Small business owner Michelle VandenBosch, a rebel in the florist industry, joins Sherrilynne Starkie in episode six of the 50 Women Over 50 podcast to discuss taking on life in your own terms as a woman in your fifth decade.
Michelle is the owner of Rebel Petal, a flower shop based in Manotick, just south of Ottawa, Canada’s national capital. But it’s not like most flower shops (the clue is in the name)! She and her team specialize in custom fresh flower arrangements for weddings, home and event décor, and as you’ll learn in this episode, funerals too.
“What they don’t tell you when you're about to take a proverbial leap into the unknown,” explains Michelle, “is that you’re not jumping off a cliff. You’re not freefalling to the ground. You’ll land on a ledge that is the support of your friends, family and the community. So go ahead. Take that leap!”
In this interview, Michelle explains why she has stopped setting goals for herself but plans to continue in her rebellious ways always changing things up and taking on life on her own terms.
Michelle VandenBosch is a professional florist with more than 30 years experience. She had no desire to be a business owner or to open her own flower shop until seven years ago when she had a sudden epiphany! From the day she opened the doors of Rebel Petal, Michelle has redefined the concept of flower retailing and to this day she’s reinventing small business ownership.
Sherrilynne Starkie started this show as a creative project with the goal of interviewing 50 women past their 50th birthday to learn how they see the world, what lessons they’ve learned and what advice they have for us all. She’s been blogging and podcasting for 18+ years as part of a successful marketing and communications career and looks forward to learning from the women she will interview.
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Elevating the voices and stories of women navigating the enriching complexities of midlife, '50 Women Over 50' is an empowering podcast that draws inspiration from the experiences of 50 incredible women.
