Welcome to another fabulous issue of Pink Ink Magazine! As we round out our first full year (yay!), I find myself reflecting on our journey.
We’ve captured some heartfelt moments of #DotsDoingGood, shed some tears over touching Dot stories shared, oohed and ahhed over all the Celebration memories, and learned some helpful pro tips about how to make the most of our memberships.
But what I think we’ve done the most (and the best) is spread the love—love for our fellow Dot siblings, love for our community as a whole, love for our courageous founder who took a chance on Polka Dot Powerhouse, and love for ourselves as amazing human beings and proud members of such a magical space.
And I don’t know about you, but that makes me so happy to be a Dot and so honored to be part of the amazing team responsible for bringing you all this awesomeness.
Thank you for being here with us—I hope you continue to feel the love, share the love, and be the love in the coming publication year.
Creatively yours,
Danielle Anderson Member Magazine Editor
Celebrate your personal and professional wins this month—whether it’s a new opportunity, a meaningful milestone, or a moment of joy. Your successes inspire others to thrive and grow together!
THRIVE TOGETHER
This March, it’s time to Connect. Grow. Thrive. Celebrate the theme of “Thrive” by actively engaging with the community and focusing on personal well-being, connection, and growth. Let’s inspire each other to flourish in every aspect of life!
IMPORTANT DATES
March 25, 2025
SPRING FLING
Member/Guest Virtual Event
6:00PM CST Register Here
PASSING THE TORCH
Palo Alto, CA
Congrats! Suszi McFadden (no event)
2nd & 4th Thursday MD MASTERMIND
Open to ALL Managing Directors
10:00AM CST Register Here
WHAT IS POLKA DOT?
MONTHLY ONLINE
MEETINGS USA CT
APR 23 @ 2PM Register Here
MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER
It often confuses people when I explain that I’m an ambivert (a combination of an introvert and an extrovert) who is also the founder and CEO of a fabulously impactful connection company—our wonderful sisterhood. I understand how this might baffle them, and some days it seems like a crazy scenario to me as well. But it is true, and I am so grateful for it. That being said, it hasn’t always been easy.
I am a firm believer that the answer to any challenge lies in the path that will brings the most joy—as long as it’s legal and does not infringe on other’s rights. Choose joy—everything else will follow. And so, several years ago, I started using the “choose joy” outlook to find ways to lessen my anxious feelings about being around people while also staying true to my ambivert self. I love connecting but I also need my space too.
In the face of a conflict like this, I asked myself, what would joy do? It’s a question I now ask myself often and wait for the answer I know is already in me.
I hope you know your Dot sisters want you to be fully you, and we want you to find joy, just as we all want that for ourselves.
What would joy do? and know we are standing right beside you.
With gratitude and respect, Shannon
Shannon Crotty Founder/CEO Polka Dot Powerhouse
See you at the next Positivity Zoom with Shannon on April 16th @ 2pm CST! See Page 8 for more details.
growth in diamond membership
Growth in our Diamond membership isn’t just about business success—it’s about evolving into the entrepreneur and leader you’re meant to be. This community is designed for women who are ready to step into their power, take bold action, and surround themselves with like-minded, high-achieving peers.
As a Diamond member, you can expect:
→ Strategic Support – Gain access to a collective of businesswomen who are invested in your success, offering collaboration, insights, and accountability.
Implementation & Execution – Move beyond ideas into action with structured support, accountability groups, and opportunities to execute your goals.
→ Unleveled Connections – Build relationships that transcend traditional networking—this is about deep, meaningful partnerships with women who get it.
→ Personal & Professional Expansion – Whether it’s refining your offers, optimizing systems, or developing leadership skills, Diamond is where you stretch, challenge, and elevate yourself.
→ Collective Momentum – When one of us rises, we all rise. Diamond fosters an environment where knowledge, resources, and encouragement are freely shared, creating unstoppable growth.
Growth in Diamond means stepping into a space where your success is celebrated, your challenges are met with support, and your potential is fully realized. If you’re ready to accelerate your journey, you belong here.
Diamonds After Dark
You asked and we listened! Diamonds are now hosting evening events once a month! Diamonds After Dark is hosted by our Diamond leaders and they will be choosing their theme each month!
QUESTIONS?
Email Elaine Turso, Diamond Membership Director at elaine@polkadotpowerhouse.com
Connecting the Dots: ELEVATING YOUR MEMBERSHIP
Tip #6: Utilizing Your Referral
Think back to how you became a Dot. More than likely, you heard about it from a friend. Then, you decided to check out a meeting. After that, all bets were off, and you joined. Now, when you joined, did you use the referral link from your friend? If you did, great job! If you didn’t, would you have if you knew that they could benefit from introducing you to the sisterhood? I suspect your answer is a resounding yes.
Well, sister, the same goes for you and people you introduce into this wonderful organization.
Your unique referral link gives you the opportunity to earn through the Rock Star Referrer Program, and here is how you can do it.
Finding Your Unique Link: When you log into the Polka Dot Powerhouse website, http://www.polkadotpowerhouse.com, look on the righthand side panel. Click on the plus (+) sign next to Members and you will see options appear. Select “Your Referral Link.” You will see the details of the Rock Star Referral Program.
At the top of the page in a pink box, you will see your own Polka Dot Power-
Link
house Referral Link. This is your unique link to give to people when they join Polka Dot Powerhouse.
Using Your Unique Link: There are many ways to use your link; here are a few best practices that your Dot sisters have utilized:
• When your friend says they want to join, provide them your link.
• Put the link in your email signature. If you want to get fancy, you can hyperlink it.
• Make the link available on your website.
• Showcase your link in your newsletter or where you promote your affiliations.
• Create a business card that has your link.
• Create a QR code for your link and put it on your marketing material.
Sharing the gift of sisterhood is special. We all know and feel this. The referral program is a way to thank you for bring ing another positive, action-forward, amazing woman into our organization to create connections.
Lisa runs a Connecting the Dots: Tips to Elevating Your Membership call each month.
You can find details about the monthly meetings at https:// www.polkadotpowerhouse. com/members/connecting-thedots.
Be sure to log in to your account first. If you have any questions, please reach out to Lisa@LisaCondon.com.
Lisa Condon Member Orientation Coordinator
Shannon Crotty’s Special Member Connects will now be held once a month. Members must now be logged in to register for the Positivity Calls.
Members > Positivity Zoom
On each Positivity Zoom, we will draw from attending members for a membership renewal. You must be present at the time of the drawing to win. Join us for our next Positivity Zoom!
April 16th @ 2pm
May 5th @ 9am
June 11th @ 2pm Central Standard TIme
DOT STORE
Have you checked out the Dot Store lately? We still have some fun Summit & Celebration gear available. If you love it, grab it before it's gone! Order today on the Polka Dot website.
Designs and products are not always guaranteed to make a return, so grab them while you can!
Have You Subscribed to
You won't want to miss these fun interviews with Managing Directors, Decade Dots, Rockstar Referrers and MORE! Shannon Crotty, our Founder and CEO, sits down with these incredible women to talk about the magic they've experienced on their journey with Polka Dot Powerhouse.
5 AND 10 YEAR BADGE REQUEST
We would like to celebrate the longevity of our committed Dot sisters. 5- and 10-year Dots can submit for their exclusive pins and badges directly and easily on the website now!
Members > Account > 5 & 10 Year Submissions
(Be sure to check your membership history prior to submission to verify your eligibility.)
do you know someone interested in starting their own local chapter of Polka Dot Powerhouse?
mindyv@polkadotpowerhouse.com
REGION 1 WA, OR, ID, CA, NV
REGION 2 MT, WY, ND, SD, NE
REGION 5 MO, OK, AR, TX, LA
REGION 6 IN, OH, PA, DE, MD
REGION 11
ATTENTION DOTS!
We’re seeking article submissions from YOU!
Pink Ink Magazine is officially open for submissions, and we want to hear from you! The mission behind Pink Ink Magazine is to celebrate the culture of our community, which can be boiled down to one word: SISTERHOOD.
We aim to pack each issue of Pink Ink with as much sisterhood as possible, and to do that, we need your help! If you have a story or experience you want to share that might be a good fit for the magazine, we’d love to see it. Below are the official Pink Ink Article Submission Guidelines for you to follow to increase your chances of having your article published.
Submission Guidelines:
• Submit your article as a Microsoft Word file or sharable Google Doc to Member Magazine Editor, Danielle at danielle@polkadotpowerhouse.com
• Aim for approximately 1,000-2,000 words
• Include 5-8 photos to use in addition to the article; send these as attachments to your submission email
• Your article should include a catchy title
• Be sure to proofread and fix any typos prior to submission
• All material needs to be your original work and previously unpublished elsewhere
Examples of What to Submit:
• Your Dot story
• An experience that involves sisterhood
• A story that shares about uplifting and encouraging women
• What connection, collaboration, or community means to you
Examples of What NOT to Submit:
• Articles that sell or directly promote your business, services, or products
• Recipes or how-to articles
• Content that is industry specific
• Articles that don’t correlate directly to sisterhood
Important Notes:
• Submission of an article does not guarantee that your article will be published; we reserve the right to reject any article for any reason. If your article is accepted for publication, you will be notified directly.
• Accepted submissions may be published in any issue within the publication year as we see fit.
• If we choose to publish your submission, your article will undergo editing by our magazine editor.
Reach out to Member Magazine Editor, Danielle at danielle@polkadotpowerhouse.com with any questions. We can’t wait to hear your stories!
BOLD AS A BOW TIE
Finding My Courage and Authenticity Through Sisterhood
By Jen Bee
You wouldn’t think wearing a bow tie—something I’ve worn many times before—would cause such a resurfacing of the fear and self-doubt I had been so familiar with in my teens.
But it did.
It was early 2023, and I had been invited to my local chamber of commerce gala. The theme: “Boots and Bow Ties.”
The invitation came shortly after I made one of the biggest, most terrifying leaps of my life, leaving a successful career in HR to pursue my passion for building a women’s empowerment business.
But that leap didn’t mean I would only be walking away from a steady paycheck or a predictable career; it would move me to reconnect with myself, face some of the hardest decisions of my life, and open some old wounds of belonging and acceptance to deepen my healing.
Entrepreneurship has a funny way of doing that—it forces you to face things you thought were in the past. Old wounds, old fears, and old stories. And for me, one of those stories was the same question that had haunted me all my life and was rearing its ugly head once again: Where do I belong?
Growing up as the child of Cuban immigrants, I lived in a world that felt foreign in many ways. English wasn’t my first language, and I often found myself stumbling over words that seemed so natural to others. I didn’t understand American culture the way my classmates did. It was as if I was always trying to decode a set of rules everyone else knew but I didn’t.
As a child, I learned to be comfortable being unseen. Fear became my constant companion—fear of standing out, fear of being judged, fear of feeling different. I kept my head down and stayed small. It felt safer that way. I didn’t have the luxury of growing up with sisters
to share my struggles or experiences with. My father, who was permanently disabled and whose health had visibly deteriorated, and my mother, who worked tirelessly as the breadwinner, left me feeling isolated. I became my own support system, but in doing so, I learned how to hide.
It wasn’t until my late teens when attending the University of Florida that I felt a sense of belonging for the first time. It wasn’t flashy or loud—it was just the unspoken connection I shared with my peers that let me know I wasn’t alone.
But even after graduation, marriage, motherhood, and launching my own business, the question of belonging— dredged up with a simple bow tie in this case—still lingered. It ebbed and flowed with every new chapter of my life as I tried to find a place where I felt truly seen.
Just two weeks after fully stepping into entrepreneurship, I attended my first Polka Dot Powerhouse event. The name seemed a bit curious to me, and the speed networking event was a bit intense, but as each woman shared her story and her passion for her business, I shifted from feeling intrigued to inspired. When our managing director shared the next steps for guests to take, I had my credit card high in the air saying “sign me up” before she was even finished.
I truly had no idea what I had just jumped into, but my gut knew this would be life changing.
From there, I dove in headfirst. I went to dozens of events, made new connections, and shared my journey with my new sisters. But the truth is, sisterhood was a foreign concept for me. I never had biological sisters, and I wasn’t in a
My rock and wife, Kristina
sorority. I wasn’t sure what it would feel like to be part of something so strong and supportive.
I also joined a couple of other networking groups, including my local chamber of commerce, and was loving making so many new connections.
So when I received the chamber’s invitation to the Boots and Bow Ties gala, I shared my excitement about it with my wife. When the night came, we got ready and headed out the door. My wife, who has always been my biggest cheerleader, asked why I wasn’t wearing a bow tie—a small but powerful token and expression of who I am.
I mentioned to her that I couldn’t get myself to a place where I felt comfortable wearing it. I was a business owner. What if it negatively impacted me… or my business?
What if someone judged me? What if my authenticity cost me clients or partnerships? What if being fully me was too much for the room?
My concerns were not unfounded, as I had been hurt, rejected, and lost relationships as a result of coming out.
She looked at me and said, in a caring but also sarcastic way, “Babe, everyone already knows.”
The Crawley Blanco Family
Her words shined a major spotlight on my insecurities: I wasn’t ready to fully embrace myself in spaces where I still felt vulnerable.
The Dot sisterhood felt different to me, though. It felt like a place where I could be fully me during meetings. During connects, I could share vulnerably and without judgment. It was a place where I could do life with my Dot family!
As the first year of my entrepreneurial journey unfolded, I faced my fair share of struggles. I even started to romanticize going back to my old HR career, as the financial uncertainty of entrepre-
neurship felt overwhelming. I remember one moment, feeling completely at the end of my rope, when I called a Dot sister and just let it all go. She gave me space to process, to just be, and she also challenged me. She also reinforced her belief in me by saying, “I will believe in you until you believe in yourself.” (You know who you are and that you have changed my life!)
By the time I grabbed my 2024 Celebration ticket, I felt I had grasped the concept of the Dot sisterhood fairly well. I was so grateful for the dozens of sisters who have held me through my struggles and pushed me beyond self-
Dots unite at a local Colorado Women's Conference
doubt. But yet, I still carried some doubt as to whether I could be 100 percent authentically me. Whether I was ready.
In the weeks leading up to the big event, I heard many sisters planning their wardrobe and packing their bags, and I got bit by the bug too! I decided to wear a suit.
But would I be ready to fully own myself? Deciding to jump into the deep end, I pulled the trigger and bought a bow tie that would perfectly match the night.
I knew I would be taking the stage as a Rockstar Referrer, meeting the goal of introducing 13 new women between September 2023 and August 2024 to the sisterhood, but the biggest surprise came when I was recognized for the award of Extraordinary Dot Supporter! This community had given me so much, but to also be seen in that light was so humbling.
Taking the stage after my name was called for the award and hearing my name in the cheering crowd of hundreds of women, I realized that all the
self-doubt, all the fear, all the hesitation had only ever come from me. My Dot sisters had always been there, cheering me on, loving me for exactly who I am.
Colorado Springs Business Retreat - Empowering Dots
I will forever be in awe of our community and how we show up for others— thank you for the honor of allowing me to walk this journey with you!
I have learned that sisterhood isn’t about finding people who look, think, or act like you—it’s about creating a space where differences are embraced
and celebrated. It’s about allowing yourself to show up, imperfections and all, and trusting that the right people will make room for you.
In my two years being a Dot, I have referred 32 new sisters to our community, and I aspire to achieve Rockstar Referrer level again this year, because I know lives change when we see one another. When we create space. When we uplift one another.
We get to abundantly step into rising together, feeling less alone, and achieving more together every time a new Dot sibling joins us. I believe in the power of sharing from the heart all that each of you have done for me, because I know
how unique this community is, and I am so moved every time we get to do the same for another woman.
To my Dot siblings: Thank you! Thank you for being my rock as I stepped into one of the scariest things I have done in my life— becoming an entrepreneur. And thank you for not just offering me a seat at the table, but for making me feel that I belonged here all along, bow tie and all.
Forever grateful,
Jen Bee
Bullied from a very young age, Jen struggled with confidence and a sense of belonging for many years. But six years ago, she decided to follow a deeper calling and get out of her own way! Shortly after leaving the security of her six-figure career, she joined Dots and reinvented her business.
Now, as a women’s empowerment coach, Jen blends her personal journey, energy, and the magic of community to help others rise. She’s on a mission to turn her “mess into her message,” empowering women to embrace their worth, own their stories, and step boldly into their best lives!
Jen Bee takes the stage as the featured speaker
Coach Jen Bee
do you know someone interested in starting their own local chapter of Polka Dot Powerhouse?
REGION 3 UT, CO, KS, AZ, NM
REGION 4 MN, WI, IA, IL, MI
REGION 7 KY, TN, WV, VA, NC
REGION 8 MS, AL, GA, SC, FL
REGION 9 NY, NJ, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME
REGION 10 HI, AK
LEGACY LEADERS
Wendi Giuliano Regional Director
Mindy Van Vleet Regional Director
Amy Robertson Website Manager
Josh Gore Website Director
Anna Brice Project Director
Shawna Stanley Graphics & Visuals Director & Dot Store Coordinator
Debbra Judnic Executive Assistant to Founder & CEO
Rosemary Carminati Engagement Team
Lori Dodson Hype Leader
Danielle Anderson Member Magazine Editor
Sue Bennett Celebration Decor & Visuals Lead
Samme Marazas Marketing Director
Jen Guntner Director of Member & Leader Relations
Amy Marazas Celebration Hospitality Liaison
Wow! What an incredible I Rock the Dot Day we had this past Thursday! We’re still feeling the energy, the love, and the power of this sisterhood. From speed connects to inspiring Dot stories and all the amazing chapter celebrations... YOU made this day unforgettable!
