Meet Trailblazer Charlena Ortiz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlena Ortiz.

Charlena, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
THE GENESIS OF Grit & Virtue
My journey of helping women started almost a decade ago through my personal coaching practice.

After a few years of coaching women, I began to notice unfortunate patterns and challenges. I couldn’t shake what I was noticing. More and more women felt alone in their pursuit of personal and professional development.

They struggled to walk confidently knowing their true identity. They were filled with anxiety, fear and overwhelm. They had a longing for purpose in their work but couldn’t find it. They felt exhausted and stressed with the trajectory of their lives.

In the spring of 2014, I found myself at one of my favorite places in the Bay Area. Surrounded by a canopy of beautiful redwood trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains, an unshakeable conviction began to emerge inside of me as I reflected on the challenges I noticed women facing.

I then began to sense a new adventure. It would require more faith and more courage. It was beyond myself. Beyond my single ability.

At that very moment, Grit & Virtue was seeded in my heart.

In 2015, after a few months of prayer, discernment, and confirmation, we launched the beginnings of Grit & Virtue, a personal development company for modern-day women.

Has it been a smooth road?
As entrepreneurial women, the mission we are drawn to is different for all of us—but the process is similar for many of us. The journey of Grit & Virtue has been a process filled with many challenges. I’ve learned that going into business for yourself is going to test every ounce of what you’re made of.

So, what happens after you say yes to the mission ahead of you, to the idea or vision that has been placed on your heart?

Usually, what happens is that you experience an overdose of excitement, happy dances, and confetti, quickly followed by a gray cloud of doubt. You begin to question if it’s actually possible. If there’s really a need or if it’s just a small idea that has no potential.

I’ve learned that it takes vision because the road is long. You have to look ahead of them now and plan for what’s to come. It takes confidence because you have to believe in yourself in order to get up every morning and tackle what’s ahead. It takes sacrifice because there will be long nights ahead of you and weekends that you’ll have to give up to work on your mission. It takes courage because you’ll have to make tough decisions daily. It takes humility because you’re going to get things wrong and have to ask for forgiveness. It takes faith because life happens and we need God to meet us in it.

In my journey, I’ve experienced many battles. We’ve lost loved ones. We’ve been faced with the grieving process of a couple of miscarriages. And through it all, I had to lean on my faith. It takes Grit because the journey isn’t easy. There will be times that your flesh tells you to give up, but you have to persevere. I’ve been faced with business decisions that may seem like the end before even beginning. It takes Virtue because building something with purpose means ensuring that it’s honorable, based on integrity, and coming from a place of authenticity.

So, there you have it. Whether you’re building a product or a company, fighting for a cause or starting a movement, providing a service or being a creative, the challenges you’ll face in the process are all a part of the journey. Don’t be afraid; we are all facing challenges that in the end will help us grow.

We’d love to hear more about Grit &Virtue.
We are a personal development company for modern-day women, reaching over 100k+ women across the globe in 101 countries.

We focus on holistic growth: helping women improve self-awareness, align to their true identity, become spiritually confident, and do meaningful work. Our process guides women on the journey of becoming who they were created to be while pursuing wholeness in every season of life.

How we do this?

Life-Giving Content: We provide weekly inspiration and coaching through our newsletter, devotions partnered with the YouVersion Bible App, and weekly articles written by women in our community for women in addition to daily inspiration on Instagram and Facebook.

Personal Coaching services: These are currently provided by me, but we are working on training women to be Grit & Virtue Coaches to help with the demand.

Products:
The Journal Collection: Beautifully designed and made here in the USA, our journals are a perfect companion for women on a mission, from morning routines, daily meetings and times of reflections.

No Empty Words ™ Digital Facilitator’s guide to help leaders start conversations that matter among women in their communities.

The biggest thing that sets us apart externally is our brand. Everything from our aesthetic to our brand voice. Internally, we are ruthless about quality, authenticity and servant leadership, which in turn influences everything we do.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
There is a dangerous question, and unfortunately, for many women, it kills our dreams before they’ve even had a chance to be realized.

That question is, “Do I have what it takes?”

I believe the biggest barrier women face in leadership is questioning who they really are. Our identity. When we’re not clear and certain of who we are it’s so easy to fall into the trap of being your biggest critic.

We must give ourselves permission to grow publicly, fail gracefully and embrace our unfolding story.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gritandvirtue.com
• Email: Hello@gritandvirtue.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/gritandvirtue
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gritandvirtue

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