Check Out Vanessa Samuel’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Samuel

Hi Vanessa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story begins in Denver, where I was born and raised. Growing up, I was always curious and drawn to creativity. I spent my childhood making my own fashion magazines, writing fantasy stories, and pondering how things worked—like what made a light bulb turn on. Coming from a family of engineers and being raised in an immigrant household, pursuing engineering was all I knew and I ultimately studied Electrical Engineering.

After graduating, I decided not to dive straight into a job. Instead, I took my first solo trip, traveling to over 10 countries. That experience sparked my love for travel and changed my perspective. Seeing the world helped me realize how much exists beyond our personal bubbles. Traveling became a permanent part of my life. It was during this time that my love for photography emerged. In every city I visited, I’d wake up early to walk the quiet streets and capture photos before the city came alive. That stillness was deeply peaceful, and this habit has stayed with me through the years. To date, I’ve traveled solo to over 17 countries.

The summer after graduating, I visited NYC for the first time. I still remember the magic I felt—it left an indelible mark on me. I returned to Colorado and started my first job as an engineer in Boulder, but after a few months, I realized it wasn’t my true calling. I began exploring fashion, attending every fashion event in Denver solo. These events helped me make new friends and eventually led to opportunities working on and producing fashion shows like Denver Fashion Week and others.

My passion for fashion and the arts grew, and I knew I wanted more. Over weekly coffee dates with my friend Mimi, we dreamed of changing our lives. On a solo trip to NYC, my intuition confirmed I needed to live there. Determined, I moved back in with my parents, saved $30,000 in nine months, and made the leap to NYC.

In NYC, I threw myself into the creative world. I worked as a content creator, assisted other creators, wrote for an engineering publication, did photography for brands and influencers, worked with fashion designers, and even explored acting and singing. It was exhilarating but financially challenging. After months of hustling, I secured a role designing signs and LEDs for the MTA (NYC subway system). Unfortunately, when COVID-19 hit, that offer was rescinded, and I lost all my other jobs. With no options, I returned to Denver to regroup.

Back in Denver, I joined my mom’s engineering firm, where I focused on training engineers. During this time, I decided to pursue my MBA at CU Denver, where I met Maiyu while studying abroad in Spain. Together, we co-founded Blooming Affaire, a women’s group launched in spring 2024. Blooming Affaire provides resources through speakers and workshops to help women explore new career paths and avoid feeling stuck. It’s a deeply personal project, inspired by my own journey as a multi-passionate woman trying to combine my interests while securing my finances.

I continue to do content creation on the side but am actively exploring my next big adventure. Recently, I’ve been diving into real estate and investing, working as an emcee for galas—including for Color of Fashion, a Denver-based fashion organization that hosts annual events—and focusing on the next steps for Blooming Affaire. And, of course, I keep traveling.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. The road has been anything but smooth. Funny enough, even now, I find myself in a transitional period, preparing to bet on myself again. It’s equal parts thrilling and terrifying.

Engineering school was a mental battlefield. Homework often required 12–16 hours just to solve four problems, grappling with abstract concepts in electrical engineering. While grueling, it shaped my ability to solve problems—especially when the solutions were unclear or when multiple answers led to varied outcomes.

In 2016, I faced a loss that changed me forever: my brother’s best friend passed away from cancer. It was a wake-up call that forced me to confront my own mortality and how I was living my life. Until then, I’d taken time, people, and opportunities for granted, assuming I had forever to accomplish my goals. Being the eldest sibling, I’ve always felt a deep responsibility to protect my family. But in that moment, I couldn’t fix what my brother was going through, and it broke me. Even now, the grief lingers, and I often reflect on the “what ifs.”

The pandemic brought another set of challenges when I was laid off from all my jobs. Starting over in my late 20s felt like being thrown into the deep end without a life jacket. It was a humbling experience that left me questioning my direction.

Another significant struggle has been with my faith. Growing up in a faith-based household, I was taught specific beliefs that, over time, began to conflict with my personal experiences and observations. Reconciling what I was raised to believe with the values I’ve come to embrace as an adult has been an ongoing journey. Creating my own spiritual path has brought me incredible peace, but it hasn’t been easy. Wrestling with deeply ingrained beliefs is far more challenging than people often acknowledge.

Last year, I learned all about how health = wealth. I was extremely weak and did not know why. I’d leave work early simply to come home and sleep, sleep throughout the night, wake up at 7:30 am and repeat this cycle. I got blood tests done and found out my hemoglobin was a 6 which is equivalent of blood loss of someone who has been shot. It turns out that I had fibroids in my uterus which would cause heavy bleeding during my menstrual cycle and because my cycles were more frequent than the turnover rate for my blood, I had lost a ton of blood. I remember, not even being able to walk down the block without huffing and puffing. I I have been so fortunate to have the best OBGYN (IMHO) who did a surgery on me in March 2024 and earlier this month (Dec 2024) and has gotten all the fibroids out. This year I accomplished completing my first triathlon and after this experience, I will never take going to the gym or being able to work out for granted.

Today, my struggle lies in rediscovering my next big passion. I remember the first time I set foot in New York City—the spark I felt was undeniable. It ignited a determination and willpower within me that felt unstoppable. I’m searching for that fire again, knowing that when I find it, it will propel me forward like nothing else.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Right now, my work is a few things. I want people to have FUN and that is what my social media is about. I just want people to live life and have fun. I do that by showcasing a lot of my life in the suburbs of Denver as a 33 year old, fashion and new boutiques in Denver and more.

I think what differentiates me is my eye for color especially within photography.

I am most proud of any of the times I followed what I wanted to do versus what society, family, parents, etc. tell you you’re “supposed” to do.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
For every risk I have taken there has been reward whether it is with the outcome you want or learning lessons along the way.

Image Credits
Image credits are all mine @vanessa.symone