LeverageUp Magazine & Movement
A Magazine for Thinkers, Builders, and Leaders. Unstoppable in Grit
Women on Fire 🔥
Our Women on Fire are trailblazers, truth-tellers, and torchbearers lighting the way for others. Their stories will inspire, challenge, and ignite new sparks of possibility.
If you know someone whose fire deserves to be seen, nominate her today.
Know a Woman on Fire? Nominate her to be featured.
Women on Fire
These are the women lighting up the world. From bold entrepreneurs to creative changemakers, Women on Fire celebrates those who don’t just follow paths — they blaze them.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SHINING EXAMPLE OF HOW WOMAN CAN BE ON FIRE LEADING THE WAY TO SUCCESS!
CARMEN MILAGRO * PATTI CARLISI
Author & Changemaker
Trailblazer with Vision
Ignited by Grit, Glowing with Grace – meet the Women on Fire.
They embody what it means to lead with courage, spark change, and rise with resilience. Their journeys remind us that fire doesn’t just burn— it ignites the way for others to follow.
Patti Carlisi, empowering women every step of the way. Snap Back and see the results!
1. What’s the spark that drives you?
The spark that drives me is resilience—the belief that no matter how hard life hits, we
have the power to rise again. My work is fueled by a passion for helping others reclaim
their strength and voice, especially when the world tells them they can’t.
2. Can you share a moment where grit carried you through?
When I was writing Snapping Back, there were days I felt overwhelmed by the weight of my own story and the responsibility of telling it honestly. Grit carried me through those moments—reminding me that the discomfort was part of the healing, and that someone out there needed these words to keep going.
3. How do you balance fire with grace in your work and life?
Fire gives me the courage to speak boldly, while grace reminds me to listen and lead with empathy.
I’ve learned that true strength isn’t about burning everything down—it’s about channeling that energy
into creating something that uplifts others.
4. What’s one accomplishment you’re most proud of?
I’m most proud of turning pain into purpose. Writing Snapping Back and Snapping Back Forever
wasn’t just about telling my story—it was about creating a movement that empowers others to
reclaim their lives. Seeing readers find hope through my words is the greatest reward.
5. What advice would you give to other women ready to ignite their own fire?
Don’t wait for permission. Your voice matters, your story matters, and your fire is needed. Start where you are, with what you have, and trust that your courage will inspire others to do the same.
6. Looking ahead, what’s next on your horizon?
I’m excited to bring Snapping Back to the big screen. The movie script is in the works, and my vision
is to create a film that sparks conversations about resilience, healing, and empowerment on a global
scale.
“They say life can knock you down—but I say, if you’re going to fall, make sure you Snap Back so hard you scare the floor! Bonus points if you do it with lipstick still on and coffee in hand.”
Carmen Milagro, fanning the flames of change with vision and heart.
1. What’s the spark that drives you?
The spark that drives me is justice rooted in humanity. I’ve always been motivated by the belief that culture, creativity, music and community are not luxuries, they are necessary lifelines. When people are unseen, unheard, or erased, I feel compelled to share their stories, wisdom and contributions and do everything in my power to be sure they are protected and amplified. That spark has only grown stronger as I’ve witnessed how intolerance and fear attempt to silence entire communities. I choose to respond by creating spaces where dignity, belonging and truth can thrive.
2. Can you share a moment where grit carried you through?
One of the most defining moments of true grit in my life came when I was personally attacked by a so called colleague who insisted that I could not possibly understand his intolerance toward the Trans community because I am not a mother or grandmother. He went further, repeating harmful rhetoric about Drag Queen library story hours and accusing them of “indoctrinating children.”
What carried me through was the clarity that his words were not about me they were about his fear, ignorance and conscious bias. I stood firm in my values, refused to internalize his intolerance and chose not to retreat or soften my advocacy. In fact, that moment reinforced my commitment to building inclusive systems that protect marginalized voices rather than debating their right to exist. Grit, for me, meant staying rooted in compassion and never compromising my principles.
3. How do you balance fire with grace in your work and life?
Fire without grace can burn bridges; grace without some fire may allow injustice to prevail. I tend to balance the two by leading with empathy while remaining unapologetically clear about my values. I listen deeply, speak thoughtfully and act decisively. Grace allows me to hold space for dialogue; fire ensures I do not tolerate harm. Together, they guide how I lead, create and serve.
4. What’s one accomplishment you’re most proud of?
I am most proud of founding DIVINA WORLD Foundation and laying the groundwork for what will be my lifetime legacy: the Metaverse Indigenous & World Music Hall of Fame, Museum & Library. This initiative is about preservation, visibility and access, safeguarding ancestral knowledge, music and cultural contributions that have too often been ignored or erased. It is a living, evolving archive designed not just for today but for generations to come.
5. What advice would you give to other women ready to ignite their own fire?
Do not wait for permission. Your lived experience is valid, your voice matters and your vision does not need consensus to be powerful. Expect resistance, it's a given actually, especially when you challenge systems built on exclusion but never confuse opposition with failure. Build with intention, surround yourself with aligned collaborators and remember that legacy is created through consistency, courage and care