Susan Vernicek, Self-Esteem Expert, Author, and Successful Entrepreneur, is on a mission to empower women to accept, appreciate, and achieve within themselves and within their lives. But, you would never know this small-town Jersey girl spent years struggling with her own ‘identity’. She climbed her way out of a learning disability, a difficult environment, and a job that made her feel inadequate.

Susan began her career at a medical company after receiving her bachelor’s degree in graphic design and photography from Frostburg State University. She had big dreams of designing groundbreaking advertisements.

But, instead, Susan spent her workdays altering images of people’s (including her own) faces. Spending so much of her time distorting and reworking herself, essentially who she was—her identity—began to take its toll. She didn’t want to spend her time as a guinea pig, manipulating her then 25-year-old face, so that her company would have a “perfectly” proportioned scale to work with—Susan wanted to leave work feeling fulfilled, not inadequate.

Hence, Identity Magazine was born.

Susan with no business background, created Identity, an online magazine for women. She took her own struggles and turned them into an opportunity to learn and grow. Interviewing hundreds of women, reading articles from experts to everyday women, entrenching herself into what it means to love ourselves, Susan’s passion has paid off. Once a student, now she is also the teacher. Identity has become the go-to resource for over 30,000 women and counting. Susan travels the country speaking, leading workshops, and appearing in the media to promote the importance of self-esteem.

Susan’s energetic spirit is contagious— she is currently on a 48-state book tour and workshop with her Identity MagBook, a compellation of her online magazine articles. And, since 2008, Susan has been speaking to groups, ranging from three to over 100 people ages 16 to 60 years old. What makes Susan’s workshops and speaking engagements unique is the Identity 5—which are five questions designed to engage, empower, and energize participants in a comfortable and self-reflective manner (answers are only voluntarily shared).

Susan has hosted workshops and speaking engagements in schools, municipal offices, and for several business and networking groups, including Purnell School, B.I.G. (Believe. Inspire. Grow.), Business of Soul, and Wise Women Network.

And it doesn’t end there – from radio and TV, to books and print, Susan is spreading her message throughout the world. You can find her tips quoted in books published by Bright Street Books, Reinvention Press, and Harper Collins, watch her appearances on affiliates of ABC & NBC news, as well as read her articles on countless websites and newspapers.

Susan believes in leveraging her success for the good of others—not just other women and business owners—but those in need. Susan recently received the 2010 Individual Supporter of the Year for her “30 Wishes Campaign” for One Simple Wish (a non-profit dedicated to helping children and families in need). For Susan’s 30th birthday, she created the “30 Wishes Campaign” encouraging her friends and family to make donations instead of giving Susan gifts. Her goal was to raise enough funds to grant 30 wishes (ranging from a backpack to a family movie night). She used her professional and personal networks to generate funds and awareness. Susan’s campaign was so successful that she was able to grant over 30 wishes. Susan also partners with B.I.G. by supporting their scholarship fund, which provides monetary awards to junior and senior high school students interested in starting a business.

Susan Vernicek

CEO of Identity Magazine

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