FEATURE: TASHA CHAMPION

Shenomenal Women author Tasha Champion

Who is Tasha Champion?

There was a time when I would start this with, I am a mom of four. We as women are not moms first. We are who we are. So, I am Tasha Champion, a woman who enjoys life, laughter, love, support. I love being present, experiencing joy and being around loving family. I am also, The Shenomenal Coach, a certified master life coach who helps women live their best life. I am a 2x best-selling author, speaker, workshop and retreat facilitator and a triple negative breast cancer survivor. I love supporting people through their cancer journey and showing them how to live through the diagnosis. I am a woman who remains humbled and proud of the life I learned to live intentionally. My deepest love is being a mom to my fantastic four. My children are simply amazing humans and make me proud. They know my mistakes, flaws and obstacles as I choose to remain open with them because moms learn along the journey of mothering. My children remind me of why my healing was so important. I have learned to be the beauty and grace I want to experience in this world.

What does it mean to be Shenomenal?

Shenomenal™ is the extraordinary, phenomenal woman. She is the woman that gives up her excuses to make a way through life’s most challenging times. She is ready to heal and live her dreams, goals and confidence out loud. As the Shenomenal Coach of Champion EmpowHERment, I support overworked, exhausted, and underappreciated women who constantly feel pressed for time by their extensive to do list, awaken to unapologetically make their self-care a priority. I work with them to clear limited beliefs, empty out their emotional baggage, and help build their confidence to love the champion they are and to live a purposeful and Shenomenal life.

Why was it important for you to start this brand?

I lived many years in the shadows of my value. I didn’t see greatness within myself, and I felt my life was incapable of having a purpose. I accepted unhealthy behaviors of others in hopes I could convince them to not leave me and to provide the love I wasn’t giving myself. Living this way began to take a toll. How could I continue to live life this way, especially as a mother of four souls that depended on me to be my best, yet I didn’t know how. I searched for answers and began working with a life coach. There had to be an alternative to how I was living my life and how I was feeling. My life coach led me to ME. The truth within began to unfold. The love I was seeking, I had in me. The voice that had the power to protect me and speak up for me was my own. The truth of validation I needed was my own. As I went on this healing journey, I discovered who Tasha is, not just my titles of mom, daughter, sister, auntie, friend, co-worker. This was freedom and I wanted other women to feel

this same kind of freedom. “I needed

women to know that no matter what they have been through, the power to heal was within them and their past didn’t define them.”

Your life is one decision away from being what you want it to be and sometimes we need the tools to make that happen. I wanted to give women that. I have always admired motivational speakers and lord knows I absolutely love helping people. Through my pain, my purpose was revealed, and Champion EmpowHERment was born. HER meaning to Heal Evolve and Renew.I wanted to wake up every day and guide women inward to live a life of purpose on purpose and with purpose. It became my mission to guide women out of their pain and support them in living a Shenomenal life and in their Shenomenal glow.

What prompted you to write the book?

The book, Shenomenal Women I was sitting at my desk where I worked at the time and I felt God say, you’re going to write a book called Shenomenal Women. I honestly thought I was tripping, and I felt his presence again letting me know I was going to write this book and there would be women that joined in to share their story of giving up their excuses. I had been a part of an anthology book but this time I was the visionary author, I would be leading, and I knew God would support me in assembling the right group of women. I asked for at least 14 plus me, I would end up with 22 plus me. Each woman saw my vision and delivered. Every co-author shares an intimate story of their life. Some told their story for the very first time. Having known some of these women for years, I learned something new about them which confirmed what I had been thinking, sometimes you can sit across from a woman that can be your closest friend and not know they pain they have endured. This book is told through transparency and truth. All of us dug deep, cried while writing and experienced another peace in our healing journey. We all wanted women to read our stories and be inspired to take the first step, to stop living in their excuses and to make a way for themselves. Challenges are always going to come. Some that hurt us so deeply we feel like we can’t get through it. In Shenomenal Women, you learn you can get through it. You will read stories of overcoming molestation, rape, losing a child, finding your voice, domestic violence, battling cancer, and more. We want you to know you are worthy of your healing and each of us had to learn that through the darkness. All the tears you cry are watering the seeds of your future and you will bloom into the Shenomenal Woman you were born to be.

What did this experience teach you?

The biggest thing I Iearned was how to accept support. From writing the book to planning and executing 3 book signings, all of which had over 100 people attend, I learned how to say yes you can help me and trust things would get done. This was a part of my Shenomenal glow that was awakened. I thought being inde-

pendent meant relying on myself. The process of leading this book exposed a vulnerability within me and my Shenomenal co-authors or maybe I should call them co-stars, made me feel safe and I fell into the support they offered me. I learned something new in each story. I learned just how resilient the very women I knew are. I didn’t know the tears their souls once held and as I read the manuscript learning more about them, I cried repeatedly. It made me admire each of them even more because I’m reading their stories and thinking to myself, damn, I would have never known you’ve been through this. That is the beauty of who we are as women, but we also must learn how to stand on our story to experience the freedom of getting through it.

Is there anything else the audience should know?

Everyday live intentionally. Learn from your mistakes and always know you can powerfully move forward from where you are today. You are worthy of your healing, and I would love to support you in activating your soul, owning your truth, and confidently living the life you want for yourself. Be Bold, Be Fierce...... Be Shenomenal! Sign up to my email list and learn about our upcoming brunch, entrepreneurial summit and retreat. Please support the book by purchasing through the website shenomenal.com. Your book will come signed by a co-author of your choice.

Where can our readers find you online?

website: shenomenal.com Facebook: TC Champion IG: @theshenomenalcoach YouTube: The Shenomenal Coach Online show: She is Shenomenal

KB&CO owner: Claire Engelken

One of the things I have learned in the last six years as a Lawrence resident is that Lawrence, Kansas is as unique as they come. Walk down Massachusetts St and you never know what you may see. Pop into any one of the boutiques and find everything you wanted, or didn’t even know you needed.

KB&Co Boutique opened up at 825 Mass St six years ago. Adding to the unique factor found in the heart of downtown Lawrence, KB&Co is a collective boutique with 13 small, female-owned businesses calling the beautiful space their home. The boutiques feature everything from clothing to accessories, footwear, gifts and even home decor.

Manning the helm of KB&Co is Claire Engelken. Claire has been a part of KB&Co since almost the beginning. After graduating with her Master’s degree from the University of Kansas in 2016, she started working at the boutique. Within a year she was the manager and by 2018 she opened up Stripes Boutique inside KB&Co. In January of 2020, right before the pandemic hit, Claire purchased the boutique from Kristie Bowen. These days find Claire at the store on any given day welcoming customers with an infectious smile and an attitude that lifts your mood no matter what you are shopping for.

We asked Claire a few questions about her business. Here is what she had to say.

What is your favorite thing about being a lady boss in 2022?

“It has been a challenging few years but it’s been a lot of fun! Shopping and fashion have always been a hobby of mine, but I never envisioned making it into a career. It has been more fun and rewarding than I ever imagined. I love being my own boss and being able to set my work-life balance. I love working with other female small business owners – they teach and inspire me every day. And most of all, I love working with my family – my mom owns a store inside KB&Co, and we travel to markets together. My partner Jeff is very involved and my whole family is always around to help and support us. It’s so much more personal than a typical job. “

Who or what inspires you?

“I always feel inspired when we go to market to buy for the store – seeing the new styles for each season is exciting and really helps to define our point of view for each season. Other than that, I’m inspired by other female business owners, especially those in retail. I’ve always been inspired by Kristie Bowen, who started KB&Co. She is so confident and energetic and has such a positive outlook. She really inspires other women to just go for it. And I’m always inspired by my mom. She is the most hardworking, intelligent, stylish woman I know. Her pep talks and support have gotten me through some of the most challenging times. She inspires me to be brave and think bigger.”

In what ways has KB & Co changed since you took over ownership?

“The main change is that we’ve weathered a pandemic. We all pulled together and supported each other during an incredibly scary and uncertain time. Other than that, we’ve had some amazing new stores move into KB. Mostly we’ve just continued to build off the strong foundation that Kristie built. We’ve worked hard to keep evolving our social media and I’ve tried to empower our employees to explore areas of retail and marketing that they’re interested in and to become a leader in those areas.”

Where do you see your business 5 years from now?

“I hope we’re still in Downtown Lawrence with an incredible group of stores in our collective. And I hope we have expanded KB&Co and taken it into different college markets in our region.”

What piece of advice would you encourage others with?

“Find a mentor! Find someone you trust that will steer you in the right direction when you have questions or need advice. And when it’s your turn, mentor someone who’s coming up. Don’t gatekeep information – it’s better to be collaborative than competitive. And just know that fear and anxiety are common when you’re starting something big or taking a risk. But know that it will pass and you’ll be stronger for it.”

Lawrence Lady Boss Project was built to connect and network lady bosses in both Lawrence and the surrounding communities. Once a quarter we bring you Networking Night Out events featuring local businesses both big and small. Find us on Facebook at Lawrence Lady Boss Project for more information.