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0:00On April 26, Cassie Abel runs Wild Rye, an Idaho-based women's outdoor peril company that exploded from pandemic struggles to over $4 million dollars in sales last year with 11 full-time employees. Back in December 2019, she juggled two businesses, faced employee turnover right as she went into labor, then COVID hit hard with her. Parents hospitalized. She ditched her PR consulting gig, bet everything on outdoor gear as folks flock to nature, and credits grit, plus timely support from the Tory birch foundation for the turnaround. Earlier this week, stories like hers spotlight the foundation's fellowship program, started by fashion mogul Tory birch who launched her brand in two. Thousand four mainly to fund it. Birch pushed embrace ambition back in 2017, starring celebs like Reese Witherspoon, urging women to own their drive despite the backlash. She ignored naysayers with her motto, negativity as noise, and grew the program from 10 fellows to 120 this year.

1:02Abel applied amid her crises thinking it was just another interview, but birch surprised her on video with the news, delivering a $5,000 grant, networking, and mentorship that felt like a lifeline. Others echo that boost, like Pilar Guzman of Halfmoon Empanadas, who scaled from $3 million to $30 million in revenue, opening airport. Spots and paying workers nearly 10 bucks more per hour than average. Recent data shows fellows crush it, hitting $1 million in revenue 10 times faster than average, with 91% still running after. Five years versus the national, 50%. Birch's outfit eyes adding $1 billion to the economy, through women entrepreneurs by 2030, already at 342. Million, proving purpose and profit makes when you build real networks. These wins remind us ambition pays off with the right backing, fueling more women-led breakthroughs ahead. That's your entertainment and celebrity news today update. AI powered and always trending.