Meet Summer Owens

We were lucky to catch up with Summer Owens recently and have shared our conversation below.

Summer, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I got my resilience from life giving me challenges before I ever asked for them.

At fifteen years old, I found out I was pregnant. It came from a forced sexual encounter I didn’t share. Everyone had an opinion, and most of them came with doubt. Many said or thought my the life I had envisioned for myself was over before it had really begun. But I decided then that my story wouldn’t end in shame but that it would start with strength. I went from teenage mother to college graduate with honors, balancing diapers and deadlines, proving to myself and others that mistakes don’t define you. Decisions do.

As a young, single mom, I faced every obstacle that could have broken me. From financial struggles, judgment, and exhaustion, I learned how to push through with faith, determination, and a “S.O. What!” attitude. That mindset became my power: S.O. What! to what happened, now what am I going to do about it? It guided me through finishing school, building a corporate career, and later creating a foundation and programs that help others turn pain into purpose.

And now, as I fight breast cancer, I’ve had to lean on that same resilience in a new way. The stakes feel higher, the fear is deeper, but the strength is familiar. I’ve cried, prayed, and kept moving forward, just like I did as a scared teenage girl trying to raise a child and build a life. Resilience isn’t something I found. It’s something life built in me, layer by layer, through every challenge that tried to break me.

That’s where I got my resilience. It has come from surviving, from believing, and from refusing to let any diagnosis, difficulty, or doubt determine my destiny.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m the founder and president of S.O. What! Speaking, Coaching, and Consulting by Summer Owens and the S.O. What! Foundation both born from my journey as a teen mom who turned every “you can’t” into “watch me.” What started as my story has grown into a movement that helps others build confidence, resilience, and success no matter their challenges. Through my speeches, books, curriculum, and coaching programs, I teach people how to overcome obstacles, eliminate excuses, and make intentional choices that create lasting change.

The most exciting part of my work is watching people have that “lightbulb” moment when they realize their past doesn’t define them. I’ve spoken to thousands across the country and partnered with schools and organizations that use the trauma-informed S.O. What! Literacy, Life Skills, and Character Education Curriculum to help students build the life skills and self-belief they need to succeed inside and outside the classroom. I also lead programs through the foundation I started that provide mentoring, exposure experiences, and scholarships to youth who are beating the odds every day.

Right now, I’m also walking through my own test of resilience as I fight breast cancer, and it has given new meaning to my message. I recently launched the S.O. What! Breast Cancer Awareness Hoodie, which represents strength, solidarity, and survival. It’s a statement that especially in the fight, we can still stand tall and say, “S.O. What! Now what?” Just before my diagnosis, I launched the S.O. What! Success Sisters Community to create a space to convene, educate, and inspire women on their own S.O. What! Success journeys.

Every part of my brand whether it’s a book, a keynote, a workshop, an online course, or a foundation program is about helping people move from pain to purpose. Because I know firsthand that when you find your “S.O. What!” moment, you find your freedom.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that shaped my journey the most were resilience, self-belief, and purpose-driven action.

Resilience was the foundation. At fifteen, when I became a mother, resilience meant getting up every morning to take care of my baby, go to school, and refuse to give up even when I was scared, tired, or embarrassed. It meant choosing to push forward when life seemed unfair. My advice to anyone developing resilience is to practice bouncing back, not pretending things are easy. Feel what you feel, then decide what you’ll do next. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help, and don’t be hurt when the help doesn’t come from those you expect to help. Resilience grows each time you face something hard and keep going anyway.

Self-belief was my turning point. For years, I had to believe in myself when few others did. Whether it was finishing college, landing corporate roles, or building my own business, I learned that confidence isn’t something you wait to have. It truly is something you build by keeping promises to yourself. To those starting out, I’d say: trust your own voice. Keep a record of your wins, no matter how small, and remind yourself often that you are capable and worthy.

Purpose-driven action gave everything meaning. I didn’t just want to survive; I wanted to turn my experiences into something that helped others. That’s why I created S.O. What!, a movement and a mindset that teaches others how to overcome obstacles, eliminate excuses, and make better choices. My advice is to find your “why.” When you know why you’re doing something, you can figure out any “how.”

Even now, as I face breast cancer, those same three qualities are carrying me through. Life keeps testing them, and I keep finding that they’re stronger than I realized. For anyone early in their journey, remember: you don’t have to have it all figured out. Just start where you are, keep showing up, and let every challenge make you stronger, wiser, and more certain of your own power.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal clients are people and organizations who believe in transformation, those who understand that real change starts with mindset, confidence, and connection.

For colleges and universities, my ideal clients are student affairs professionals, orientation leaders, and program directors who want more than just a speaker. They want a transformation. They’re looking for someone who can meet students where they are, speak truth with heart, and leave them motivated to take ownership of their success. My speaking engagements and workshops are designed to help students build resilience, leadership, and self-awareness that last long after the event ends.

For K–12 schools and districts, my ideal clients are superintendents, principals, and school leaders who are seeking trauma-informed solutions that work. They care about improving literacy, decision-making, behavior, and emotional intelligence, and they understand that social-emotional learning is as critical as academics. The S.O. What! Literacy, Life Skills, and Character Education Curriculum helps them do just that, with real stories, relatable lessons, and measurable results.

For women, my ideal clients are those ready to rebuild confidence and reclaim control of their lives. They’re strong but sometimes tired. They’ve faced challenges and are ready to stop letting fear or doubt hold them back. Through my S.O. What! Success Sisters Community and one-on-one coaching, I give them the tools, accountability, and encouragement to grow in courage, faith, and self-worth.

And for corporations and community organizations, my ideal partners are those who believe in investing in the next generation. By supporting the S.O. What! Foundation, they’re helping youth overcome obstacles, gain exposure, and access life-changing opportunities—from leadership programs to scholarships.

In every case, my ideal clients share one thing in common. They’re not satisfied with surface-level change. They want transformation that’s real, measurable, and lasting.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All photos are mine

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