Our Story

For much of my life, I didn’t truly know myself. From adolescence into adulthood, it never dawned on me that I should take the time to understand me—the person I would spend all my life with. I assumed that self-awareness would somehow just arrive in adulthood, never realizing that my life experiences were shaping who I was becoming.

Without a clear plan or sense of direction, I moved forward in life, aiming to do well in whatever I pursued. But in hindsight, life was happening to me, rather than me intentionally creating a path forward. By the age of 20, I had become a college dropout, mother, and wife. My focus quickly shifted to being the best mother and wife I could be, putting my own dreams and identity on hold. Five years later, I was a divorced single mother, solely responsible for raising and providing for my daughters.

When I finally had the opportunity, I returned to college to complete my degree—a milestone I took pride in. Still, I moved through life as it unfolded, uncertain of my true purpose. Deep down, I sensed there was more to me, but I struggled to uncover it, as I didn’t fully know myself beyond the roles I had always embodied and immersed myself in: daughter, sister, wife, mother, and so on. I had yet to discover who I was as an individual. Over the past thirty years, I built a distinguished career as a business leader, specializing in human capital management across diverse domestic and international organizations. I also achieved credentials as a Certified Personal and Executive Coach, helping others navigate challenges and unlock their personal and professional potential. Yet, despite these accomplishments, I realized I had never fully embraced the most essential title of all—the one I had held my entire life: ME.

In 2021, I was invited to join a group of women in starting a mentoring program for women in Cambodia. I eagerly said “YES” to the invitation and chose to focus on Wholeness, as I, too, was on a journey to embrace, love, and understand myself fully. It was during this time that I realized I had already been walking the path my life experiences had been preparing me for all along: to serve and empower women and girls. There Once Was a Girl was birthed from my own journey of self-discovery and healing. It exists to create spaces where women and girls can learn to know and love themselves—wholly and authentically—from the inside out, equipping them with confidence and empowering them to become the best versions of themselves to share with the world. 

Monique Martin

Founder