The Women Who Inspire The Women Behind Etalon

This International Women’s Day, we asked the women on our team to share someone who inspires them to stand taller. Some are mentors, some are lifelong friends, some are mothers, but each one represents what living in alignment looks like.

KRISTINA

My pick is my yoga teacher, Dana.

Dana lives with a lot of kindness and integrity, but it never feels performative. It’s simply who she is. She trusts her intuition and moves with intention. Dana has a rare ability to truly see people — to meet them exactly where they are, without judgment or expectation. In her presence, you feel accepted as you are, and somehow that makes you want to grow even more.

At the same time, she’s very playful and light. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, and that makes her strength even more powerful.

Watching her over time helped me realize that women’s power often looks very different from what we’re taught to admire. It’s not always loud, dominant, or performative. Sometimes it’s grounded and intuitive — and that’s exactly what makes it incredibly strong.

Being around her reminds me that when a woman is aligned with herself, she naturally creates space for others to align with themselves, too. That kind of power is subtle, but incredibly transformative.

IRINA

In my life, there are two women who inspire me deeply: my close friends Nastya and Kris. I honestly think of them more like sisters. We’ve been together since childhood. I remember how, as the youngest, I used to read children’s books to them, and they would fall asleep while I read. That’s how long we’ve been together.

We’re very different, and we’ve complemented each other our whole lives. Nastya is a beautiful reflection of family values — deeply sensitive, sentimental, and incredibly generous. Kris is creative with big ambitions — confident in herself and brave. As for me, I’m more about discipline, integrity, courage, and helping other people.

Our different qualities support us in so many life situations, and over time, those differences have turned into a kind of wholeness.

I was born in a small village in Belarus, where trips to the city felt like a huge event — some of my brightest childhood memories. I remember how, at 7 a.m., my dad would drive to work and drop me off at their house (they’re sisters, by the way). They would still be sleepy as they welcomed me, and those hours together felt so precious.

When we were kids, they helped shape my taste and visual awareness, introducing me to all kinds of creative things. It was such a beautiful time. And the best gift for me was when they came to spend their school holidays in my village. Even now, we look back on those days as some of the best in our lives.

DARYNA

For International Women’s Day, I want to share a woman who quietly shifted something fundamental in me. Her name is Natasha, and she is the co-founder of Point Studio.

We met last summer during a women’s wellness retreat in Greece. We had only known each other for a week, but that week felt transformative. Natasha isn’t much older than me, yet she already has a husband, a child, and a thriving business. What struck me most was this: she hasn’t lost herself in any of it. She hasn’t dimmed. If anything, she feels brighter.

There is a warmth and openness in her that feels almost luminous. She connects with people effortlessly — clients, friends, collaborators — and somehow makes everyone feel seen and included.

What I deeply admire is not just what she has built, but how she carries it all. She is both feminine and strong. Disciplined yet soft. Ambitious yet deeply present with her family.

Watching her dissolved a quiet belief I didn’t realize I carried — that with age comes less light, less freedom, less aliveness. Through her, I saw that life doesn’t have to shrink, it can expand, if you allow it to.

Her example shifted my own alignment. I began to believe more fully that you can build a beautiful business without losing your soul. That you can love deeply and still evolve. That you can be powerful without hardening.

I started showing up differently — committing to movement, attending her studio regularly, saying yes to community, and standing a little taller in my own decisions.

Natasha embodies balance in a way that feels natural and unforced. She knows what she wants, yet remains open. She is sincere and simple in the most beautiful way.

FRECHE

The woman who inspires me most is my mom.

What I admire most about her is the beautiful balance she strikes: she is fierce in her determination, yet so gentle in her patience. She has this wonderful way of being entirely true to herself, paired with a clever, quick wit that everyone can’t help but love.

Growing up, I watched her lead the women in our community with such selfless dedication, always uplifting and inspiring others to stand a little taller.

Watching her face life’s challenges taught me that true strength isn’t about never crying, climbing the fastest, or always having the answers. It’s about resilience.

Her kindness and commitment have shown me how to move through the world with both purpose and heart. Because of her, I’ve learned that when you live in alignment with your values, you can stand tall with confidence, move with grace, and quietly inspire everyone around you just by being who you are.

KAT

I’d like to share about my friend and client, Laura L. Rubin, the founder of AllSwell Creative.

Laura’s work centers around the power of mindful writing as a tool for reflection, clarity, and personal transformation. Through AllSwell journals, workshops, retreats, and her upcoming book, The Big Unlock, she’s helping people reconnect with their own inner wisdom.

What I admire most about Laura is the way she lives what she teaches. She constantly challenges herself — and the people around her — to slow down, ask better questions, and stay curious. She has a remarkable ability to hold space for others while also encouraging them to stretch beyond their comfort zones.

I tend to move quickly, but Laura and her work remind me that alignment often requires pausing, stepping back, and listening to your intuition without all the noise.

Her work has inspired me not only professionally but personally, and everyone in her orbit benefits from the way she encourages us to show up more intentionally in our own lives.

This International Women’s Day, we’re grateful for the women who challenge us, support us, and inspire us to stand a little taller — in our bodies, our work, and our lives.

And in that spirit, we celebrate the power of women supporting women — today and every day.