From Passion to Community Impact: Three Louisville Women Leading the Way

Some leaders shine not by seeking the spotlight, but by lifting others into it. In Louisville, three women are doing just that – channeling their passions, trials, and talents into empowering the community around them. They come from different paths – finance, technology, the arts, retail – but all share a common heartbeat: to educate, connect, and uplift those around them. Their stories are raw and inspiring, full of creativity and resilience, and their impact is being felt citywide.

Bayleigh Laster – Turning Financial Literacy into Creative Empowerment

Bayleigh Laster believes that financial freedom can unlock creative freedom – and she’s on a mission to prove it. A licensed occupational therapist turned financial educator, Bayleigh made a bold career pivot after witnessing a tragedy: she saw firsthand how a single medical emergency could financially devastate an otherwise stable family. That eye-opening moment ignited a passion in her to prevent others from merely “surviving” to truly “building” the lives they dream of. She transitioned from healthcare to financial mentorship with one goal in mind: give people the tools to take control of their future.

Now, Bayleigh works tirelessly to break down the emotional barriers and shame that often surround money talk. She especially reaches out to creatives and entrepreneurs, busting the myth of the “starving artist” and teaching that treating yourself as an asset is one of the most radical creative moves you can make. In her podcast interview on The Developing Life, she explored how “money mindset shapes our identity, work, and freedom” – a powerful reminder that understanding finances isn’t about dull number-crunching, but about reclaiming one’s power to pursue passions.

What makes Bayleigh one of Louisville’s most influential community educators is not just her financial savvy, but her heart for service. She has led local workshops and mastermind sessions, sharing wisdom with Louisville’s aspiring investors and creatives alike. In every talk or consultation, her message is clear: financial literacy is empowerment. By helping others gain confidence with budgeting, investing, and planning, Bayleigh is effectively freeing people to focus on what truly lights them up – whether it’s art, music, entrepreneurship, or community work. “Your future self will thank you,” Bayleigh says to anyone hesitant about learning finance.

Through her one-on-one mentoring and speaking engagements, she is pumping knowledge and optimism into the community. Bayleigh’s legacy is growing in each person she helps – creatives no longer afraid of money, families safeguarded from disaster, and a city that’s learning to invest in itself.

Hana Ateeq – From Pain to Purpose, Building Community Through Music and Data

By day, Hana Ateeq is a skilled data analyst; by night (and heart) she’s DJ Begum, a passionate DJ and creative force. Her path hasn’t been easy – Hana was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2023, a life-altering challenge that could have made her turn inward (YouTube interview). Instead, she chose to pour her highs and lows into art and connection.

Growing up in Pakistan, Hana fell in love with the poetry of Bollywood and the vibrant rhythms of South Asia. Moving to Louisville, she carried those influences with her, eventually finding healing and expression behind the DJ decks. “Creativity turned out to be one of the most powerful tools for my healing,” she shared in her interview, underscoring how her DJing and data skills intertwined to help her navigate mental health.

Hana’s personal transformation led to the birth of Friendfest, an immersive art and music event series that has quickly become a beloved community gathering in Louisville.

“Friendfest is a celebration inspired by my incredible friends- They encouraged and supported me through so many chapters of my life. I truly believe that when you create a space for a talented and supportive community to come together, magic happens. I can’t wait to share that magic with everyone.” - says Hana

True to that vision, Friendfest events are immersive extravaganzas where creativity, friendship, and community come to life. Hana and her team transform everyday venues into otherworldly experiences – from vintage bowling alleys decked out in glowing art to warehouses-turned-wonderlands. Each Friendfest has a playful theme (even the current one evokes the mythic city of Atlantis under the sea), encouraging attendees to dress up and express themselves freely.

This upcoming weekend, Hana is gearing up for one of Friendfest’s most exciting editions yet: Friendfest: Basslantis, happening Saturday, September 20th at Galaxie bar in downtown Louisville. It’s set to be “an evening filled with glow-in-the-dark painting, interactive art installations, and activities designed to strengthen friendships and create lasting memories” (Friendfest site). In other words, exactly the kind of joyful, inclusive gathering Hana dreamed about during her toughest times.

Amanda Dare – Funding Women’s Futures and Fostering a Sisterhood of Success

Walk into the Woman-Owned Wallet shop in Louisville’s NuLu district, and you’ll immediately feel Amanda Dare’s vision: shelves stocked entirely with products from women-owned brands, a pink neon sign declaring financial feminism, and a friendly mascot piggy bank named Penny reminding you that every penny counts. Amanda is the founder and CEO of Woman-Owned Wallet (WOW) – part boutique, part movement – and she’s on a mission to show that “money isn’t just power, it’s possibility.” You can also connect with her on LinkedIn or explore her YouTube channel.

In August 2020, in the middle of a pandemic and economic uncertainty, Amanda opened the doors to WOW. The shop is small in size – just 400 square feet – but its impact has been enormous. Filled with carefully curated goodies ranging from books and candles to self-defense keychains and LGBTQ+ pride merch, every single item comes from a female founder or creator. “Every dollar you spend here isn’t just a transaction – it’s an investment in a richer, more equitable world,” Amanda says. In just a few years, her shop has funneled over $1 million directly into the wallets of women, a number that even Amanda finds awe-inspiring.

Amanda’s vision with WOW reaches far beyond the four walls of the store. Step into the NuLu neighborhood and you can even take a Woman-Owned Walking Tour that Amanda and her team created, guiding you to 40+ women-led businesses in the area. She launched a national directory connecting consumers with women-owned brands across the country. She hosts large-scale community events – like the annual Galentine’s Day Bash (which drew over 900 attendees in 2025!) and a festive holiday market called Pinkmas. She also took to the airwaves with Woman-Owned Wallet: The Podcast, where real women share their money stories and strategies.

Amanda Dare’s impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. She’s been hailed as one of Louisville Business First’s Top 25 Enterprising Women, and was a finalist for NAWBO’s Woman Business Owner of the Year. But what truly motivates her isn’t accolades – it’s the everyday stories. It’s seeing a young woman come into the shop, eyes light up realizing her dollars are lifting up another woman’s dream. It’s mentoring over 75 fellow women entrepreneurs over the years, watching them grow into confident leaders. Amanda has created a space – both physical and virtual – where women of all backgrounds are welcomed, celebrated, and empowered to dream bigger.

(Amanda recently released the first episode from her Woman Owned Wallet Series- showcasing inspirational business owners in Louisville. Check it out here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjvY_m-BtnU)

Each of these women – Bayleigh, Hana, and Amanda – started with a spark of passion lit by personal experience, and fanned it into a flame that’s warming the community. They didn’t set out to be heroes or “influencers” in the trendy sense. They simply saw needs around them and answered with heart and hustle:

Bayleigh is equipping creatives with financial confidence so their dreams can soar.

Hana is turning life’s hardest trials into nights filled with friendship, music, and meaning.

 Amanda is proving that empowering women economically transforms neighborhoods and lives.

Through mentorship, events, or a welcoming shop door, these three changemakers have created avenues for people to come together and thrive.

The impact rippling out from their work is hard to measure, but easy to feel. It’s in the relieved smile of an artist who learned how to budget for her passion project. It’s in the laughter of friends – old and brand new – dancing with abandon under neon lights. It’s in the proud tear of a local female founder whose products finally found a spotlight on a store shelf.

This is what happens when leadership is driven by genuine care and connection. Louisville is richer for it – not just in dollars, but in spirit.