Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amy And Nancy Harrington. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amy and Nancy, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
We had a long journey to finding our purpose. There was no lightning bolt, no dramatic awakening. It was more like following a long breadcrumb trail of tiny clues, conversations, missteps, obsessions, and quiet callings that kept nudging us forward even when we weren’t sure where we were going.
But we finally found our purpose when we co-founded The Passionistas Project, a movement dedicated to amplifying women’s stories and building a supportive, purpose-driven global online community. Our journey has always been rooted in elevating other women.
We’re sisters and business partners, but for years before joining forces, we each poured ourselves into our work in Hollywood. Amy made history as the first woman in the film industry to hold the title of Vice President of Post Production and Visual Effects at a major motion picture studio. Nancy had her own successful graphic design firm and theater company before moving to Los Angeles and doing Academy Award campaigns.
Throughout our careers — both individually and together — our credits have spanned development for cable television networks; feature film work on projects like Harry Potter, Practical Magic, and The Matrix series; television work for Viacom, MTV, and CBS; and a decade of theater production, including a two-year run in the Boston theater district. Our marketing experience also includes work with Miramax and Paramount Classics.
Together, we have conducted and produced interviews for our own projects as well as for clients like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The Television Academy Foundation — home to one of the most highly regarded oral history archives in the world. Across all our outlets combined, we’ve produced and/or conducted more than 1,600 interviews with extraordinary figures such as Dr. Jane Goodall, Carol Burnett, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Mick Jagger.
But at the height of the #MeToo movement, we knew we had to do something more impactful. We came together and started interviewing remarkable women who were following their passions for our show, The Passionistas Project Podcast.
Our podcast led us to founding an annual women’s equity summit called Power of Passionistas, where we bring women — mostly from marginalized communities — together for storyteller events and roundtable discussions on the topics that most impact their lives.
In turn, we created an online community, The Passionistas Project Sisterhood, so the important conversations that started at the summits could continue and have real impact. The community supports women in business development, personal growth, and social impact.
Most recently, we launched Passionistas Press, our publishing company where we help women tell their stories in journal, anthology books, memoirs, novels, screenplays and more using our vast storytelling experience and interview techniques so they never have to stare at a blank screen.
We discovered our purpose through the act of truly listening to the hundreds of women who trusted us with their hopes, fears, and dreams. Over time, we realized that our fulfillment didn’t come from the entertainment industry or the traditional markers of success. It came from creating spaces where women feel seen, celebrated, and supported. The moments that lit us up were always the same — watching a woman’s eyes brighten as she claimed her voice, feeling the spark when women connected with one another, witnessing the sense of empowerment that comes from sharing a story, and noticing how natural and aligned the work felt when we followed those moments instead of pushing against them.
Eventually, we realized that our purpose is to amplify women’s stories and to cultivate a community where passion, empowerment, and authenticity can thrive. It’s about helping women remember who they are, offering them opportunities for visibility and self-expression, and reminding them that they never have to navigate their dreams alone.
Ultimately, we found our purpose by following curiosity, listening deeply, embracing the work that felt like breathing, and surrounding ourselves with women who continually inspire us. And in many ways, we’re still discovering it. Purpose isn’t fixed. It evolves right alongside us. And that, we’ve learned, is the most beautiful part of the journey.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Professionally, we focus on creating platforms and experiences that help women claim their voices, share their stories, and build the careers and lives they’ve been dreaming of, even when the path feels uncertain or overwhelming. Through The Passionistas Project, we offer a combination of community, events, and storytelling programs designed to meet women exactly where they are and support them in areas where they often feel unseen or unheard.
At the heart of what we do is The Passionistas Project Sisterhood, our online community where women can connect, collaborate, and gain guidance on business development, personal growth, and social impact. It’s a space designed to address the common challenges women face including isolation, lack of visibility, and the challenge of translating their experience into opportunities. By joining the Sisterhood, women gain access to mentorship, networking, and actionable tools that help them navigate both personal and professional growth with confidence and clarity.
Our annual Power of Passionistas Summit is another cornerstone of what we offer. It’s a virtual, interactive experience where women — especially from underrepresented communities — can participate in storytelling sessions, roundtable discussions, and skill-building workshops on topics that most impact their lives and careers. Many women leave the summit not only inspired but also equipped with practical strategies for amplifying their impact and expanding their reach.
What really sets our work apart is how we help women turn their experiences into real, powerful stories that can be shared with the world. Using our interview skills, we guide women in writing brand stories, anthology book chapters, memoirs and self-help books. This approach allows women to articulate their voices authentically, even if they’ve never considered themselves writers. Many of our members have contributed to our #1 international best-selling anthology Awakening Your Power and our guided journals, which have provided them with exposure, credibility, and new professional opportunities. We’ve seen women use these stories to secure speaking engagements, boost their personal brands, and step fully into leadership roles in ways they hadn’t imagined before.
What excites us most is watching women move from feeling unseen to being celebrated, We love seeing them claim their power, connect with others, and step into opportunities that align with their passions. Right now, we’re focused on expanding these offerings and creating even more ways for women to tell their stories and connect with audiences globally. Whether through new programming in the Sisterhood, upcoming summits, or writing projects, everything we do is designed to help women amplify their voices, share their truth, and create impact on their own terms.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, there are three qualities that stand out as being the most impactful in our journey: the ability to craft and draw out stories, the ability to build community, and the ability to listen deeply.
Storytelling kept us moving forward, even when we didn’t have all the answers or a clear roadmap. It pushed us to uncover the deeper experiences in ourselves and others, to ask the right questions, and to shape those moments into narratives that could inspire, connect, and create opportunities. Building community was equally crucial because no journey happens in isolation. Creating spaces where women could support one another, share experiences, and collaborate not only amplified individual voices but also strengthened the impact of everything we did. And listening deeply allowed us to recognize what really mattered, both in our work and in the women we were serving. It helped us understand people’s pain points and aspirations so we could create meaningful spaces, stories, and opportunities that truly support them.
For those early in their journey, our advice would be to actively cultivate these qualities. Practice storytelling by paying attention to the moments and experiences that carry meaning and learning to shape them in ways that resonate with others. Build community by fostering connections, offering support, and creating spaces where people feel seen and empowered. And practice listening — not just to hear words, but to understand the underlying hopes, fears, and motivations of others. These skills aren’t innate for everyone; they grow through practice, reflection, and real-world experience.
Ultimately, developing these three qualities helps you navigate uncertainty, connect with others authentically, and create work that makes a real impact and that, in turn, will make your journey far more meaningful and rewarding.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We’re always looking to partner with women who are as passionate as we are about amplifying voices, building meaningful community, and creating spaces where authenticity is celebrated. That includes storytellers, coaches, activists, artists, thought leaders, and anyone doing mission-driven work that uplifts women and fosters connection.
We also love collaborating with organizations and brands that align with our values, especially those committed to equity, creativity, and empowering women to step into their purpose. Whether it’s co-hosting events, sharing stories, leading workshops, or contributing to our anthology or summit, we’re excited to build partnerships that spark real impact.
If someone is reading this and feels a little tug that says, “I think we could create something great together,” we’d love to hear from you. The easiest way to connect is through our website’s contact page or by emailing us directly. We always welcome a conversation because every incredible collaboration we’ve had started with someone simply reaching out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thepassionistasproject.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepassionistasproject/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePassionistasProject
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-passionistas-project/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePassionistasProject
- Other: The Passionistas Project Sisterhood: https://www.thepassionistasproject.com/membership
Image Credits
Photos by Pupp Etzioni
Podcasting photo by Reid Waterer
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
