SEPT NIBJ: You don’t have to see the whole staircase

One of the great privileges of getting older — and hopefully a little wiser — is watching the next generation of women step forward.

Through NIA Women of IMPACT and my own years in business and leadership, I’ve had the opportunity to meet women at every stage of their careers. I love sharing what experience has taught me, but I’m equally inspired by younger women who remind us that sometimes the most important thing is simply to begin.

I’ve long loved the Martin Luther King Jr. quote, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” You don’t need to know exactly where the staircase leads. Take the first few steps. Learn. Adjust. Keep climbing.

My less eloquent version? Throw some spaghetti against the wall and see what sticks! Give something a try. If it doesn’t work, adjust the recipe and try again.

There are some wonderful young women doing exactly that right here in North Idaho.

Kacie Owens grew up around strong women in the beauty industry. At just 18, she left college to pursue a business opportunity, owning and operating a local tanning and wellness salon. At 20 she attended cosmetology school, and by 22 she had sold her first business. In 2025, she opened Rae & Co. Salon in Post Falls.

Her advice to her younger self, shared recently with the Coeur d’Alene Press, could be advice for women of any age: “Don’t let fear or ‘what ifs’ hold you back from opportunities.” She went on to say that we grow, adapt and figure things out along the way.

Then there is Tyler Robb, owner of Pearl and Tin Weddings and Flower Shop in Coeur d’Alene. When the North Idaho Business Journal profiled her at age 27, she had already been in business about eight years. What began with wedding planning grew to include floral design and eventually a retail storefront filled with flowers, gifts, clothing, jewelry and art.

And farther north, Kenzie Holland, a sixth-generation Bonner County native, took something deeply rooted in her Western upbringing and gave it her own creative twist. Through Brim & Band Custom Hats, she shapes and embellishes Western hats into one-of-a-kind pieces reflecting each customer’s personality. Shortly after launching the business, her booking spots began filling.

Different women. Different businesses. Same lesson.

You don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin.

As a woman with a few more stairs behind me than these young entrepreneurs, I find that incredibly exciting. They are not waiting for the perfect time, the perfect plan or permission. They’re stepping up — and I’m delighted to watch them climb.

Come meet women at every stage of their own staircase. NIA Women of IMPACT is hosting our September Social on Wednesday, September 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. This casual meet-and-greet brings women of all ages together to connect, build relationships and learn more about NIA Women of IMPACT.

For information, contact Marilee Wallace at [email protected], 208-660-1557, or visit nia.ticketgoat.com.