Ever wondered what it takes to ditch the cubicle and become a full-time girl boss? Our Student Spotlight Series interviews our students who have made the transition from 9-5 to remote CEOs!

From what inspired them to start their own business, their favorite podcasts, go-to morning routine, advice to aspiring female entrepreneurs, and so much more!

Today, we’re sitting down with our Bucketlist Bombshells Academy almuni and current Bucketlist Bombshells Collective member Vanessa Park, Founder of Sunny Days Creative Studio! Originally from New Bedford Massachusetts, Vanessa gives us a glimpse into her online business journey…

Q: What type of online business do you own and what services do you offer?

I launched Noire Graphics in 2020 and rebranded to Sunny Days Creative Studio in 2022. My role is Chief Litupness Officer and Founder. Sunny Days Creative Studio is a 100% virtual website design studio specializing in website design services and email marketing campaigns for business coaches and course creators. Our mission is to provide mobile optimized websites that sell and look good so business coaches and course creators can spend less time taking care of their business website needs and more time having fun coaching their clients and teaching their students

Q: What inspired you to enroll in the Bucketlist Bombshells Courses and then join the Bucketlist Bombshells Collective?

As a mom I wanted to spend more time at home with my family, take trips with loved ones and work from anywhere in the world, and become my own boss, so I could earn money online without a cap to my income!

The Bucketlist Bombshells Academy showed me that it was possible to work from home or anywhere in the world by offering skills that I already had.

Q: What was the final push in your story to get you to ditch that 9-5 job?

I worked in a corporate 9-5 day job I was a customer service representative for a bank and freelances as a graphic designer on the side.

In 2020 I was laid off and that’s when I had to go all in on my business! It took me 11 months to ditch my previous job. I dedicated 10 hours a week to make this happen.

Q: How long was it until you landed your first client online?

I landed my first client 8 months after I launched my business. She was a writer looking to become a blogger but had no clue how to start her blog. She paid me $30 for 30 minutes to help her get her Squarespace site up and running along with a blog.

Q: What is your process for finding and landing clients online? 

I love to attend in-person and virtual networking groups.Building organic relationships with people is my superpower.

Q: Why do you recommend business owners join the Bucketlist Bombshells Collective to propel their business growth forward?

Ready to join Vanessa inside the Bucketlist Bombshells Collective!? Grab your 2-week FREE trial by clicking here!

Q: What has been your biggest setback and how did you overcome it?

My biggest setback happened in summer of 2021 when I was working on my business and there was a fire in my building. Thank God my neighbors and my family were ok, no one was injured but I had a tough time bouncing back from the toll it took on me emotionally.

Q: What’s the most challenging part about running your online biz?

The most challenging part about running my business is balancing my babies and my business. Between my partner and I we have 8 kiddos (ages 19, 16, 14,12,9,8,8, and 3) so juggling everything can be overwhelming sometimes but I’ve learned to give myself grace when I can’t complete everything that’s on my to-do-list as a mother, partner, and businesswoman.

Q: Looking back on your online business journey, what is something that you’re most proud of?

I’m most proud of improving my mindset. I’m more aware of my self-sabotaging behaviors such as perfectionism that keep me fearful of doing things like going live on Instagram because my hair isn’t done perfectly or my kiddos are home and likely to barge into my office and interrupt me while I’m working.

Q: If you could speak to your past self, what piece of advice would you give her?

I would tell my past self to go after her wildest dreams and push past the fear.

Q: How do you stay inspired and motivated to run your online biz?

Art museums, mini-road trips, and connecting with other entrepreneurs keep me inspired. Listening to Beyonce first thing in the morning keeps me motivated to run my online business, she’s an amazing mompreneur that inspires and motivates me!

Q: Tell us what a “day in the life” looks like for you now that you’re running your own online biz!

A ‘day in the life’ of a mompreneur looks like waking up at the crack of dawn to meditate & journal then take a walk around my neighborhood. I drink hot water with lemon while I plan my 3 big tasks I have to do for the day in Asana. Then I clean the house, workout and take a shower while listening to Beyonce. After that I check on the kiddos and my partner to help them get ready for the day then I’ll work from my home office or go to a local cafe. I’ll go home mid-day to take a nap and check on the kiddos and spend a couple more hours working. I finish my work day by 5 p.m. and then make dinner for the family, Netflix and chill with my partner and do my nighttime routine: skincare routine, meditate & journal, and do yoga Nidra.

Q: What’s the best part about being your own boss?

I love the freedom, flexibility, and not having a cap on my income.

Q: What do you love most about the work you do and the clients you work with?

I love designing websites and email marketing campaigns. I really enjoy the look on my clients face when we have a Zoom call and it’s time for me to reveal their project to them! Being able to use my skills and God-given talents to help other women and moms reach their business goals brings me joy. I know that God’s purpose for me is to be of service and generate good energy to inspire people and my work allows me to do that!

Q: What is your favorite destination to work remotely from?

I love working on the Metro-North train that travels from Connecticut to New York because I visit my besties in New York often and looking out of the window to view the beautiful scenery inspires me. Then when I arrive in New York I feel productive because I was able to move the needle forward in my business and it feels like I get rewarded with having amazing social time with my besties!

Q: What’s your favorite business tool that you’d recommend to other aspiring or current business owners? Why do you love it?

My favorite business tool is a managed WordPress website builder called Weeknight Website. I love building websites with Weeknight Website because I can build anything I want. I can create custom landing pages, funnels, sales pages that convert, and even a shop using Weeknight Website. The reason I recommend this solution for fellow girl bosses that are aspiring website designers is because it uses a drag-and-drop builder and premium plugins to make sure when your done with the project, your clients will have the best experience managing their website after the design project is complete.Plus they have easy to follow tutorials and support in a FREE Facebook community if you need help to make changes once the website is complete.

Q: What is one of your favorite business books that you would recommend to another business owner and why do you love it?

My favorite business book is ‘We Should All Be Millionaires’ by Rachel Rodgers. I love this book because it teaches women, people of color, queer folks, and other historically excluded entrepreneurs like myself how to maximize their earning potential so we can fly first class, just because, pay for extracurricular activities for our kids, and leave an inheritance for the next generation.

Q: WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO FAVORITE PODCAST THAT YOU’D RECOMMEND TO OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS?

I recommend Rachel Rodgers podcast Hello 7 because each episode drops amazing gems to help every woman in business become a millionaire. After listening to her podcast I feel inspired and more connected to why I started my business, especially on tough days when I feel like quitting my business.

Q: What is your number one piece of advice for aspiring Bucketlist Bombshells?

My number one piece of advice for aspiring Bucketlist Bombshells is to shoot your shot with people in the community. They could be your next biz bestie, collaborator for a dream project, or a mentor.