In this episode, we explore the journeys of two inspiring leaders, Celeste Ross, Organizational Development Manager at Praxis Packing Solutions, and Marie Lewis, Founder and Executive Director of Rebecca's Daughters as they share their stories of impact, leadership, and service. Their experiences highlight the importance of community, purpose, and empowering others to create positive change. Celeste was named the Top Honoree in the Emerging Leader category at this year's West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards, while Marie was named the 2026 Champion of Service.

Key Topics

Leadership journeys of Celeste Ross and Coach Marie

The significance of community and mentorship

The impact of awards on personal and professional growth

The role of purpose and service in leadership

Strategies for empowering emerging leaders

The importance of boundaries and self-awareness in service

The ripple effect of kindness and inspiration

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the West Michigan Brilliance Awards and Guests

01:08 The significance of recognition and community impact

03:03 Reflections on receiving the Brilliance Awards

05:30 The role of storytelling in leadership and service

07:42 Initial reactions to nominations and awards

11:43 The importance of character and humility in finalists

15:27 Creating a village and finding support systems

18:58 Celeste Ross on organizational development and empowering leaders

25:49 Coach Marie’s story behind Rebecca’s Daughters

31:04 The influence of faith and boundaries in service

37:23 Looking forward to the Brilliant Summit and community impact

44:22 Defining brilliance and acting with purpose

In this episode, Kasie Smith, president and publisher of Serendipity Media, shares the story behind West Michigan Woman Magazine, the creation of the Brilliance Awards, and the upcoming Brilliance Summit. Discover how these initiatives celebrate women, foster community, and inspire action in West Michigan.

Key Topics:

The founding of Serendipity Media and West Michigan Woman Magazine

The origin and evolution of the Brilliance Awards

The creation and purpose of the Brilliance Summit

Lessons learned from profiling women in West Michigan

The importance of community recognition and mentorship

Future opportunities for growth and engagement in the community

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Series Overview

01:06 Meet Kasie Smith and the Mission of Serendipity Media

02:05 The Inspiration Behind Starting Serendipity Media

04:25 The Launch of West Michigan Woman Magazine

09:08 Lessons from Profiling Women in West Michigan

11:24 The Origin of the Brilliance Awards

16:23 The Birth of the Brilliance Summit

19:00 Details and Impact of the Brilliance Summit

23:03 Highlights of the 2023 Brilliance Awards and Categories

24:32 Recognizing Women at All Career Stages

28:30 Topics and Speakers for the 2023 Brilliance Summit

36:25 Future Growth and Opportunities for West Michigan Women

44:52 Event Details and How to Get Involved

On a special ArtPrize themed episode of Symplicity Conversations, we are joined by Rob Sharp, a young fiber artist, shares his journey from crocheting as a hobby to creating a massive crochet bouquet for Art Prize, exploring themes of slowing down, intentionality, and imagination. Rob's piece, "Yours Truly" is featured in the Symplicity Communications Building during the ArtPrize event in Grand Rapids, September 17th-October 3rd.

Vote for Rob's piece here: ArtPrize Entries
See more of Rob's work here: https://www.instagram.com/rob.sharp.handcrafted and here: https://www.tiktok.com/@rob.sharp.handcrafted

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Rob Sharp and his crochet art

02:29 Rob's background and how he started crocheting during COVID

04:43 The inspiration behind the large crochet bouquet

08:51 The symbolism of flowers and connection in Rob's work

12:06 The process and challenges of creating a 12-foot crochet bouquet

16:18 How art prize and community support influence emerging artists

17:41 The importance of imagination and childhood wonder in art

22:50 Rob's future plans and encouragement for aspiring artists

Key Topics

Rob Sharp's background and how he started crocheting during COVID

The transition from making sweaters to creating large-scale art pieces

The process and time investment of over a thousand hours and 100 skeins of yarn

The significance of flowers and their representation in Rob’s work

The role of imagination and wonder in art, inspired by childhood and movies

Support from family and community in pursuing artistic goals

The impact of art exhibitions like Art Prize on emerging artists

Encouragement to think bigger and pursue creative dreams