Meet Gabrielle Rosenblum-Zampella

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabrielle Rosenblum-Zampella a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabrielle, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience isn’t just a buzzword for me — it’s my backbone. I’ve lost my entire family. That kind of pain doesn’t just visit you; it moves in, rearranges everything. I quit my full-time job because I knew I couldn’t waste this one life playing it safe. So I built something from scratch — something real. I show up, I hustle hard, I pour everything I have into what I do, because I have to. It’s just me.

I was raised by a single mother and grew up as an only child, which meant I learned independence early. When my mom got sick while I was still young, everything shifted. I didn’t have the luxury of a carefree childhood. I had to grow up fast. While most kids were worrying about curfews or prom, I was learning how to care for someone I loved more than anything. It was heavy, and it left its mark. But it also shaped me into someone deeply responsible, empathetic, and aware of what really matters.

My grandparents were my constants. They always saw something in me, even when life was asking too much, too soon. They’d tell me, “Sometimes in life, you have to step on stones to get where you’re going.” That stuck with me. I didn’t have a smooth path, but I learned how to keep walking, even when it hurt. That’s where my drive comes from; not just to survive, but to thrive, to create a life that feels like mine, and to honor the people who poured love and wisdom into me when I needed it most.

There’s no fallback, no safety net, no one coming to save me. My resilience comes from knowing that I’ve survived the worst kind of loss, and I’m still here, creating a life that feels like mine. Every move I make is rooted in that fire. I don’t have the luxury of waiting. I build, I rise, I keep going. Every single day, I remind myself that I am resilient.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I wear a lot of hats, but at the heart of everything I do is community. I’m the creator and owner behind The Central Gab, a platform that highlights local businesses, events, and more. I help small brands show up beautifully through content and connection. I run various events including Speed Dating, Mingle Nights, Girls Night Out, Collab events with businesses & curate small business pop-ups. My platform offers free advertising and promotions. I run Central Gab for free because it comes from the heart. After spending so much of my life caring for my family, it’s second nature for me to show up for others. I believe in helping people and building community without expecting anything in return — just genuine connection, support, and kindness with no strings attached.

In 2024, Harvest & Home was born. Harvest & Home is a Farmers Market that brings together the energy of local makers, fresh food, and cozy nostalgia in a way that feels like a love letter to small-town roots with a modern twist. We are located in the heart of Hamilton, NJ. We are currently in our second season and we cannot wait for the future and what is to come!

A big part of what I do also stems from movement. I’ve been a dancer my whole life, competitively and professionally. Dance taught me discipline, presence, and how to express myself without words. That passion evolved into a fitness journey where I now teach classes that go beyond a good sweat, they’re an experience, a release, a reset. What makes all of this special is that none of it is performative, it’s built from my own story, my own resilience, and a deep love for building spaces where people feel seen, strong, and supported. The Central Gab isn’t just a brand — it’s a movement rooted in showing up, standing out, and making space for others to rise with you.

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, three qualities that have carried me through are resilience, resourcefulness, and emotional intelligence. Resilience kept me standing when life tried to knock me down. It gave me the ability to keep going even when things felt impossible. Resourcefulness taught me how to create something out of nothing, how to pivot, and how to make magic happen on a tight budget or tight timeline. Emotional intelligence; that’s what allows me to really connect with people, understand their needs, and create space where others feel seen and valued.

For anyone just starting out, my advice is this: don’t wait to feel “ready.” Start with what you have, where you are. Get comfortable being uncomfortable — because growth never happens in your comfort zone. Learn how to trust your instincts, but also listen. Stay kind, stay curious, and know that it’s okay to figure things out as you go. The most impactful moves I’ve made weren’t because I had a perfect plan, they were because I had a deep why and the guts to go for the risk.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I feel overwhelmed, which honestly happens more often than people might think.. I rely on structure to ground me. I’m really busy, like calendar-color-coded-to-the-hour busy. Organization is my lifeline. My calendar, to-do lists, and systems keep everything from slipping through the cracks. But even with all of that, I’ve learned to pause when I need to. Sometimes it’s stepping away to breathe, resetting with a walk, or blasting music and dancing it out. I don’t believe in glorifying burnout — I believe in managing the madness with intention, grace, and the occasional deep breath between the chaos.

For anyone else navigating a nonstop schedule, my biggest advice is to find a system that works for you. Not just what looks good on paper. Whether it’s digital calendars, sticky notes, or voice memos on the go, structure is freedom when life gets wild. Also, don’t underestimate the power of boundaries. Not everything needs an immediate response, and saying no can be the most productive thing you do. Lastly, build in time for things that refill your cup. Even five quiet minutes or a solo coffee can make a huge difference. Being busy doesn’t have to mean being burnt out, it just means you need to protect your peace while chasing your purpose.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thecentralgab / @harvestandhomenj