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Change Makers 2025 posed for photo

January 1st, my husband and I bring our notebook to Rebel Cheese for what we call the “New Year’s Resolution Dinner.” We bring pens, highlighters, goals and ideas to fill the book’s empty pages with our intentions for the upcoming year. This is the first moment of the year that we, as life partners, sit together to discuss our hopes and dreams for the year ahead. During this dinner we check in with each other to ensure that we’re still on the same page and headed towards the same place – in our relationship and in our personal lives. We pull up the resolutions from the previous year and either check each one off as completed, nix it or make adjustments to attain it in the following year. We regroup in the middle of the year and hold the other accountable throughout the 365 days. This is how many businesses operate; setting goals and revisiting them throughout the year. Our marriage isn’t a business, but, like one, we hope to embrace change through growth and accountability. So, I’m overjoyed to welcome you to our 2025 Change Makers issue.

Before we dive into content of this special issue, I want to share some of the changes you’ll see with Austin Woman in 2025. We are adjusting priorities to keep up with you, because you are what motivates us, year after year. We are moving to six issues, instead of our monthly publication. Each issue will be packed with two-months worth of stories, while some will have special inserts for you to keep – just like this one. We are excited to connect with you in more face-to-face settings. We’ve made a resolution to host more events to bring our community together. Our intentions are to help you grow, personally and professionally during our Take Off with Austin Woman trips. We aspire to engage more with our Connects Club members through fun networking events, masterclasses and exclusive conversations in our group chats. There is so much more that we have planned; some of which include various empowering, successful women from the following pages! 

It’s impossible to not feel empowered after reading the stories of our Change Makers Cover women, Shanaz Hemmati, Pooja Lakshmin, Susan Ramirez and Amanda Turner. There’s a yearning to further grow a dynamic community that can be felt in our story about the tour guide group, Where Y’all At Though?! Our Change Makers lists reflect outstanding women in our community from cooking connoisseurs to corporate leaders. And, of course, we share stories that can help you have a phenomenal year. Know how to create a vision board, set up a stylish organization system in your home, curate the perfect power capsule wardrobe and save money to achieve major life goals. Plus, learn the do’s and don’ts of online dating while balancing your mental health. And, take a trip in the Hill Country for a quick recharge to really kick off your year with some self-care.

Reader, we are thrilled to learn about your goals for the new year and help you achieve them. We hope you become inspired by and tap into the group of Change Makers reflected on The List. We wish you a joyful, restful and balanced 2025.   And we can’t wait to see you in January, at our Change Makers Party! Follow us on social or subscribe to our newsletter to stay in touch with us throughout the year.

Halie Ramirez,
Director of Content & Creative Services


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