Thursday, December 4

ISSUE 12

Welcome to Issue 12
ISSUE 12, Mind & Body, Slide one 1

Welcome to Issue 12

Editor’s Note – Issue 12 | Playing Big In a world that often asks women to shrink, Stellar Woman Magazine invites you to do the opposite: Playing Big. This issue is a love letter to courage, possibility, and bold action. It celebrates women who are not just dreaming big but doing big, the builders, the changemakers, the visionaries, and the everyday warriors who dare to take up space and rewrite the script. From small towns to global stages, our featured women show us that playing big isn't about perfection or fearlessness. It's about showing up. It’s about saying yes to the calling inside you, even when the path is unclear. It’s about trusting your voice, your gifts, and your timing. You'll meet sisters Peace Mitchell and Katy Garner, the force behind Women Changing the World,...
Why Running is a Great Mental Health Boost- Christina Collison
ISSUE 12, Mind & Body, Slide one 1

Why Running is a Great Mental Health Boost- Christina Collison

Running can not only help you alleviate stress and have a happier mindset but can also help you feel more confident and achieve other goals. Christina Collison explains why. There’s a popular saying: you can’t pour from an empty cup. And when it comes to looking after others or living your best life, it’s certainly true. If your mind feels overwhelmed or depleted, everything becomes harder. That’s why running can be a powerful act of self-care. When I was caring for my late mum, who had dementia, I carved out 30 minutes most days to exercise. Running was my lifeline. It didn’t magically fix everything, but it gave me breathing space and clarity. Running is a reset button. Running offers a rare chance to be completely present. The rhythm of your feet, the fresh air, the mental f...
Dare to Dream Bigger: Why You Need a BHAG
ISSUE 12, Issue One 2, Mind & Body

Dare to Dream Bigger: Why You Need a BHAG

A Big Hairy Audacious Goal Could Change Everything By Ann Justi Let us be honest when someone asks, “Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?” it can feel like a trap. You mumble something safe. Something smart. Something that fits. But what if you let yourself say the real answer? The one that scares you a little (or a lot)? That is what a BHAG is. Big. Hairy. Audacious. Goal. It is not cute. It is not cozy. It is bold, intimidating, and if it is done right, it will stretch your soul. I recommend that you find a large goal to achieve not just this year but over many years because in doing so it creates internal transformation for you. You develop a vision, knowledge, and habits that serve you and propel you into the future. This can also apply to your business. The g...
Playing Big: From Left Out to Leading the Way- Theresa Russell
ISSUE 12, Mind & Body, Slide one 1

Playing Big: From Left Out to Leading the Way- Theresa Russell

When I was a girl, I couldn’t do a cartwheel. I still feel the sting of being the only sister who didn’t make the gymnastics team — awkward, unsure, and aching to belong. At fourteen, I started exercising daily, convinced that changing my body was the key to changing my life. That drive eventually turned into restriction, and for years I withheld food from myself, believing I had to shrink to be seen. What I didn’t know then and what I want women to know now, is that playing big doesn’t require shrinking yourself to fit in. It doesn’t require pushing through pain or performing for approval. Playing big can be quiet. It can start with a breath, a small movement, or a moment of stillness. It begins with the radical idea that you are already worthy, right here, right now. If yo...
Healing From the Inside Out: Why Your Gut Holds the Key to Better Health – Cristal Johnston
ISSUE 12, Slide one 1, Thriving

Healing From the Inside Out: Why Your Gut Holds the Key to Better Health – Cristal Johnston

After more than 36 years in the nursing profession, many of those spent in the high-stakes environment of the Emergency Room, I have seen a recurring theme: many chronic conditions that bring people to crisis didn’t begin in the ER. They began quietly, often in the gut. Originally from Canada and now living in Raleigh, North Carolina, I have transitioned from crisis care to root-cause wellness, focusing on how foundational gut health is to our overall wellbeing. My years in healthcare taught me that if we want to prevent the emergencies and the ongoing medication cycles, we need to pay closer attention to the early signals our bodies send especially those originating in the gut. The Gut: Your Body’s Command Centre Your gut is so much more than a digestive organ. It plays a key rol...
Peace Mitchell & Katy Garner : The Sisters Powering a Global Women’s Movement
Cover Story, ISSUE 12

Peace Mitchell & Katy Garner : The Sisters Powering a Global Women’s Movement

Peace Mitchell Who is Peace Mitchell?I’m first and foremost a mother, a woman, a dreamer, and an entrepreneur. I love people, I love to travel, and I especially love being surrounded by incredible women doing big things. That lights me up. I believe in the power of community, connection, and creating platforms that help women rise. What did you dream of becoming as a little girl? Were there early signs that you were destined to play big?As a child, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. I always wanted to make a change, to empower young minds. I eventually became a teacher, but I quickly realized that the biggest impact on a child’s life often comes from their mother. That realization shifted everything. I thought: if I can empower women, especially mothers, I can create ripple effects...
Silence Never Builds Empires – Divya Parekh
ISSUE 12, Mind & Body, Slide one 2

Silence Never Builds Empires – Divya Parekh

For years, I envisioned the TED stage. I could feel it in my body before it ever happened—the red dot beneath my feet, the gravity of speaking into a room charged with attention. But it didn’t come easily. In 2023, I finally gave that TED Talk. Not because I suddenly felt ready, but because I chose to stop waiting. I stepped into the tension, the fear, the self-doubt—and I did it anyway. It wasn’t perfect. But it was real. And that changed everything. The Real Meaning of “Playing Big” Let’s be honest: most people confuse “playing big” with being flashy, flawless, or famous. That’s not what it is. Playing big is about choosing visibility over comfort. It’s about leading even when your voice shakes. It’s about saying what needs to be said—even if it’s not smo...
Playing Big: The Power of “I Am” and Building from Truth – Stella kikoyo
ISSUE 12, Slide one 2, Thriving

Playing Big: The Power of “I Am” and Building from Truth – Stella kikoyo

Screenshot “We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.” Max De Pree, former CEO of Herman Miller “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Napoleon Hill We live in a time where doors are wide open not just to opportunity, but to truth. At Stellar Woman, we believe the most powerful strategy for playing big in business and in life starts with this: remembering who you are. For too long, women have been conditioned to look outward for validation, proof, permission. But playing big isn’t about waiting. It’s about aligning with the truth of who you already are, owning your identity, and choosing to use everything life has given you - your experiences, your voice, your vision to live fully and build consciously. “Our...
Launch and Play Big: Brand Strategies from a Chartered Marketer for Women Ready to Lead Aligned and Impactful Businesses- Stella Kikoyo
Business, ISSUE 12, Slide one 2

Launch and Play Big: Brand Strategies from a Chartered Marketer for Women Ready to Lead Aligned and Impactful Businesses- Stella Kikoyo

By Stella Kikoyo — Chartered Marketer, coach, brand strategist & Founder, Stellar Woman® Screenshot “There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.”- Napoleon Hill If you’re a woman standing at the edge of your next level ready to launch your business, raise your visibility, or scale with impact — I want to say this clearly: you are possible. This is your time. As a Chartered Marketer and founder of Stellar Woman®, I have seen far too many brilliant women shrink their ideas to fit into someone else’s formula. However, playing big requires more than templates. It demands truth and a strategy that starts from within. Here’s the difference: You’re not here just to “do marketing.” You’re here to become the brand - a wo...
Julie Foster on Playing Big, Leading with Heart & Building Legacy Beyond Reebok
Cover Story, ISSUE 12

Julie Foster on Playing Big, Leading with Heart & Building Legacy Beyond Reebok

Introduction: The Woman Behind the BrandJulie Foster may not be a household name, but her story offers valuable insights about partnership and perseverance. Married to Joe Foster, founder of Reebok, for 27 years (and together for 34), Julie describes herself as "the engine room behind Joe." In this interview, Julie shares her practical approach to supporting her husband's work while maintaining her own identity. From her early days in logistics to coordinating global projects, she reveals how adaptability and quiet determination have shaped her unique journey. Early Foundations: From Bolton to Global Business Q: What dreams did you have as a young girl? Julie Foster: Like most young girls at that time, I wanted to be an air stewardess. But back then they had strict height restrict...
Farah Mak on Sparkle, Survival & Self-Worth Leadership
Cover Story, ISSUE 12, Thriving

Farah Mak on Sparkle, Survival & Self-Worth Leadership

Where did you grow up, and how did your upbringing influence your values and worldview today?I grew up mostly in South Australia, but I also spent time in Sri Lanka and India as a little girl. That experience of being between cultures and expectations really shaped me. I learned early on that home is not always a place, it’s a feeling. My upbringing taught me to adapt to listening between the lines, and to speak up for those still finding their voice. That ability to bridge silence and story influences everything I do today. Were there early signs in your childhood or teen years that pointed toward your passion for performance, leadership, or advocacy?Absolutely. I was the little girl turning living rooms into stages, heartbreak into poetry, and playgrounds into performances. I had a de...
Ellie Shefi on Playing Big, Overcoming the Odds, and Creating Ripples of Change
Cover Story, ISSUE 12, Mind & Body

Ellie Shefi on Playing Big, Overcoming the Odds, and Creating Ripples of Change

Who is Ellie Shefi? What is your backstory? I’m a survivor. I’ve eaten out of trash cans. I’ve lived under a fake name. I’ve defied multiple medical death sentences for over 20 years. But I’m not my scars. I’m a force for good. I’m also a human rights attorney, bestselling author, business strategist, publisher, and speaker. My purpose is clear: I help others use their voices, own their stories, and build lives they love. Tell us about founding MTC Consultancy, your publishing house, and your nonprofit. How do you manage such an expansive portfolio? Each endeavor grew from a deep desire to serve. MTC Consultancy is where I strategize with businesses and governments. My publishing house is an all-women team amplifying women’s voices, protecting their IP, guiding their message, and ...
Editor’s Note – Issue 12: “Play Big!”
Cover Story, ISSUE 12

Editor’s Note – Issue 12: “Play Big!”

Welcome to Issue 12 of Stellar Woman Magazine - a celebration of bold dreams, unapologetic action, and the unstoppable spirit of women who Play Big! It is a true joy to bring you this issue, one that is especially close to my heart. I have always been deeply inspired by women and men who play big. Yes, they dream big too, but playing big is more than just dreaming. It is an active declaration to the world: This is who I am, and I will not be small. Empowerment is not just about claiming our power, it is about fully maximising it for meaningful impact. That is what it means to be a Stellar Woman. In this powerful issue, I had the honour of interviewing phenomenal women who are not only playing big they’re rewriting the rules and ge...
Playing Big: Scaling a Business Without Burnout – Monica Bradley
Business, ISSUE 12, Slide one 2

Playing Big: Scaling a Business Without Burnout – Monica Bradley

Monica Bradley, Founder and Managing Director of MB Associates, believes in thinking big and business growth. She talks about how to scale a business and what has worked for her. When I first started MB Associates, my initial aim was simply to do what I love, helping people buy a home or an investment property. I didn’t want to work for anyone else and always wanted to make my own choices about my work hours. However, as time went on, I started getting more recommendations. Past clients would tell their friends, family, and colleagues about the company. The word spread fast, and before I knew it, I was facing a new challenge; I couldn’t personally handle all the enquiries coming in. That was my reason for growing the business. I didn’t want to say no to people who needed help....