Journey of a Lost Girl: A Path to Resilience and Success with Rebecca Contreras

How do you approach forgiveness and self-forgiveness in your journey? What role does it play in shaping your personal growth and resilience? Rebecca Contreras is currently the President & CEO of AvantGarde LLC (AG), a consulting firm she cofounded in 2011 as the majority owner.  AvantGarde has grown to over 120 employees across nine states including a team in the great State of Texas where Rebecca resides. AG's Offices are in the Austin and Washington DC area with clients in 26 different government agencies.  AG offers a one-stop-shop approach to addressing complex organizational issues, AGs capabilities center around four key areas:  Human Capital (HR), Organizational Development, Business Operations, and Technology. Rebecca commutes back and forth between her TX and DC offices. In this episode of the Crown Yourself podcast, host Kimberly Spencer interviews Rebecca Contreras, who shares her inspiring journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur and leader. Rebecca discusses the importance of forgiveness, faith, and mentorship in overcoming adversity, including abuse and addiction. She emphasizes the value of seeking psychiatric care and building a supportive community. The conversation also covers Rebecca's transition from working in the White House to founding her own multi-million dollar company, her nonprofit initiative, and her approach to creating a healthy home life. Rebecca's resilience and commitment to personal growth and positive influence shine throughout the episode. What you will learn from this episode… Rebecca's journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur and leader Importance of forgiveness, faith, and mentorship Creating a healthy home life while balancing a successful career Overcoming challenges such as addiction, toxic relationships, and self-blame Transition from working in government to building a multi-million dollar company Entrepreneurial skills and insights into negotiation and influence Using influence for the greater good and serving humankind Initiatives to empower and enable inner-city girls for development and scholarship Bridging divides and having constructive conversations with differing opinions Insights into self-care and personal growth   Enjoy, sovereigns!   Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or your favorite podcast listening platform. You can also watch the episode on YouTube.   Moments of Note: The timestamp's title (time it starts) short description, with max 20 words, of what is covered in this topic. Forgiveness and Unconditional Love (00:00:00) The importance of forgiveness and unconditional love in human relationships and faith. Introduction to the Podcast (00:00:27) The host introduces the Crown Yourself podcast and its purpose. Rebecca's Multiple Lifetimes (00:01:09) Rebecca shares her experiences and insights, indicating that she feels like she has lived multiple lifetimes. Rebecca's Journey with Faith (00:02:21) Rebecca discusses her challenging experiences with faith and her journey to finding a positive relationship with God. Mentorship and Support (00:07:28) Rebecca emphasizes the importance of seeking mentorship and support, particularly through pastoral care and spiritual mentorship. Finding the Right Mentors (00:09:28) Rebecca discusses the value of finding mentors who bring value to life and the importance of not putting people on pedestals. Seeking Mental Health Care (00:11:00) Rebecca emphasizes the importance of seeking mental health care and resources for personal growth and healing. Taking Ownership and Responsibility (00:12:40) The discussion focuses on taking ownership, responsibility, and cultivating a healthy home life. Balancing Work and Family (00:15:47) Rebecca shares insights on balancing work and family life, emphasizing the importance of being present and having a supportive partner. Cultivating a Healthy Home Life (00:18:55) Rebecca discusses the intentional efforts and boundaries put in place to cultivate a healthy home life despite past trauma and dysfunction. The environment's impact (00:21:10) Rebecca discusses how changing her environment and eliminating toxic relationships shaped her life and success. Differentiating toxic relationships (00:24:56) Rebecca and Kimberly discuss the distinction between toxic relationships and those that challenge personal growth. Forgiveness and self-blame (00:31:36) Rebecca shares her experiences with self-blame, forgiveness of self, and the impact of self-blame on her life. The power of forgiveness (00:34:33) Rebecca explains how forgiveness, especially forgiving her mother, was a catalyst for her transformation and healing. Lessons from past experiences (00:41:04) Rebecca reflects on how her experiences, including working in government and being around business-minded individuals, shaped her entrepreneurial skills. Negotiating skills and starting a business (00:42:16) Rebecca discusses her negotiation skills and the transition from government to the private sector. Believing in oneself and the power of influence (00:43:12) Rebecca shares her journey of self-belief and the influence of people in her success. Influence and impact on society (00:48:36) Rebecca discusses the importance of using influence for good and its impact on society. Future plans and growth (00:50:04) Rebecca talks about the growth of her company and her future plans. Political and social issues (00:51:51) Rebecca expresses her concerns about the Texas border issue and the divisiveness in politics. Empathy and leadership (00:57:57) Rebecca discusses leading with empathy and emotional growth. Rapid fire: Favorite female character, trading places, morning and evening routines, queendom, self-care (01:00:45) Rebecca answers rapid-fire questions about her favorite female character, morning and evening routines, queendom, and self-care. Connecting with Rebecca (01:03:44) Rebecca shares how to connect with her and where to find her book. Rebecca's Challenging Upbringing (01:04:49) Rebecca shares her experiences and insights on overcoming a difficult childhood. Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur (01:04:49) Rebecca discusses her journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur and leader.   Mentions + Additional Resources: "RebeccaContreras.com": "01:03:44" "Lost Girl" by Rebecca Contreras: "01:03:44" Instagram: "01:03:44" Meditation, Prayer, and Devotional: "01:01:45" Cooking and TV Time: "01:02:08" Girls A Legacy: "01:02:33" Orange Theory: "Not specified"   Connect with Rebecca Contreras: WEBSITE: https://www.rebeccacontreras.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaAnnContreras/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaanncontreras/ LINKED IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-contreras-98059013/ YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@rebeccacontreras4364   Transcript: For a full episode transcript, it can be found here. 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