Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique S. Pearson.
Hi Monique S., so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey has been anything but traditional. I grew up in Utica, New York, as the oldest of four children, and from an early age, I learned the value of resilience, responsibility, and perseverance. Like many women, I faced my share of challenges, including childhood trauma, low self-esteem, and experiences that left me questioning my worth. For years, fear and self-doubt kept me playing small.
Everything began to change when I made a decision to invest in my own healing and personal growth. That journey led me to discover strengths I never knew I had and a passion for helping other women do the same.
Professionally, I served over 25 years in the federal government, including 8½ years in the U.S. Army and a career in a predominantly male industry supporting our nation’s defense. Along the way, I had opportunities to live overseas in Milan, Italy, and travel extensively around the world. Those experiences expanded my perspective and reinforced a belief that there is so much more available to us when we step outside of our comfort zones.
In 2020, during the pandemic, I launched Soaring W/O Limits Enterprises (SWOLE) as a platform to inspire women to elevate, expand, and explore their lives through personal development, travel, and empowerment. What started as a vision quickly grew into speaking engagements, coaching programs, retreats, a podcast, and several published books.
One of the most defining moments of my life came in April 2024 when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. While the diagnosis was unexpected, it became the catalyst for an even greater purpose. Rather than allowing it to define me, I chose to create the Soaring Beyond the Diagnosis movement, a community dedicated to helping women with autoimmune disorders and chronic illnesses live, thrive, and pursue their dreams despite their challenges.
Today, I am an award-winning author, speaker, travelogist, and advocate who has traveled to more than 30 countries, published multiple books, and built communities that empower women to live beyond fear, limitations, and labels. My mission is simple: to help women recognize that their circumstances do not determine their destiny. Whether through my books, speaking, travel experiences, or wellness initiatives, I want every woman to know that she is capable of soaring beyond whatever stands in her way.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. If anything, my journey has been filled with detours, setbacks, and moments that tested my faith and resilience.
For a long time, I struggled with self-doubt and limiting beliefs rooted in childhood experiences and trauma. I spent years questioning my worth, playing small, and seeking validation from others. Learning to believe in myself was one of the hardest battles I have ever fought.
Professionally, I built a successful career in the military and federal government, often working in male-dominated environments where I had to consistently prove myself. While those experiences helped me develop confidence and leadership skills, they also taught me the importance of finding my voice and standing firmly in who I am.
Entrepreneurship brought a different set of challenges. Like many business owners, I had to navigate uncertainty, invest in myself before seeing results, and keep moving forward when things didn’t happen as quickly as I had hoped. There were moments when I questioned whether I was making an impact and whether I should continue. Those seasons taught me patience, perseverance, and the importance of staying connected to my purpose.
One of the most significant challenges came in 2024 when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Receiving that diagnosis was difficult because it forced me to confront fears about my health, my future, and what life might look like moving forward. I had a choice: allow the diagnosis to define me or use it as fuel for a greater purpose. I chose the latter.
Looking back, I can honestly say that every challenge has shaped the woman I am today. The struggles taught me resilience. The disappointments strengthened my faith. The obstacles helped me discover my purpose. Today, I don’t view my challenges as roadblocks; I view them as part of the story that allows me to connect with and inspire others. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that growth rarely happens on a smooth road, but the lessons learned along the way are often what prepare you for your greatest impact.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What I do today is deeply rooted in my lived experiences. Every aspect of my business portfolio was born from a challenge I faced, a lesson I learned, or a dream I was determined to pursue despite the obstacles.
As the Founder and CEO of Soaring W/O Limits Enterprises (SWOLE), I have built a portfolio of brands and initiatives focused on empowerment, travel, personal development, and wellness. Through speaking, writing, coaching, travel experiences, community-building, and events, my mission is to help women elevate, expand, and explore their lives without allowing fear, limitations, or circumstances to hold them back.
My work spans several areas. I am an author and speaker who shares messages of resilience, purpose, and personal transformation. I own a travel business that encourages women—especially those who have spent years putting everyone else first—to finally prioritize themselves and see the world. I host the Triple E Podcast, where we have meaningful conversations around empowerment, entrepreneurship, wellness, and travel. Most recently, after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, I launched the Soaring Beyond the Diagnosis movement, which provides community, resources, and hope for women living with autoimmune disorders and chronic illnesses.
What I specialize in is helping women move from feeling stuck to living intentionally. Whether that’s through a book, a speaking engagement, a wellness event, or a passport stamp, I want women to know that their current circumstances do not have to dictate their future.
What I’m most proud of isn’t any award, recognition, or accomplishment—although I am grateful for those. I’m most proud of creating spaces where women feel seen, heard, supported, and inspired to believe in themselves again. Seeing a woman take her first solo trip, launch her business, share her story, or realize that her diagnosis doesn’t define her is incredibly rewarding.
I believe what sets me apart is authenticity. I don’t teach from theory; I teach from experience. I’ve navigated trauma, self-doubt, career challenges, entrepreneurship, and a life-changing health diagnosis. I’ve rebuilt myself more than once. The lessons I share were earned through real-life experiences, not just learned in a classroom. Because of that, people don’t just connect with my message—they connect with my journey.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: no matter what you’ve been through, there is still more life to live, more purpose to fulfill, and more dreams to pursue. My goal is to help women see that for themselves and give them the tools, encouragement, and community to make it happen.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If there’s one thing I’d like readers to take away from my story, it’s this: your circumstances do not determine your destiny.
For many years, I allowed fear, self-doubt, and past experiences to convince me that certain dreams were out of reach. I’ve learned that growth begins the moment we decide to stop allowing our limitations, our titles, our age, our diagnosis, or other people’s opinions to define what’s possible for our lives.
At 50 years old, I am still dreaming, still building, still traveling, and still discovering new parts of myself. My diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis didn’t end my story—it gave me a new chapter and a deeper purpose. The challenges I’ve faced have taught me that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
I also want women, especially women in midlife, to know that it is never too late to choose yourself. It’s never too late to write the book, start the business, take the trip, prioritize your wellness, or pursue the dream you’ve placed on hold while caring for everyone else.
My life’s work is centered around helping women elevate, expand, and explore, because I believe there is so much more available to us than we often allow ourselves to imagine.
So my encouragement to your readers is simple: stop waiting for the perfect time. Stop waiting until you feel fearless. Stop waiting for permission.
Take the first step.
The life you desire may be waiting on the other side of that decision.
And remember, no matter what you’ve been through, you can still soar beyond the limits you’ve placed on yourself—and beyond the ones others have placed on you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soaringbeyondthediagnosis.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moniquesariepearson/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monique.pearson.7
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquespearson/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@swoleagency
