Aleks & Michele Arwood on Courage, Mentorship, and the Season of Becoming
- Jeremy Demate
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
There’s a moment many women face — especially in their early twenties — when the world feels wide open… and wildly overwhelming at the same time.
You have ideas.
You have ambition.
You feel called to something more.
But the questions get loud:
What if it doesn’t work?
Am I ready for this?
What if everyone else is ahead of me?
This conversation on The She Believed She Could™ Podcast lives in that exact space — the messy middle between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming.
About Aleks & Michele Arwood
Aleks Arwood is a 23-year-old journalist, storyteller, and visionary. A student at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications, she has always been drawn to telling the stories of young women doing remarkable things.
Michele Arwood, her mother and co-founder, brings decades of experience in branding, advertising, strategic philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership. A seasoned creative director and community builder, she has spent her career amplifying others and helping ideas come to life.
Together, they are the founders of Aveline — a magazine, podcast, and learning community created for young women in their season of becoming.
And this isn’t just a business venture.
It’s a mission.
“Put Your Mind in Timeout”
One of the most powerful moments in this conversation comes when Aleks shares the mindset shift that allowed her to move forward:
“I had to basically put my mind in timeout for a minute.”
Fear of failure can feel paralyzing. Especially when you’re stepping into something new. Especially when you don’t have all the answers.
But Aleks made a decision: she wasn’t going to let fear make the call.
Instead of waiting for certainty, she chose courage.
And that choice — that simple, brave decision — became the beginning of Aveline.
The Girl in the Back of the Classroom
Aleks describes her ideal reader as the girl sitting quietly in the back of the room.
She has bold ideas.
She feels comparison deeply.
She wants to step forward — but doesn’t know how.
Aveline was created for her.
For the young woman who feels behind.
For the one navigating imposter syndrome.
For the one who knows she’s meant for more but hasn’t fully stepped into it yet.
Because becoming isn’t a one-time event.
It’s a lifelong process.
Mentorship Isn’t Optional — It’s Essential
Michele brings a powerful layer to this conversation: mentorship.
She reminds us that many young women are afraid to ask for help. Afraid to appear like they don’t know. Afraid to raise their hand.
But mentorship is not weakness.
It’s access.
It’s acceleration.
It’s community.
And as Michele beautifully shares, anyone around you can be a mentor. It doesn’t always have to be about career. Sometimes it’s perspective. Sometimes it’s encouragement. Sometimes it’s someone holding up the mirror and saying, “You can do this.”
For high-achieving women especially, this is critical.
You are not meant to build alone.
If She Wins, I Win
Another powerful theme woven throughout this episode is sisterhood.
Aleks’ experience within the Miss America Organization reshaped her understanding of competition. What could have been rivalry became community.
Her words are simple — but profound:
“If she wins, I win.”
Imagine what shifts when women truly believe that.
When success isn’t scarce.
When celebration is mutual.
When community replaces comparison.
The ripple effect is extraordinary.
Confidence Isn’t Perfection
When asked what confidence means, both Aleks and Michele redefine it.
It’s not loud.
It’s not flashy.
It’s not perfection.
Confidence is:
Being joyful in who you are and who you are slowly becoming.
Walking into a room and being present instead of self-conscious.
Taking the first step before you feel fully ready.
Confidence is conviction — not certainty.
And that distinction changes everything.
Final Takeaway: You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out
If you are in a season of transition — graduating, pivoting, launching, questioning — this episode is your reminder:
You don’t have to know everything to begin.
You don’t have to eliminate fear to move forward.
You don’t have to build alone.
Becoming is allowed to be messy.
Growth is allowed to be gradual.
And courage often shows up before clarity.
🎧 Watch the full conversation on The She Believed She Could™ Podcast to hear Aleks and Michele Arwood share their story of launching Aveline, embracing mentorship, and choosing bravery over perfection.
As always, thank you for being here.
I believe in you 1,000% — and my hope is that this conversation helps you believe in yourself just a little more, too. 🤍
Thank You to Our Sponsor: AdventHealth for Women
We’re grateful to once again welcome back AdventHealth for Women as a sponsor of this episode of The She Believed She Could™ Podcast.
AdventHealth for Women is dedicated to supporting women with whole-person care — mind, body, and spirit — and making healthcare feel more accessible, compassionate, and empowering at every stage of life.
Thank you to AdventHealth for Women for continuing to support conversations that uplift women, amplify meaningful stories, and help our community grow with confidence and care.
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