Today we’d like to introduce you to Rose Anne.
Hi Rose, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in the picturesque village of Khashtarak, nestled in Armenia – a country roughly the size of South Florida, yet carrying a history as vast and enduring as its mountains. Known as the first nation to adopt Christianity in 301 AD, my homeland is celebrated for its ancient churches, breathtaking landscapes, and the hospitality of its people, who have endured centuries of suppression, wars, and the tragedy of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
Driven by a vision for a bigger life and determined to build a future beyond Armenia, I left to join my immigrant family in England, where I spent nearly a decade working, studying, and reinventing myself. Starting over in a new country, with its language barriers and cultural differences, taught me how to adapt and grow in unfamiliar surroundings.
In time, I ventured to the United States, seeking new horizons and the chance to turn the American Dream into my reality. Over the years, I traveled through 40 States and many countries, collecting stories, learning from diverse cultures, and expanding my perspective. Out of all the places I traveled to, Fort Lauderdale stood out to me, feeling like home long before I actually moved here.
After 2020, a year that made many of us rethink our paths, I felt a strong desire to embrace change. I bought a one-way ticket to Fort Lauderdale, my favorite city, and never looked back.
Known as the boating capital of the world, this city introduced me to a life I had never imagined. Growing up in Armenia, I had only ever seen boats in pictures and knew nothing about them, until opportunities arose that allowed me to renovate vessels and transform them into comfortable liveaboards. This unexpected path soon became both a passion and a way of life. For nearly four years, I have lived aboard, surrounded by nature, experiencing freedom, courage, and the beauty of creating a home on the water.
My journey, rooted in resilience in Armenia, strengthened during my years in England, and transformed by my life in the United States—ignited a deep desire to give back. This calling led me to establish Inspowernet, a nonprofit devoted to mental health education, healing, and empowerment. Through this initiative, I share the insights gained from my own experiences, showing that when we truly understand the human mind, we unlock its incredible ability to overcome challenges, heal from within, and create meaningful change in our lives and communities.
My free book, The Honeybee Method: A Novel Approach to Health and Wellbeing, explores the concept of natural intelligence and shows how aligning with the mind’s inherent principles can unlock deep healing and lasting personal transformation.
Where you start does not determine how far you can go.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has been anything but smooth, yet every obstacle shaped who I am today. Moving from a small Armenian village to England meant leaving everything familiar behind. I had to learn a new language, adapt to different cultures, and build connections in places I had never experienced before. I had to prove to myself that I could thrive in an environment far removed from my comfort zone. I made the bold decision to study a new degree course, which required me not only to pass rigorous English language tests, but also to apply directly into the final year of the program. Against the odds, I was offered a place. That moment reinforced my belief that persistence opens doors.
But my ambition didn’t stop there. I set my sights on working for Imperial College London, one of the most prestigious universities in the world. I deeply respect education, learning, and growth, and during my three years at Imperial Medical School, I contributed meaningfully, drawing on my prior experience at the Armenian Embassy in London and my volunteer work with startup entrepreneurial organizations. These roles allowed me to blend diplomacy, innovation, and academia in ways that expanded my worldview.
At the same time, I was yearning for more. I immersed myself in seminars and trainings led by American motivational and industry speakers, fueling my personal growth and entrepreneurial spirit. These experiences not only broadened my mindset, but also connected me with entrepreneurs in the United States, ultimately leading me to the next chapter of my life – America.
Arriving in the U.S. opened a new world of possibilities, but also new challenges, especially on a personal level. I had to overcome broken trust in relationships, learn to manage manipulation with discernment, and, above all, restore my ability to trust others. At one point, I even built a dream home from the ground up, believing I was creating a shared future with a special one. Yet, life had other plans, and I had to walk away from that dream for reasons beyond my control.
That experience taught me something profound: material values mean nothing. Everything we own can be taken away from us in an instant. What truly matters is the most precious gift we carry – ourselves. Fortunately or unfortunately, we take ourselves wherever we go, along with our strength, our lessons, and our unbreakable spirit.
Each stage required determination-finding my place in new environments, continually proving myself, and embracing challenges that others might have avoided. These experiences were not setbacks, but stepping stones, shaping the life I lead today and reinforcing my commitment to making a meaningful impact in the world.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My journey into art and music began unexpectedly. When I was a little girl, my academic parents were struggling to make ends meet. One day, my father took on a side gig that brought in a bit of extra income, and instead of spending it on necessities, he invested it in a beautiful upright piano.
Within weeks, both my brothers received violins, and suddenly our tiny one-bedroom apartment transformed into a family band. My mother became the singer, my father the conductor, and my brothers and I filled the room with vibrant music. The neighbors always knew when we were practicing – sometimes knocking on the walls to share in the rhythm!
Though I grew up classically trained, today I see music as a powerful tool for therapy. In my book, The Honeybee Method, I encourage people to be mindful of the music they listen to and the lyrics they sing along to, because it can profoundly affect emotions, mindset, and even personality.
Beyond music, I have been drawing, painting, and sewing since childhood, using art as another therapeutic tool. During my boat remodels, I worked with liquid wood, natural stains, and wood paints, later repurposing leftover materials to create 3D artworks incorporating natural moss that give life to each piece, something I intend on integrating into my community work as a therapeutic tool.
My passion for sewing led me to create vintage dresses as well as custom canvas covers and waterproofing solutions for boats and cars, using an American fabric as light as air. This inspired me to design lightweight hammocks from the same material, which I now make onboard to support my nonprofit projects. These hammocks, tied with soft Amsteel shackles I craft myself, are placed in various city locations to provide free spaces of relaxation for the community.
I use all my skills and education to help others. To fundraise for my nonprofit, I’ve created unique experiences, including sightseeing cruises on my small vintage venetian gondola, Gracy – a no wake, no cost, no emission electric boat that offers a peaceful connection with nature. I also organize music therapy sessions, fundraising events, tours, and other creative experiences to make the nonprofit self-sufficient, as I slowly build the capacity to reach wider audiences and make a larger impact.
In everything I do, I promote a return to nature. I am usually on my bike, enjoying the feeling of the wind, smiling, and saying hello to people I pass. Through my nonprofit, I also want to help people stay human – to take breaks from their phones, to make real connections, and to sometimes take off their headsets so they can hear the voice within and truly connect with another person.
I believe that with the rise of AI, humans are at risk of losing the ability to sustain their attention in the real world. Many are retreating into imaginary online spaces while neglecting the richness of real life. My intention is to gently remind people to channel their attention back to reality, to nature, to one another, and to themselves.
My book, The Honeybee Method, handwritten and published onboard, raises awareness of natural intelligence in contrast to artificial intelligence. It is also printed onboard and offered free of charge. In fact, all my educational and artistic resources for mental health awareness are freely available to the public, because healing and connection should never have a price tag.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I encourage everyone to pause and appreciate what they already have, choosing to focus on the brighter side, because hope flourishes where gratitude thrives. Too often, we chase after “more” and overlook the countless free gifts life offers us daily. Here in South Florida, we are surrounded by tropical beauty, year-round sunshine and vibrant marine life. On any day, you can dive into the ocean, watch the sunrise, collect seashells, swim under the stars, or simply breathe in the salty breeze. You can pick lobsters, fish for your lunch, pick a coconut for hydration, or get mangoes and pineapples for nourishment.
Beyond nature, there are other priceless things we often take for granted, like the warmth of a hug, the laughter of a friend, the joy of giving without expecting anything in return, the sound of birds in the morning, the beauty of a sunset, the peace of a deep breath, and the simple ability to smile, compliment or thank someone, and brighten their day.
The most precious things in life cost nothing, yet they enrich us in ways material possessions never can. It’s human nature to want more, but it’s a powerful habit to cultivate gratitude – to notice and cherish these simple gifts. When we treat life as a miracle and treat people with kindness and respect, we not only find joy within ourselves, but also spread it to those around us.
Along with raising awareness of mental health, my nonprofit promotes core values such as love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, and forgiveness. It inspires people to reconnect with these principles while fostering emotional wellness. As outlined in The Honeybee Method, the initiative also raises awareness about natural intelligence and provides simple, practical tools for overcoming challenges, facilitating healing, and encouraging personal growth.
My hope is that readers will not only appreciate life’s simple blessings, but also embrace these values, using them as tools to build a life filled with meaning, connection, and inner peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.inspowernet.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruzanna-gulakyan-00352b22
