We’re looking forward to introducing you to Valerie Lynn. Check out our conversation below.
Valerie, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Writing is the way I can share my voice without actually speaking it out loud. It’s always been like that. The reliable oxygen source I’ve forever known. Just me, my pen, and paper. Simple and yet, the Earth moves through me to get the words out onto the page. Never being able to do so fast enough. Never being able to keep up with the endless thoughts and feelings that seem to course through my blood… yet the only real way that I can somehow share all of that in small ways. Writing has been my therapist, my best friend, my mirror, and my home. But I’ve pushed it away before. Many times, in fact. And it always sits there waiting for my return. I’ve felt ashamed of it… who wants to be a writer? That’s only for poor people who thrive off of creativity and aren’t motivated in other areas of their lives. Writing is only for the dreamers, not the doers. Writing is what you do when you have free time and nothing left to do. Yet… our time is never free. And even when it is, if you push past the thing that keeps calling to you, again and again, your internal ‘voice’ of the soul gets muted, suppressed, and… small. Because when so much LIFE lives inside of you, yet you aren’t able to share it, the energies conflict, and you physically and emotionally cannot hold it. You simply were not meant to hold all of your greatness to yourself alone.
So I’ve finally decided to admit it and maybe even own up to the fact that I may not be the best writer, hell, I might not even be very good, but I know this to be true—writing runs deep in my internal chemistry in ways I cannot even understand. Writing is the true north when I’m lost, and it’s the way I can best describe how I feel or the thoughts that wander throughout my mind. Writing is the way I share my voice.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m someone who loves writing, which naturally means I also have a deep love for storytelling. For me, that comes alive through interviewing—one of the reasons I produce my podcast, The Women On Top. It’s truly the love language of my heart: creating space for women to share their voices, stories, and experiences in a meaningful way.
In my corporate career, I focused on learning and development, driven by my own passion (some would say addiction!) for personal growth. I created the largest mentorship program available to over 175,000 employees, which organically tripled in growth before I left. I ran the community around it, developed the curriculum, and designed learning pathways within our LMS to help people not just learn in isolation, but to come together, engage, and grow together. Mentorship is dear to my heart, as it not only has touched my life in many ways, but witnessing the power of what it can do for others was unmatched.
I also led a women’s group of over 700 members, scaling multiple event pillars centered on learning and growth. One of my favorite initiatives was a Women in Leadership event series, featuring top women leaders across the organization, where I facilitated panels for them to share their stories, wisdom, and experiences—a program that became wildly successful.
To put it all together, I’m deeply passionate about serving women in leadership, not just by helping them grow and develop, but by creating spaces where their voices are heard, their stories are celebrated, and their impact is amplified. Whether through storytelling, immersive learning experiences, workshops, or thoughtfully designed events, I aim to help people connect deeply—with themselves, with each other, and with the work they’re meant to do. For me, it’s about more than development; it’s about unlocking potential, fostering courage, and building communities where women can step fully into their power, be seen, and leave a lasting mark.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that has most shaped how I see myself is, surprisingly, the relationship I have with myself. Or, perhaps more accurately, the relationship between my ‘self’ and source—spirit, God, the universe, whatever you believe in. For much of my life, I looked outside myself for validation. I thought I would find what I was searching for in other people, in relationships, in milestones or achievements. But it wasn’t until a breakup during the pandemic that I truly began to get close to myself—really listen to her, to understand what she wanted, what she valued, and what mattered to her most.
I made a radical choice. I sold almost everything I owned, keeping only what fit in the trunk of my little Kia, and set off down the Pacific Coast to California. Something I had put in a manifesto back in 2016 was finally coming true. I wanted to eat, pray, love my life, and I figured if I was going to go through a pandemic alone, I’d rather be on the beach than in the rainy Pacific Northwest. So I left—scared, terrified, exhilarated all at once.
I manifested the perfect furnished beach spot when I arrived. It was idyllic, but I quickly realized something essential: the beach—or any location—doesn’t fix you. At the end of the day, you’re still alone with you. And that’s when the real work began.
After my lease ended, I decided to keep moving. My boss allowed me to travel while working, so I embarked on an Airbnb whirlwind that would change my life. Utah, Texas, the East Coast—I chased horizons and sunsets, and with every mile, I spent time with ME. Just me and the road. Me and the crazy Midwest storms, the desert heat, and the humidity. Me and the occasional bug-infested Airbnb or roach motel. Me… and some of the most breathtaking scenery, incredible people, and overall the most awe-inspiring experience I had ever had.
What transformed me wasn’t the beauty I passed—it was the solitude, the quiet, and the stillness I discovered within myself. When I learned to find gratitude in the middle of the worst moments—whether I was in a rainstorm on the side of the road, dealing with a bug-infested roach motel, or facing a day that felt impossibly lonely—I realized something profound. I had begun to strip away the layers of masks I had worn for years: the mask of achievement, the mask of perfection, the mask of who I thought I should be to be loved or respected. I had been chasing and protecting the wrong things, and in doing so, had obscured the truth of what truly mattered to me.
By sitting with discomfort, by noticing the little sparks of joy amid chaos—the sun breaking through clouds, the sound of waves on a quiet beach, the taste of a meal I made just for myself—I started peeling back the clutter and expectation that had crowded my life. I discovered that the core of what matters is startlingly simple: presence, connection, authenticity, curiosity, and love—for myself and others.
And the truth? It’s always simple. The complexity, the anxiety, the chasing—it’s all optional noise. The world tempts us to cover ourselves in layers of ambition, distraction, and comparison, convincing us that these are the things that matter. But really, underneath all of it, what matters is always straightforward. It’s living, feeling, showing up for yourself and those you care about, and recognizing the small, luminous threads of life that are always, quietly, already enough.
That road trip showed me myself. The dark parts I hadn’t wanted to face. The bright parts I had too often hidden. The parts that longed for connection, for creativity, for stillness, and for joy. Once I became comfortable with my own company, truly good with it, I discovered a profound freedom. Sitting with myself, appreciating the quiet, and tuning into source energy – whatever that means for you – opened the world in ways I had never imagined. Doors I didn’t even know existed began to appear. Creativity flowed differently. Relationships felt richer. Opportunities showed up that weren’t about chasing or performing, but about aligning with what felt authentic, expansive, and alive.
The journey taught me this: the most powerful relationship you will ever have is the one you cultivate with yourself. When you can sit with that, honor it, and find joy in your own presence, everything else falls into place—not because the world suddenly changes, but because you do. And that, more than anything, changes everything.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Some of the defining wounds of my life have come from toxic romantic relationships. I believe I was often part of the problem, I attracted them, I overstayed my welcome, I repeated patterns – but those experiences were nonetheless formative. They shaped my beliefs about my worth and often led me to blame my life, my lack of certain things, or my inability to have a healthy relationship on those past partners. The cycle continued, and I found myself stuck in old narratives.
My self-discovery journey, the Airbnb road trips I’ve shared before, was part of my healing, but so was meeting a partner who was balanced, healthy, and genuinely committed to building a relationship with someone like me. The beginning wasn’t easy. Redefining love for yourself when everything you’ve known has been a roller coaster of highs and lows is profoundly difficult. When I finally stepped into a relationship that was steady, safe, and healthy, it felt almost disorienting. The roller coaster had become a lazy river, and at first, I found myself questioning if this was really love, or, sometimes, even creating drama just to feel the old rush (although subconsciously I didn’t realize that pattern).
I had to re-learn what love could be. I had to decide: either go all in, fully committed and willing to sit with the discomfort of allowing the good to be good, or walk away. My partner wasn’t going to tolerate the yo-yo of my emotions, and he didn’t deserve to. So I leveled up. I challenged myself to remember that a single off-day, a moment of doubt, or a tangle of past habits did not mean the relationship was destined to fail.
Therapy became an amazing tool. My therapist helped me unravel the knots of my past and taught me how to care for myself in ways I hadn’t before. I dedicated myself to health, growth, and cultivating my own interests, outside of the relationship. Slowly, the relationship flourished, and my partner elevated himself alongside me. I discovered something I had never believed: passion and excitement can emerge from safety, love, and security. I had always thought that sounded boring—but I was so wrong.
I realized that the foundation of safety, respect, and security is what allows love to grow in new, deeper layers—layers I had never experienced before. This isn’t just true for romantic relationships. It’s true for life in general. You can’t start decorating a house without first laying a strong foundation. The cement has to be poured, the structure has to hold, and only then can you start to think about choosing the paint colors, the furnishings, and the beauty that makes it yours. Healing, growth, leadership and sustainable love, romantic or otherwise, begin with the foundation. Build that well, and everything else becomes possible.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The belief I’m committed to, no matter how long it takes, is that we need to elevate women’s voices. Not because I’m against men—far from it. In many ways, men face challenges that are different, sometimes even harder. But I am a woman, and I know what we are capable of. I want to be a champion for women, to be the person who holds out a hand, opens a door, or gives the space for another woman to step into her own power.
I know firsthand what it feels like to doubt yourself. I was the “good girl” forever—good grades, kind of shy, not a lot of friends, always questioning if I was enough. I still wrestle with that sometimes. But the most transformative moments in my life have come from other amazing women who saw me—really saw me. Women who recognized my potential, who believed in me before I fully believed in myself, and who held out their hand to bring me along. They gave me space to lead, to be creative, to step into my personal brand, and that’s where the magic happens.
I have witnessed the power of this over and over again: women with huge hearts and brilliant minds, who just need someone to notice them, to give them the mic, to invite them in. That small act of belief can take someone’s confidence—and their impact—to a whole new level. When we can create more spaces for women to lead in their own way, the world changes. We still need more women at the table, more women shaping the conversation, more women daring to step forward and be the change they wish they could see.
This is my life’s work. Elevating women, giving them visibility, and creating opportunities for them to be heard is not just my passion—it’s my commitment. I hope to continue welcoming the next generation of women with love, belief, and an unwavering invitation to rise. Because when women lead, the ripple effect is extraordinary, and I want to help make that ripple reach as far as it possibly can.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I think about the story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone, it’s not about accolades or achievements. I hope they say that, somehow, I helped them believe in themselves. That I encouraged them—just a little—to explore who they are over the years, to understand that self-discovery is not a single moment, but a lifelong unraveling.
I hope people feel that, through my journey, they were reminded there is always something to be grateful for, even in the hard moments. I hope I can be a beacon of hope, a small spark that helps them see the light inside themselves a little more brightly.
I hope they embrace their creativity, their artistry, their natural inclinations, not as quirks or distractions, but as gifts from something much bigger than themselves. I hope people honor those gifts instead of tampering with them. Even when their desires feel silly, or cringy, or anxious – as mine have at times, from my Airbnb journey to my love of writing to my dedication to supporting women – I hope they pursue them anyway. I hope people lean fully into who they are.
And lasty, I hope that the story isn’t just about me. I hope it’s a ripple effect, a collective consciousness awakened by the energy and encouragement of many people over time. I hope that the way I choose to live my life – messy, imperfect, passionate, intentional – can be a small contributor to that. A tiny thread in a much larger tapestry.
And if that’s the story, if even a few people carry that forward, then that is more than enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thewomenontop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewomenontoppodcast/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-lynn/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewomenontop
- Other: Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-women-on-top/id1507434015
