Janna Willoughby-Lohr is the Founder of Papercraft Miracles, a handmade paper art company specializing in sustainable weddings and events, corporate swag, and custom orders. Having studied under renowned book artist and author Gwen Diehn, Janna has been writing poetry for over 35 years and has been performing live as a musician for over 30 years.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [3:19] The events that led Janna Willoughby-Lohr to create Papercraft Miracles
- [6:24] Janna shares her college horror stories and tragedies
- [13:41] How waiting to start her venture allowed Janna to excel
- [18:01] Papercraft Miracles’ most inspirational projects
- [20:46] Janna talks about her podcast and course for entrepreneurial artists
- [31:56] Janna’s personal interests
In this episode...
Personal tragedies can taint your whole world, making it seem like you’ll never get past your grief. However, you can leverage these experiences to influence your professional endeavors. How can you transform calamities into thriving business ventures?
Janna Willoughby-Lohr, an artist, entrepreneur, and advocate for connection, has built a career turning grief into inspiration. Following a series of personal tragedies during college, including the loss of her mother, a dorm fire, and financial aid troubles, Janna discovered the power of storytelling through art. She began creating artist books that intertwined materials, design, and words to explore themes of resilience and meaning. These works inspired others and solidified her belief in the importance of human connection, which she highlights is crucial to audience engagement.
In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston interviews Janna Willoughby-Lohr, the Founder of Paper Craft Miracles, about transforming challenges into creativity and purpose. Janna shares how her personal calamities shaped her entrepreneurial path, the impactful projects she’s undertaken, and her efforts to empower other women through her business and community work.
Quotable Moments:
- “The energy that made her live when it was no longer contained in her body; she could make things happen all the time.”
- “Five things to survive: you need food; you need water; you need shelter; you need someone that loves you and something that drives you.”
- “I want to be an artist, and I don’t want to be broke.”
- “None of that stuff defines you; the main thing that’s important is being connected to other people.”
- “You have to be your own biggest fan. If you’re not 110% proud of your work, no one else is going to love it.”
Action Steps:
- Embrace your unique story and vision: Janna Willoughby-Lohr’s journey demonstrates the power of integrating personal experiences into a business vision. By aligning your unique life story with your professional goals, you create a compelling narrative that differentiates you in the marketplace and resonates deeply with clients.
- Cultivate resilience through adversity: Janna’s experiences of overcoming personal tragedies highlight the importance of resilience. Developing resilience equips you to navigate setbacks and maintain momentum in your endeavors, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Connect through meaningful art: Janna uses her art to forge connections and tell stories, demonstrating how art can be a medium for deep personal and communal ties. By leveraging creative expression, you can foster emotional engagement and create memorable interactions with your audience.
- Support women in leadership and entrepreneurship: Janna’s commitment to providing childcare solutions for mompreneurs illustrates the importance of supporting women in business. By advocating for resources and policies that empower women, you can contribute to a more inclusive and diverse business environment, addressing systemic barriers to women’s advancement.
- Continuously develop and adapt your skills: Janna’s evolution from a student to a successful entrepreneur underscores the value of lifelong learning and adaptability. By continually enhancing your skills and staying open to new opportunities, you can effectively address the dynamic challenges of the business world and sustain long-term success.
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is brought to you by Artitudes Design by Andrea Heuston. Artitudes Design is an award-winning creative agency that has been creating visual communication for Fortune 500 companies for over 25 years. They have worked with notable companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Expedia, and have also served startups and nonprofit organizations.
They specialize in connecting speakers with audiences by creating visual value with presentations and through the creation of motion graphics, video, and content.
To learn more about Artitudes Design, visit their website today. Checkout their portfolio to see their previous projects, and contact them today to find out how they can help you bring your business a cut above the rest.