Meet Our Speakers
Alana Cahoon
Alana focuses on guiding individuals toward self-discovery, fostering personal and professional growth, and nurturing conscious leadership.
Through her distinct approach of tapping into your authenticity, she uncovers the barriers hindering your pursuit of the ideal career, relationship or living situation.
She is the visionary behind Grow 2 B U, LLC, renowned for designing signature programs that guide entrepreneurs and individuals worldwide thrAlana focuses on guiding individuals toward self-discovery, fostering personal and professional growth, and nurturing conscious leadership.
Through her distinct approach of tapping into your authenticity, she uncovers the barriers hindering your pursuit of the ideal career, relationship or living situation.
She is the visionary behind Grow 2 B U, LLC, renowned for designing signature programs that guide entrepreneurs and individuals worldwide through profound journeys of personal and professional metamorphosis.
Clients gain from accessing her extensive training in lifelong holistic health, creativity, and conscious leadership, enabling them to unlock their inherent wisdom and apply it across all facets of life, fostering harmony, abundance, and well-being in health, wealth, and happiness.
Ms. Cahoon received her Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre with studies in England. This took her to NYC where she performed, and initiated her studies in holistic medicine. She is a Karuna Holy Fire II Reiki Master Teacher and has trained, practiced, and taught extensively in Shaman Healing, Energy Balancing, and Meditation. She is a Certified Natural Health Professional with a focus in nutrition; a Yoga Teacher (500 hour); trained in MBSR; and is in her 6th year of training in Tibetan Buddhism. She is a professional singer/songwriter with music and guided meditations available online. She has also led one of New York’s first business incubators for technology startups.
Jessica Derksen
Jessica Derksen is the founder of Habitual Professional Development and specializes in high performance habit coaching in both personal and professional development. In a professional setting Jessica helps leaders truly lead and build more effective teams. Her clients learn how to control difficult situations, overcome mental obstacles, and understand themselves to effectively motivate themselves and their teams in achieving their desired outcomes.
Beyond her professional roles, Jessica’s zest for life is evident in her love for adventure she enjoys hiking, running, obstacle course training, golfing, pickleball, snowboarding, and exploring new adventures with family and friends. With a firm belief that feeling great is the key to doing great things, Jessica Derksen is a beacon of inspiration in the world of personal and professional development.
Karen Laos
Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, is on a mission to eradicate self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them simple strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond.
Karen first recognized the power of confident communication when she successfully negotiated her first flea market purchase at six years old. With 25 years commanding coveted stages such as Google and NASA, she now guides women to transform self-doubt into self-confidence resulting in more clients, job promotions, and negotiation wins. Her signature framework is called The Confidence Cocktail.
Pearl Chiarenza
A mental fitness life coach, author, and captivating speaker, Pearl champions women’s journeys to self-discovery and unapologetic self-care.
Leading you on a transformative path where mind, body, and spirit unite, crafting your narrative as your own SHERO (Strong, Happy, Empowered, Radiant, Original) is her mission.
One-on-one and group coaching, Pearl’s expertise extends to vibrant community SHERO gatherings and empowering women’s pajama retreats of self-renewal. Unwavering zeal, she equips you with the superpower of a positive mindset, helping you triumph over life’s trials with a cape of resilience.
Pearl’s expertise is underscored by certification as a mental fitness trainer and a literary portfolio, including “Behind Her Brand” and Women’s Guide to The Mindset of a Successful Woman.”
Pearl’s featured in various magazines, an honorary day in Syracuse, NY, and the prestigious Women of Worth Award. She is a mom to two adult sons Matthew (forever 25) and Nate (24) and loving wife to Chuck of 37 years.