Today we’d like to introduce you to Elouise Holder.
Hi Elouise, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started She Shines Network almost by accident, out of a simple desire to create the very space I needed but couldn’t find. As a Hospitality Management & Tourism major working as a Luxury Concierge/Amenity Management Director in a downtown luxury residential building, I got a front row seat to how many women were successful on paper yet silently struggling with loneliness, anxiety, and questions about faith and purpose. I asked the property manager for permission to host a small six‑week Bible study in one of the lounges, and what began as a faith‑based mental wellness session for 8–10 women quickly grew by word of mouth into a powerful, intimate community.
By week four, the group had outgrown the lounge. Residents were inviting friends, women were opening up about their mental health journeys, and you could feel the hunger for safe, faith‑filled connection in the room. Ironically, the very growth that proved the need for this space also led to pushback. A tenant reported the group as being “offensive to other cultures/backgrounds/beliefs,” and the property manager decided to end the Bible study before we could even complete the six‑week trial. I remember leaving that conversation heartbroken but also with a deep inner clarity: if a safe space for women of faith to talk honestly about mental wellness could be shut down that easily, then it needed to exist beyond the walls of one building and one lounge.
With no money, no formal nonprofit experience, and only a conviction that women deserved a place to be seen, heard, and spiritually cared for, I started She Shines Network. I leaned on my hospitality background to make every gathering feel welcoming and intentional—everything from how women were greeted at the door, to the layout of the room, to the way we structured conversation and reflection. What began as a single, small gathering has now grown into a faith‑based women’s mental wellness nonprofit serving over 150 women through workshops, panel discussions, support‑centered events, and community‑building experiences. Every sold‑out event, every testimony shared, and every woman who walks away feeling lighter and more hopeful reminds me that what started as a “no” in a lounge was really God’s way of pushing me to build something much bigger than I originally imagined.
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?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. When She Shines Network was banned from the residential community lounge, it did more than just disrupt our meetings—it deeply affected the women who had begun to rely on that space. One resident, who regularly attended, was so impacted by the sudden shutdown that she contacted her lawyer to understand whether this could be considered discrimination against faith‑based gatherings and what her rights were as a paying resident. I was in total shock that someone believed in this “small but mighty” group enough to fight for it on that level.
That pushback created a ripple effect. The situation stirred up more tension than the building was willing to hold, and ultimately, I lost my position there. That unexpected transition turned my life upside down—emotionally, financially, and professionally. At the same time, it stripped away my safety net and forced me to decide whether She Shines Network was just a nice idea or a true calling. Once I committed to fully pursuing the vision, something shifted. Doors began to open, the organization became clearer and more structured, and She Shines Network started to run smoother than ever. What felt like a loss at the time actually made room for the growth and focus we needed to become what we are today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
She Shines Network is a faith‑based women’s mental wellness nonprofit based in Tennessee that exists to create safe, welcoming spaces for young adult women to tend to their minds, hearts, and faith in community. We support women through mental wellness programming, holistic care, and authentic connection so they don’t have to choose between their faith and their mental health.
We specialize in faith‑centered mental wellness gatherings—workshops, panel discussions, and live events that combine clinical insight, lived experience, and spiritual encouragement. Past events have featured licensed therapists, physicians, advocates, and creatives who speak honestly about topics like anxiety, depression, trauma, and resilience through a faith lens. Our programs are intentionally designed to feel like a warm living room: hospitality‑driven, gently structured, and rooted in storytelling, reflection, and practical tools women can take into everyday life.
What we’re most known for is curating spaces where women feel seen, heard, and safe enough to be honest about how they’re really doing. Because of my hospitality background, we pay close attention to details—how a room feels, how guests are greeted, and how conversations flow—so that each gathering feels less like a conference and more like family. We also prioritize collaboration, partnering with local businesses, wellness professionals, churches, and creatives to offer panel talks, networking opportunities, and special experiences that pour back into our community.
What sets us apart is our blend of faith, mental health awareness, and radical hospitality. Many women come to us having felt either spiritually shamed for struggling or unsupported when seeking help, and we’re intentional about closing that gap by normalizing therapy, prayer, and community in the same breath. Brand‑wise, I’m most proud that She Shines Network has remained deeply heart‑driven while still growing in excellence. Our focus is still on individual women leaving lighter, encouraged, and less alone.
For readers, I want you to know that She Shines Network is for the woman who looks “put together” but is carrying a lot internally, the woman who loves God yet battles anxiety, and the woman who craves real community beyond surface‑level small talk. We offer in‑person gatherings, wellness workshops, panel events, and community‑building experiences designed to support your mental wellness and spiritual life, and we’re continuing to expand our offerings to reach even more women in Tennessee and beyond.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The quality that has been most important to my success is obedient persistence—staying sensitive to God’s leading while refusing to quit when the path gets hard. Losing my job and having our original group shut down could have easily made me walk away, but instead it forced me to ask, “Is this just a nice idea, or is this an assignment?” Choosing to keep moving, even when I didn’t have funding, a roadmap, or a title, made space for She Shines Network to grow.
That persistence shows up in small, practical ways too: following up with women after events, continuing to learn about mental health, stewarding relationships with partners, and refining each gathering so the experience is better than the last. I believe excellence is built in the quiet, unseen moments where you decide to show up fully, not just when things are going well. That mix of obedience, resilience, and commitment to serving women with integrity has been the driving force behind everything She Shines Network has become.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sheshinesnetwork.org/
- Instagram: sheshines.network
