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In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

After learning that Kylie Kelce's pregnant with baby no. 4, we couldn't wait to revisit her relationship with Jason! From meeting on Tinder (can you imagine matching with an NFL star like that?!) to having three adorable daughters, this is one couple whose love feels truly genuine. All we can say is maybe there's hope for single people who haven't completely ditched their dating apps yet? If you're not convinced, keep scrolling to lean more about Jason and Kylie Kelce's sweet marriage!

Let's take a look at Jason & Kylie Kelce's relationship timeline from the beginning!

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

2014

Apparently Jason and Kylie Kelce were one of the lucky few who found true love on Tinder because that's how their relationship began (via PEOPLE). The news was shared in the documentary Kelce on Amazon Prime and featured Kylie saying, "Jason won't let me lie about this. We met on Tinder."

Funny enough, she didn't know Jason was a football player until she and her friends said, "Hold my mule" so they could do some deep diving about his background. It didn't take long for the dots to connect even though Kylie didn't want to believe what she was seeing. "It can't be him; it's a catfish."

When they finally met up for the first date, Jason remembers falling for her instantly. "Right away when she walks in the door, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." However, he revealed a date fail occurred on his part during an episode of New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce. He said he "definitely fell asleep" because he "got a little too inebriated."

Luckily, Kylie didn't think he was a complete loser for turning their first date into a snooze fest.

November 2015

The following year, Kylie shared a cute black and white photo of the couple with the caption, "Thank goodness you swiped right too."

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

August 2017

The couple continued to date until Jason decided it was time to put a ring on Kylie's finger. She shared another pic of them standing together on Instagram August 7, 2017 where it was clear she was wearing an engagement ring. She wrote, "I'm the luckiest girl in the world 😍." A quick scroll through the comments shows plenty of congratulatory comments which we love to see!

Last year, Jason admitted the way he proposed wasn't something out of a fairytale on his and Travis' New Heights podcast. Not wanting to ruin his plan to surprise her with a proposal, Jason came up with an odd reason to walk back into her parents' house to ask for their permission.

"I couldn’t figure out how to inconspicuously go back into the house…So when we got in the car I said ‘Ky, I’m sorry, I have to take a s–t right now,'" he remembered saying. However, he made her suspicious because his poop sessions don't happen that quickly. She said, "And then he said, ‘This is not the most romantic way to do this, but can you get out of the truck?’ So sweet."

Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Dove

February 2018

When the Eagles beat the New England Patriots in 2018's Super Bowl game, Kylie was there to support her fiancé Jason Kelce (via Page Six). She posted a celebratory photo of them standing on the football field and it was clear they were both ecstatic about the victory.

April 2018

According to this photo, Jason & Kylie Kelce got married April 15, 2018. A year later, she posted a few more BTS photos of their big day and it was clear they had a gorgeous outdoor wedding. She wore a pretty A-line dress and chic veil while looked handsome in a tailored suit.

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

October 2019

In 2019, they welcomed their first daughter, Wyatt Elizabeth Kelce October 2, 2019. Jason posted a cute picture of Kylie holding baby Wyatt and wrote, "Chunked up the Deuces on her way out," as part of his caption.

March 2021

Their middle daughter Eliotte Ray Kelce was born a couple of years later in 2021. Kylie posted the sweetest photo of her on Instagram, making sure to note, "Elliotte Ray Kelce has arrived. 🥰 🎀" Little one had the chubbiest cheeks that we're sure Jason & Kylie couldn't stop kissing.

February 2023

And just last year, their third daughter arrived before spring! Kylie also posted her cute baby face on Instagram with the caption, "Yesterday little lady #3 joined us. Bennett Llewellyn Kelce. 8lbs. 5oz. and 21inches long."

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

March 2024

Earlier this year, Jason Kelce decided to retire from the NFL and had the loving support of Kylie (via Page Six). He'd spent 13 years playing for the Eagles so, naturally, it was an emotional time for the former athlete. First his thanked his younger brother Travis by saying, "There is no chance I would be here without the bond Travis and I share...We did almost everything together — competed, fought, laughed, cried and learned from each other. We invented games, imagine ourselves as star players of that time."

He apparently took the moment after that to reminisce about the funny first date he had with Kylie and how it's led to the family they have now.

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

November 2024

All of that has led to this moment: Jason and Kylie Kelce's family is growing! Kylie announced that she's pregnant, and they're expecting baby no. 4 and couldn't be more thrilled to add a sixth member to their household! We can't wait to learn more news about the new "little lady" that'll be joining them!

If you can't get enough of Jason & Kylie Kelce, you'll love revisiting Patrick & Brittany Mahomes' timeline. For even more celebrities couples we love, follow us on Facebook!