10 Lessons from Spending the Weekend with 500+ Women Entrepreneurs
(the chemistry was unreal!)
Over the weekend, I attended the 2025 Altitude Summit in Palm Springs, CA, an annual gathering of women entrepreneurs from all walks of life and industries to learn from each other, connect, grow our businesses, and shape our inspired pursuits.
It was my first time there, and the biggest investment of my creative life.
Aside from a few other special occasions - my wedding (more on that soon), the 2019 Seattle Marathon, and attending the 2023 Aftershock Festival with my metal-fanatic husband - this 4-day adventure to blossom in conversation and creativity with fellow writers, artists, food entrepreneurs, photographers, educators, small-business owners, freelancers, designers, crafters, multimedia directors, and public speakers was truly the biggest gift I have given my artist self.
Here are my top takeaways from the weekend (and credits to the women who taught them):
Entrepreneurship is experimentation. (credit: Alyssa Zander) This means that sometimes, things go right. And, other times, things go wrong. Have fun with it!
Instead of adding to your to-do list, make a “do-not-do” list. (credit: Julia Cole) Each of us cannot (and should not) strive to be everywhere all at once. Get clear on your boundaries and protect your time/ energy so that you can focus it towards things that align with your north star. Think about all those little errands and annoying tasks - do they all need to be done (by you) or at all?
Become more aware of what you believe in, and also learn to challenge those beliefs. (credit: Cyndie Spiegel) We each have 60,000 thoughts per day, yet we are often not aware of what we think (and/or believe all these thoughts are true). When we pay more attention to our words and our thoughts, we unlock a superpower that can help us navigate life through the good and bad.
Think about balancing different areas of your life like a set of dimmer lights in rather than a traditional on/off switch. (credit: Renata Lutz) Instead of - in any given moment- feeling like you have to “turn off” your family life to lean hard into your career life or “turn on” your health at the expense of your love life, think of your focus in these areas as energy that you can flexibly move and adjust fluidly to adapt to your needs.
Be real. You can smell fakeness from miles away, and so can others. (credit: Amelia Mccall) In an age where the internet pushes airbrushed, cherry-picked photos to us and meticulously orchestrated bits that are advertised as authentic, we all are craving realness. So, be real to yourself. And, be real to others. It serves no one to be someone you are not.
Despite your fears or worries that your community does not exist, it does (and oftentimes) in your own backyard. (credit: Katie Porter) When we reckon with a lack of community, we often feel the overwhelm of needing to create one from scratch. Or, we just throw our arms up and resort to not having one. The truth is, your community is usually already there - you just need to discover it. So, say hi to neighbors. Walk into a community center. Chat with someone in the elevator. Help a stranger load their groceries. You never know!
Build awareness of the anger that you carry around, and find ways to release it. (credit: Krissie McMennamin) Many of us, especially women, have a lot of rage trapped in our bodies because we are told from a young age to keep a smile on our faces (at all costs). And the costs are life-threatening. In fact, research shows that suppressed anger manifests in inflammation and disease, chronic autoimmune diseases, disordered eating, and fatigue. Then, what’s the flip side? Studies show that female cancer patients who had healthy channels of expressing their anger experienced lower rates of cancer resurgence than their anger-suppressed counterparts. So, let it out - damn it!
Actively seek stories from all ways of living and life paths. It might surprise you just how many ways of being, living, and being happy there are! (credit: Mary McGreevy) We all are imperfect and live imperfect lives. There is not one way to be. Invite new perspectives and listen to your curiosity rather than the way-louder voice of society’s “should’s” and should not’s.”
Kindness is intentional. Develop a radar for it, and you will see it everywhere, and begin to appreciate its impacts on you and the world. (credit: Rachel Hunt) Despite the fact that we have come to understand tiny acts of kindness as random, they aren’t. They require thoughtfulness but often feel small to those giving it (but not to those receiving it). Appreciate the kindness that comes your way, and pave it forward.
The world doesn’t change when we stay quiet. Talk about what you care about. (credit: Lisa Congdon) Sometimes, your voice is your voice. Other times, your art - or, your actions, your vote - is your voice. Find your voice, and use it.
I have a notebook full of many more insights from this beautiful weekend in the desert, but these were the ones that stuck with me the most.
I’ll share more soon, and also invite those new to Tomatokind (and whom I met over the weekend) - welcome! - to comment with your thoughts.
As always, happy community-gathering, and see you on the next page!
Boundaries are something I'm working on, a weakness of mine - I'm trying to keep it to 2-3 projects at a time! :)