Believe, Achieve, Inspire

These are the three values by which Raimonda Jankunaite lives her life: Believe in your ideas and dreams, dare to achieve success and conquer your goals, and then use that experience to inspire and impact others.

An unstoppable dynamo in entrepreneurship and empowerment, Raimonda Jankunaite commands attention and admiration. The brilliant mind behind Women Thrive Media is an inspiration, igniting change and driving progress. Raimonda’s journey as a serial entrepreneur and transformative catalyst transcends boundaries, shaping the landscape of success. Her mastery as a best-selling author, sought-after international speaker, and empowering speaking coach has revolutionized the trajectories of numerous business leaders, elevating their voices and magnifying their influence on a global scale.

Raimonda’s journey is more than one of professional success—it’s a testament to resilience and triumph over adversity. Having faced her own struggles and emerged stronger, she understands the power of reclaiming one’s voice and identity. She exemplifies the transformative power of resilience, demonstrating that every setback is a stepping stone to greatness. Now, she’s on a mission to ensure that no woman feels silenced or sidelined, championing the belief that every story deserves to be heard.

As the driving force behind the Women Thrive Summit, Raimonda orchestrates one of the most influential gatherings for women’s empowerment worldwide. Her passion for lifting others and fostering a supportive community shines through in everything she does. To know Raimonda is to be inspired by her unwavering dedication to empowering others and creating a world where every voice matters.

Let’s learn more about the woman behind the reputation:

J: What motivated you to become a serial entrepreneur, and how has this journey shaped your perspective on business and empowerment?

R: My entrepreneurial journey started early; seeing my parents start various businesses helped me envision that I would someday start my own venture. My dream of starting a business began at age 15, and I have tried many different things ever since. I always knew that freedom was one of my key values, and I thought if I could create something of my own, it would give me the freedom to live on my terms and shape my future. I also knew that having a business comes with unlimited potential, unlike having a job, climbing the ladder, or being limited to how far you can go in any career.

J: What obstacles did you face when starting your own business?

R: Success did not come immediately; I had to fail many times before finding a successful business. Some of the obstacles I encountered were a lack of funding, know-how, and confidence. But the more I pursued my vision, the more I learned how to make it work. I also faced many ‘doubters’ who did not believe in what I was doing, so I knew very early that I had to back myself with confidence and find a support network of people who believed in my vision.

J: What inspired the creation of Women Thrive Media, and what is its primary mission?

R: My mission with the Women Thrive Media is to build a platform where every woman has a voice. I faced many challenges where the media would not celebrate entrepreneurs and the vital work that many self-starter women do to make a positive impact. So, when I could not find a platform that celebrates women, I created one that would. I want every woman in business to know that she has a place where she can find inspiration and also be able to contribute her knowledge, talk about her mission, and inspire others.

J: How do you envision Women Thrive Media positively impacting the lives of business founders and women in general?

R: When I started my ‘real’ business at 21, I read magazines such as Success and Fast Company, which instilled in me the belief that you can become successful and pursue your goals. So when I created Women Thrive, I wanted to create a place where other women can dream big and know that anything is possible for them. I know that the stories we have shared via our media outlets, magazines, the annual Women Thrive Summit, podcasts, and events have given women courage, inspiration, and empowerment to be confident about their dreams and pursue them fearlessly.

J: Tell us about the Women Thrive Summit. What inspired you to create this global virtual women’s empowerment event?

R: The Women Thrive Summit was born out of adversity when we had to pivot our in-person events to a virtual event in 2020. I was so heartbroken about the pandemic shattering our dreams of going global with in-person events. But in my hopelessness, I took a step back and put myself in the shoes of other women facing much more difficult circumstances than I did. The Women Thrive Summit was born to inspire and empower other women to rise and thrive despite our difficult times. So many women joined me on the same mission, and it was a pivot from a 250-person in-person event featuring eight speakers to a 2,000-person event featuring 30+ speakers. This became our annual flagship event in March to celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.

J: How do you curate content for the summit, and what kind of impact have you seen on participants?

R: I always call for speakers from diverse backgrounds and with different perspectives and areas of expertise because I believe that to succeed in business, you must have a holistic approach to business and life. If one area of your life is lacking, it will probably become something that does not allow you to succeed. So, I embrace diversity in topics, voices, and women from different backgrounds to have a broad representation and share our views and knowledge with different perspectives.

J: What prompted you to become a best-selling author, and how does writing contribute to your mission of empowering others?

R: It was actually encouragement from my community. After one such summit, my speakers asked if I would lead a co-authored book project where we could all share our stories. It was in 2022 that the first book began, so we published our first ‘Women Thrive – Inspiring True Stories of Women Overcoming Adversity’ book series in February 2023, which became a best-seller overnight. Since then, we have published volume 2, are about to publish volume 3 and begin volume 4 of our books. It was genuinely life-changing for the authors to share their stories and for those who purchased and read the books to know they are not alone in their adversity.

J: Are there specific themes or messages in your books that resonate most with your readers?

R: The common thread is women overcoming adversity, and we shared many beautiful stories of women overcoming loss, disempowerment, tragedies, life struggles, near-death experiences, and so much more. These stories testify that in the darkest moments of our lives, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and we are stronger than we know to overcome anything that life throws at us. This is truly an example of women’s strength and resilience.

J: What was the best advice you were ever given?

R: Remind yourself how far you have come. Don’t let self-doubt cripple you, and pursue your dreams fearlessly.

J: You are a sought-after keynote speaker. What motivates you to speak and share your information with diverse audiences?

R: I love seeing other women’s lives transformed when we dare to speak and share our truth. I actually wasn’t a very confident speaker when I first started. I used to think I had this quiet, calm voice; who would want to listen to me? Until one day, someone said, I love your soft, gentle voice, and I feel like I could listen to you all day. This was a mind-shift moment for me to embrace my signature voice and use it to inspire others.

J: As a speaking coach and visibility expert, what common challenges do you observe in individuals trying to find their voice and visibility in their industries?

R: Most people are afraid to be visible, especially women. We often don’t want to take up space. We have been taught to stay quiet, be ‘good girls,’ and tone down our personalities. However, I have seen that true empowerment comes from women speaking their truth, becoming confident and fearless in using their voices, and becoming advocates for themselves and their missions. It is more important than we think to speak up because we set the example for others we may not even think are watching, like our sisters, daughters, cousins, friends, and other women facing the same struggles or self-doubts.

J: How do you stay motivated and inspired to continue your work? What new projects or initiatives are you currently working on, and what do you hope to achieve?

R: I am inspired daily by my organization’s impact. When women send me messages to say that because of my courage to pave the way and set the example, they have been inspired to pursue their dreams, my ultimate goal is to be the shining star, an example for other women to remind them what is possible. I am currently organizing more in-person events, and I hope we can impact, inspire, and encourage more women to step into their power and purpose.

J: Your passion for empowering others stems from your personal experience. Can you share more about overcoming trauma and finding your voice?

R: Yes, my passion for empowering others comes from my own experience of losing my voice in my mid-20s when I was faced with trauma following a toxic relationship that was disempowering and painful. Following that very traumatic incident, I lost my confidence, identity, and my voice. I struggled so much to speak or to see my worth. I would look in a mirror and ask myself, “Why am I here, feeling so much pain?” I could not see who I was. I could not recognize the person in the mirror, so I had to rebuild myself to find my voice slowly. Little did I know that many other women had faced similar circumstances as mine; it wasn’t until I was asked by my mentor, Les Brown, the pivotal question – ‘Why do you want to speak’ that this incident came flooding back to me. At that moment, I said, ‘I want to speak because I know what it’s like not to have a voice”. This was the first time I revealed the trauma that has been buried inside of me for more than five years, and I started to empower myself to speak my truth and inspire others.

J: What advice do you have for women struggling to find their voice or identity due to personal challenges? Why do you believe every woman’s story matters, and how do you encourage women to share their stories?

R: I lived in shame of my experience, guilt of making the wrong decisions, and fear of people’s judgment of my story. I was hiding behind the ‘mask.’ It was the easier option, so no one would find out the pain I had to go through. Living like that is not authentic because we are living a lie to ourselves and others. I have had to embrace my flaws and become unapologetic about speaking my truth. Surprisingly, this allowed me to become authentic, confident, and aligned with my mission in life. I want every woman to know that her story matters and can change other people’s lives, to know there is power in their story, and to embrace the pivotal moments as lessons that helped them get where they are now.

J: Are there practical tips or exercises you recommend for building confidence and resilience?

R: Never do what’s easy; constantly challenge yourself to pursue new things because nothing grows in our comfort zones. On the other side of fear is a life you have always dreamed of.

J: What are your future goals for Women Thrive Media, and are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you’re excited about?

R: We are working on so many things at Women Thrive. I aim to help more women become confident, unapologetic, and skilled speakers, so I am preparing to launch more speaker programs to support that. I am also writing a book called “An Unapologetic Speaker” that will focus on women’s empowerment and public speaking. I can’t wait to release it very soon.

J: How do you see your role evolving personally and professionally in the coming years?

R: I have learned to step more into my leadership role in my business and stop doing the day-to-day tasks that distract me from the big picture. Over the last few years, I have grown an incredible team that helps me bring my vision to life and impact the world more. I want to create more leaders in my organization and empower some community members to further our mission. We are currently working on building Thrive Talks for Women, where our community members can host events locally, and speakers can share their inspirational stories. In the next ten years, I aim to build the biggest speaking platform for women. One woman can not achieve such a big vision alone, so I must empower others to be part of this vision and be leaders in their own right.

J: You have a new baby. How do you balance your personal life with your hectic professional life?

R: Honestly, I love being a mum. She gives me so much drive and purpose in life. I never thought I could find the time to do it all, but more than ever, I am inspired to dream bigger and pour even more energy into what I do because I am setting an example for her and building a legacy for all women around me.

J: Would you like to share anything about your journey, Women Thrive Media, or the importance of women’s empowerment with our audience?

R: Know that your contribution to this world is neither small nor insignificant. We all have a part to play in changing the world, and you must make it your mission to do what you can with what you have been given. There is a reason you have been given a vision; never underestimate that, and commit to taking action. The grand vision was not built overnight, so stay consistent and committed to your dream. Join our Women Thrive mission and be part of something bigger than ourselves.

J: For the past year, I have had the honor and pleasure of working on the Women Thrive Summit project with Raimonda. She is a brilliant woman, and I have loved getting to know her. In a world where material wealth often measures success, she reminds us that true fulfillment lies in living authentically, embracing adversity, and sharing our stories to illuminate the path for others. She is more than a coach—she is a catalyst for change, a beacon of hope, and a guiding light for those who dare to dream.

Social Media Links:
Facebook: raimondajankunaite
Linkedin: raimondajan
Instagram: raimondajankunaite
Twitter: raimondajan
YouTube: @RaimondaJan

Websites:
raimondajankunaite.com
womenthrivesummit.com
womentrhivesummit.com/book
womenthrivemagazine.com

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2024 issue of CHOICES Magazine