Today we’d like to introduce you to Josette Gastonguay.
Hi Josette, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Thank you for asking! Possibly like many women of my generation, my career began in administration, and that’s where I spent many years working behind the scenes, supporting the success of others. While I wasn’t always in the spotlight, that vantage point gave me invaluable opportunities to observe, learn, and refine my skills. The work wasn’t always glamorous, but it taught me efficiency, accuracy, patience, and most importantly determination.
Fast forward to today, and those years of managing complex schedules, overseeing financial records, and coordinating operations have given me a unique blend of business acumen and creative insight. That foundation has been instrumental in shaping my journey, allowing me to step confidently into my own ventures and empower other women to do the same.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
A smooth road? Now what fun would that be?!
If I had to visualize my career path, it might resemble something like a narrow, crumbling bridge suspended over a pit of hungry alligators. I laugh now, but for many years, that’s exactly how it felt. Terrifying. Like one wrong step in any direction could be my last.
Like many women, I faced the all-too-familiar obstacles of being underestimated and overlooked. Early in my career, I was more likely to be handed a coffee order rather than an opportunity to sit at the table and learn. Breaking past those barriers required persistence, resilience, and a refusal to accept long-term labels others tried to assign me. It can be very difficult to break free from an image of who people think you should be, but every challenge became a lesson, and those lessons ultimately shaped the confidence and expertise I bring to my work today.
One of the most eye-opening moments of my early career came when I discovered a critical documentation error, one that if left uncorrected, could have caused significant reputational damage to the company. Proud of my discovery, I alerted a coworker, expecting appreciation or at least acknowledgment of the catch. Instead, they turned to me with a surprised expression and said, “Oh, we all just assumed you were hired as a pretty face.”
I was left stunned. Did they really believe my value in the workplace was based on my appearance rather than merit? That realization hit hard. I had faced subtle biases before, but this hit different, the way they looked at me made it clear how I had been perceived all along. In that moment, I understood that proving myself and being taken seriously would be a much bigger challenge than I had anticipated.
Looking back now, I realize that may have been a pivotal turning point for how I would present myself to the world.
We’ve been impressed with FYIE | Find Your Inner Empress, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My favorite subject! Thank you for asking. Find Your Inner Empress or FYIE as I lovingly dubbed it was born from a singular thought that came to me in the middle of the night a few years ago: “If the only thing the world could see about you were your intentions, would the world find you beautiful?” It was this one thought that sparked a tidal wave of ideas that continues flowing to this day. It was not just a question directed at myself, but a personal mission statement.
As I reflected on my evolving mission, I realized that my core intention had always been to help others, it was evident in every choice I had made up to that point. The real question was: How could I make the greatest impact? Was I truly serving others by staying behind the scenes, or was it time to step forward and take a more active role? That’s when FYIE coaching and mentorship was born. With over 20 years of experience navigating challenges in the business world and pushing forward despite obstacles, I had cultivated a growth and confidence mindset, one that I could now share with others to help them do the same.
Over the past few years, my business has grown organically, blending my passion for empowerment with my love for fashion. This journey led to the creation of a women’s boutique line, FYIE Boutiques, dedicated to clothing and accessories that uplift and support women, whether that is through the products themselves or by choosing female owned businesses as suppliers. Confidence is essential, and what we wear should reinforce that. Ultimately, helping others is rarely a straight path. Much like my own career, one of the greatest indicators of my success has been my ability to adapt and pivot along the way.
I’m incredibly proud of the FYIE brand because it stands for something meaningful. It’s very name, Find Your Inner Empress is a mission statement, an affirmation, a reminder to find within yourself the confidence to live life fully. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the power of transformation when someone rediscovers their confidence. I’ve seen the pride in someone’s eyes when they say, “Josette, I took a page from your book and set a healthy boundary.” I’ve watched people light up as they share stories of finally asking for that raise or advocating for the support they deserve. It’s truly a beautiful thing to witness.
What sets me apart, what sets FYIE apart is my genuine desire to serve. Of course I want to succeed, and I want FYIE to grow. But more than that, I want others to succeed too. Some might call that naive in business. I call it hope.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Without a doubt, the most important quality that has lent to my success is grit. I believe the textbook definition of grit is unwavering courage in the face of difficulty, and that perfectly sums up my journey. When challenges arise, we all have a choice; we can either fold under pressure or push forward. I choose to push forward. Every time.
Grit isn’t just about enduring hardship, it’s about rising every time you fall, learning from every setback, and pushing forward when giving up feels so much easier. Your journey won’t always be smooth, we all fall down at times, but your determination will define your success. So, when challenges come, ask yourself: Will I fold, or will I fight? Choose to fight. Choose to rise. Choose grit.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.findyourinnerempress.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findyourinnerempress/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Josette-Michelle-Gastonguay/100078124467814/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/fyieboutiques/?igsh=b2hkODlxdHdnamx0&utm_source=qr#
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