaningful to share begin confidently stepping into her expertise. It's watching women discover new opportunities, develop relationships, and transform how they see themselves within their businesses.

There's something incredibly powerful about watching another woman recognize who she is and what she brings to the table. And that's why I keep coming back to relationships. For me, the magazine has never been simply about collecting stories or filling pages. It's about providing a platform where women can share insights that might help someone else navigate her own journey. Because we never really know who needs to hear what we've learned.

Sometimes a business lesson becomes exactly what another entrepreneur needs to make an important decision. Sometimes a story about overcoming a difficult season gives another woman the courage to keep going. And sometimes simply seeing another woman's success reminds us that our own possibilities are worth pursuing.

The magazine has evolved as well. What began as a quarterly publication has transitioned into a digital-only platform, giving us greater flexibility to publish meaningful content, feature different perspectives, and reach readers beyond traditional geographic boundaries. And while the format has changed, the mission hasn't. I still believe women's stories matter. Their knowledge matters. Their experiences matter. And I believe that when we create opportunities for women to share those things, we create possibilities for impact that extend far beyond the original story.

Three years of Possible Woman Magazine isn't simply a publishing milestone for me. It's a celebration of every woman who has contributed her voice, shared her knowledge, and allowed us to become part of her journey.

Building an Ecosystem, Not Just Another Organization

As the vision continued to evolve, I began recognizing how the different pieces of what I'd been building could support one another. The Possible Woman wasn't meant to be another organization where women join, attend a few events, and occasionally check in. I wanted to create an interconnected ecosystem where women could access meaningful relationships, strategic guidance, educational opportunities, storytelling platforms, and resources that supported them through different stages of their personal and professional lives.

Today, The Possible Woman Collective provides opportunities for women to connect, collaborate, learn, and develop relationships that extend beyond traditional networking. Through workshops, strategic conversations, accountability, and experiences such as Cocktails & Celebrations and Level-Up Lounge, we're creating environments where women can exchange ideas, share expertise, and take action toward their goals.

Possible Woman Magazine allows women to expand their visibility through storytelling, thought leadership, and the sharing of professional expertise. The Possible Woman Channel, available through BeSpireTV, provides opportunities to share conversations and insights through video, while The Possible Woman Podcast is being developed as another platform for meaningful dialogue.

Then there's HERstory Unveiled, an experience that has taken women's stories to the iconic billboards of Times Square. For me, it's another expression of something I've always believed: visibility is about recognizing the value of your story, owning your accomplishments, and allowing yourself to be seen.

Through my work as a Small Business Alignment Strategist and strategic guide, I support women entrepreneurs in navigating their businesses with greater clarity, purpose, and intentionality. Each part of the ecosystem serves a different purpose, but the mission connecting them remains the same. I want women to have access to more than inspiration. I want them to have meaningful relationships, practical resources, opportunities for growth, and platforms where their expertise and contributions can be recognized.

Because there's a difference between building an audience and building a community. An audience may enjoy what you're creating. A community has the opportunity to become part of it. And when women genuinely invest in one another's success, the possibilities become so much bigger than any individual business or initiative.

The Woman I've Become Along the Way

If there's one thing this journey has taught me, it's that building something meaningful requires us to grow alongside it. I certainly haven't gotten everything right. I've had successes I'm incredibly proud of, decisions I would approach differently today, and seasons when I've questioned whether I was moving in the right direction. I've had to navigate personal losses, family responsibilities, business challenges, disappointments, and the reality that life doesn't stop simply because you're building a dream. And I've had to learn that being strong doesn't mean carrying everything by yourself.

In March 2026, I celebrated my 60th birthday, or as I affectionately call it, the 30th anniversary of my 30th birthday! But behind the humor, that milestone brought a great deal of reflection. At this stage of my life, I think differently about time, energy, purpose, and legacy. I'm much more intentional about where I invest myself and what I want the work I'm doing to represent.

I'm no longer interested in doing more simply for the sake of doing more. I want to do what matters. I want to build things that align with my purpose. I want to create opportunities that genuinely serve women. And I want to be able to recognize when something has fulfilled its purpose and it's time to make room for what's next.

That hasn't always been easy for me, especially as someone who can dream up a dozen new ideas before breakfast! But I've learned that not every idea needs to become a project, not every opportunity requires a yes, and not every season of growth needs to look like the one before it. Perhaps most importantly, I've learned that reinvention doesn't mean you failed at what you were doing before. Sometimes it simply means you've grown.

The woman who created the original I'm Possible Women's Empowerment Conference is still very much a part of who I am today. She still loves connecting people. She still believes in empowering women. She still has more ideas than she knows what to do with. But she's also a woman who has learned the importance of clarity, the freedom that comes with letting go, and the power of showing up with intention.

I think that's one of the most beautiful parts of the journey. We're allowed to evolve. We're allowed to rethink what success looks like. And we're allowed to become women we may not have imagined we'd be when we first began.

The Legacy Isn't the Room. It's the Women Who Walk Through It.

When I think about what I want The Possible Woman to be remembered for, my answer has very little to do with how many events we've hosted, how many magazines we've published, or how many programs we've developed. Don't get me wrong. Those things matter. They represent years of work, creativity, commitment, and the willingness to keep building. But they're not the legacy.

The legacy is the women and the impact these amazing women are making.

It's the woman who found her confidence after years of questioning herself. It's the entrepreneur who met someone through our community and developed a collaboration that opened new doors. It's the woman who shared her story and discovered that her experiences could encourage or educate someone else. It's the woman who finally gave herself permission to pursue an idea, change direction, or recognize that she doesn't have to figure everything out on her own.

Those are the moments that matter most to me. Because the impact of a meaningful relationship doesn't necessarily end when an event is over, a publication is released, or a program concludes. It continues through the connections we make, the knowledge we share, and the opportunities we create for one another.

I often think about how one introduction can change the direction of someone's business. One conversation can help a woman see something she hadn't considered. One act of encouragement can give someone the confidence to take a step she's been putting off. And sometimes, one woman's willingness to share her experience can remind another woman that she isn't alone.

That's the ripple effect I want The Possible Woman to create. I don't want the legacy to be simply that Sharon Ringier built an organization. I want it to be that women found one another, recognized their own possibilities, and went on to create meaningful impact in their businesses, families, communities, and the lives of others. Because that's what building BODIES, building relationships, has always meant to me.

The Room Was Only the Beginning

Nearly a decade after the first seeds of I'm Possible were planted, I'm still building, still learning, and still discovering what this vision can become. The organization looks different today than it did in 2018. And quite frankly, so do I. I have greater clarity about who I'm called to serve, a deeper understanding of why this work matters to me, and a stronger commitment to creating opportunities that align with that purpose.

But when I look back at where it all began, I realize the foundation has never really changed. I still believe mindset matters. I still believe money deserves a meaningful place in conversations about women's empowerment. I still believe relationships are among the greatest assets we can build. And I still believe we need to be intentional about the words we speak over ourselves.

What began with two little words, I AM, evolved into I'm Possible, then into the Collaborative, and eventually into The Possible Woman. And somewhere along the way, I realized that possibility wasn't simply something I wanted women to speak over themselves. It was something I wanted them to recognize within themselves.

As I reflect on three years of Possible Woman Magazine, I'm reminded of the women who have trusted us with their stories, shared their expertise, supported the vision, and become part of this journey. Each of them represents a part of what makes The Possible Woman possible. I'm proud of what we've created, but I'm even more excited about what those connections, experiences, and shared opportunities can continue to become.

There are still stories to tell, relationships to build, opportunities to create, and women whose voices deserve to be heard. And yes, I'm sure there will be more ideas, more reinvention, and more lessons along the way. If my history is any indication, the downloads aren't going to stop anytime soon! But this time, I'm building with greater clarity, a deeper connection to my purpose, and a more intentional understanding of visibility.

Some women wait for an invitation to enter the room. Others recognize that the room they envision doesn't exist and decide to build it themselves. I built the room. But I never intended to be the only woman standing in it.

Perhaps that's what this entire journey has been about. Creating spaces where women can walk in, discover what's possible for themselves, build meaningful relationships, and eventually open doors for someone else. Because the true legacy of The Possible Woman won't be measured by how many rooms bear its name. It will be reflected in the women who walked through those doors, discovered their own possibilities, and went on to create opportunities for others.

And for me, that is what makes every chapter of this journey worthwhile.

Explore The Possible Woman at possible-woman.com and discover the stories, insights, and expertise featured in Possible Woman Magazine at possiblewomanmagazine.com.