The Season of Gratitude & Gathering
As we enter November, we’re reminded of the power of gathering, not just around tables, but around values, truth, and the women who walk beside us. In a world that asks us to perform and perfect, there is something sacred about belonging inside of authenticity.
At Women Empower, we believe community isn’t built on who we pretend to be, but on who we are courageous enough to become. Here, we celebrate the stories unfolding quietly, the wins whispered softly, and the moments where we choose growth over comfort. Gratitude is more than a feeling, it’s a practice of seeing each other fully.
As we gather this month, in conversation, in celebration, and in support, may we continue to choose authenticity over image, purpose over perfection, and community over comparison. Together, we rise higher, give deeper, and go further than we ever could alone.
With love and gratitude,
Crystal Walent
🌟 Member Spotlights
🌟 Via Maduro – Owner of A’Charcuterie Boards in Laurel, MD
With a passion for service and people, Via launched A’Charcuterie Boards, a veteran-owned boutique gourmet charcuterie board and grazing-table business. A’Charcuterie specializes in creating artful and elevated culinary experience that makes every moment unforgettable and unique for each client. A’Charcuterie prioritizes a customer’s experience by personalizing every detail of an event, combined with thoughtfully sourcing local farm-to-table artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, and accompaniments, ensuring the community is an integral part of the experience.
Via is also a powerhouse in hosting and planning private and corporate events. Recently, she successfully hosted a corporate event for a non-profit foundation comprised of the defense and intelligence community. The event brought together service and people through food artistry, elegant design, and community, a true demonstration of her values, passion, and purpose.
Via quietly reminds us to “step into your passion and take the risk – the possibilities are endless when passion meets purpose and service leads your everyday decisions – success becomes a byproduct and not a goal.
👉 Follow her on Instagram: @ACharcuterie and check out her website here to learn more
🌟 Arlynn Barrios – Managing Director of Client Services at Strategic Investment Group
We are proud to spotlight Arlynn, who recently spoke at her firm’s Annual Client Conference with Strategic Investment, an event that gathered fiduciaries, investment managers, policy makers, and industry experts from across the field.
In front of approximately 80 attendees, Arlynn delivered a thoughtful presentation highlighting key projects completed and currently underway to elevate and improve the client experience. As Managing Director overseeing the Client Service, she brought clarity, confidence, and insight to the conversations shaping her industry’s future. One of her biggest wins? Conquering public speaking with grace… and even getting the room to laugh. A powerful reminder that courage and preparation can transform pressure into presence.
We’re so proud of Arlynn’s continued leadership and growth.
👉 Follow her on Instagram: @Arlynnontravel
🌟 Amber Stauffenecker, MBA, Project Management support at the FBI
We’re thrilled to spotlight Amber Stauffenecker, who has been accepted as a volunteer Career Readiness Coach with FourBlock, an organization dedicated to helping student veterans transition successfully from military service into meaningful civilian careers.
Beginning in the Spring 2026 semester, Amber will volunteer her time and expertise to coach three students bi-weekly as they progress through the Career Readiness Program. She’ll provide personalized guidance to help them build targeted résumés, refine their LinkedIn profiles, strengthen their elevator pitches, and prepare for interviews, supporting them as they step into their next chapter with clarity and confidence.
Amber’s commitment to service, mentorship, and empowerment beautifully reflects the spirit and values of Women Empower. We are so proud of the impact she continues to make in her community and beyond. 🇺🇸
👉 Follow her on Instagram: @Stauffenecker
🌟 Enewan Umoh, Cloud Engineer – Databases at Amazon Web Services (AWS)
This month, we’re celebrating Enewan, author of the elegant beauty guide, How To Be Beautiful in 30 Days. Written for the modern woman who values self-care and sophistication, this book offers 30 days of intentional steps to cultivate timeless beauty from the inside out.
Blending practical skincare rituals with refined lifestyle habits, Enewan shares simple, elevated routines designed to enhance radiance, boost confidence, and support overall well-being. More than products or trends, her approach reminds us that true beauty is a daily practice, shaped by nourishment, rest, mindset, and the rituals we honor consistently.
We’re incredibly proud of Enewan for bringing her expertise, grace, and perspective to women everywhere through authorship. Her contribution beautifully reflects the spirit of Women Empower: aligning care, confidence, and purpose.
👉 Follow her on Instagram: @iamenewan and purchase her book Here on Amazon or Read the e-book here
🌟 Branka Lovric – Owner of Azzura Hause of Beauty in Georgetown, Washington, DC.
We’re thrilled to celebrate Branka and her family as they welcomed their fourth baby boy on October 23rd at 4:00 AM. Branka continues to embody strength, grace, and resilience as a devoted mother, business owner, friend, and leader in our community. Please join us in showering her with love and congratulations! 💙
👉 Follow her on Instagram: @Azzura and check out her website here to learn more
October Recap
Members-Only Brunch
On Sunday, October 26th, we gathered for our quarterly Members-Only Brunch at the Quadrant inside the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C. Surrounded by connection, authenticity, and powerful conversation, the room was filled with women committed to growth, leadership, and sisterhood.
We were honored to welcome Anita Abdeshahian, founder and owner of Javan Wellness, as our guest speaker. With three medical spa locations across the D.C. area, Anita shared a personal and inspiring journey of building her business with grit, resilience, and unwavering commitment. Her story reminded us that success is rarely linear; it is shaped by courage, discipline, and the willingness to rise from every season of life.
Her generosity extended beyond the conversation; Anita thoughtfully brought gifts for our members and embodied the values that define Women Empower: integrity, empowerment, authenticity, and generosity. We are deeply grateful for her leadership, her service, and the example she sets for women pursuing aligned impact.
To learn more about Javan Wellness, follow them on IG here and book services by visiting their website here!
WE Retreat – Shenandoah Reflections
On October 24th, a small circle of Women Empower members ventured into the Shenandoah wilderness for a weekend retreat coordinated by our member Amparo Rosen. Away from busy schedules, city noise, and daily responsibilities, we were invited into stillness to reconnect with ourselves, each other, and the deeper spirit within.
WE experienced thoughtful practices, grounding conversations, and intentional moments designed to expand our awareness and stretch us gently outside our comfort zones. Surrounded by nature, we were reminded that clarity often arrives in quiet spaces, and that healing can happen when women gather with intention.
This retreat was more than rest; it was a reset. A sacred pause to breathe, witness one another, and return home more aligned, more centered, and more empowered. We are grateful for the leadership that made this possible, and for the sisterhood that continues to rise together.
Community Moments and Meet-ups
October was filled with meaningful moments of connection across our Women Empower community. We gathered for our quarterly Members-Only Brunch at the Quadrant, where Anita of Javon Wellness shared her powerful story and gifted our members with thoughtful wellness products. A small circle ventured into the Shenandoah mountains for a spiritually grounding WE retreat, reconnecting with nature, stillness, and sisterhood. We also celebrated a beautiful milestone as we gathered to shower Branka with love before welcoming her fourth baby boy. And throughout the month, members continued to strengthen bonds through happy hours, casual meet-ups, and spontaneous moments of support, reminding us that community is built not just in big events, but in the everyday spaces where we choose to show up for one another.
🌱 Looking Ahead
We have some incredible gatherings on the horizon, and we can’t wait to experience them together.
- 🤍 Nueveil Reveal Event – Join us as we rally behind Kelly to celebrate and support her new brand, Nueveil. (Details will be posted in the WE app)
- 🍷 Wine, Women, & Wealth® – Community Event in Reston, VA Tuesday, November 11th at 6pm est. We’re partnering again with Five Rings Financial for another Wine, Women, & Wealth ® evening open to the broader community. Expect another night of networking, empowerment, and practical insights, plus wine (or sparkling water!) and light bites. Here’s the link to register. When asked “who shared this” choose “other” in the dropdown and type “Women Empower”
- 🌿 WE’s Annual Event: This year, Women Empower is proud to bring a transformative conversation on hormonal health for high-achieving women to Washington, D.C. on Dec 4th. This event will highlight how understanding our hormones is key to sustained success, fulfillment, and longevity. Check out the details here. Only 100 seats will be available, so grab yours today!
📣 Join Us
Women Empower is more than a membership; it is a movement.
- Become a Member → [Membership Inquiries]
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Together, we are creating a global sisterhood of fulfilled, authentic, and powerful women.
✨ Closing Thought
As we step into November, may gratitude soften our edges, generosity expand our hearts, and perspective remind us that we grow richer through differences, not sameness. Here’s to holding space for one another with grace.
Together, we rise. 💫
With love & power,
Crystal Walent
Co-Founder, Women Empower