We’re looking forward to introducing you to Amanda Pero. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Amanda, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Oh, this is a great question! I have noticed that people in my orbit are hardly talking about the strain of spreading themselves between the things they have to do on the day to day and the things they are passionate about. Many carry this quiet tension of showing up for work, family, and responsibilities while quietly longing to nurture their creativity, rest more deeply, or pursue a dream that feels like it has been waiting in the background.
There is also the struggle of comparison. So many people feel they are falling behind because the world only highlights achievements and rarely reveals the messy, unfinished parts of life. On the surface they may look like they are handling everything, but privately there is often self doubt, exhaustion, and a desire for more genuine connection.
What I think is most common, and yet rarely spoken, is the longing to be seen as enough without having to constantly prove it. That silent hope is something almost everyone carries, even when they do not put it into words.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi There! I’m Amanda! I wear a few different hats, but at the heart of everything I do is a love for creating and building. On one side, I am part of leadership for an e-commerce FinTech, helping small businesses access the tools and funding they need to grow. On the other side, I’m a writer, photographer, and indie author who shares poetry, children’s stories, and visual art that speak to self-love, healing, and connection.
What makes my journey unique is the way I blend these worlds. I bring creativity into business and strategy into art, and I’m passionate about showing others that you don’t have to fit into only one box. Right now I’m working on expanding my writing into bi- (and tri-)lingual children’s books, building out my poetry portfolio, and continuing to build companies that support entrepreneurs around the world. At the end of the day, everything I do is about empowerment , helping people, whether through words, images, or resources, feel seen and supported.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful goes back to the fifth grade when I wrote a poem for a school assignment. I poured myself into it, not really thinking much beyond the joy of putting words together. A few days later, I was called into a parent-teacher conference because my teacher suspected I had plagiarized… it seemed too advanced to be mine. Instead of feeling discouraged, I remember this rush of awe. I realized I had created something that felt bigger than me, something that carried more weight than I thought I was capable of. That was the first time I understood the power of my own voice.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
“Oof, this question touches a tender place in me. If you read through some of my work, you’ll see that my younger self and I have not always gotten along. I have been famously hypercritical and unforgiving toward those earlier versions of me. What I would tell her now is, ‘You are going to be so proud of the things you will build and create. Hold onto your hopes, and don’t let anyone take them from you. Don’t try to fit into the box!'”
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Definitely. I’m a soft heart with a bit of a rough-around-the-edges personality, and I don’t try to tone that down just to be more easily digestible. I love being open and honest. I don’t take anything off the table. One thing that I stand by is that the human experience is not scandalous. No one is alone in anything… TMI? More like Tell Me Immediately.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
Being both an executive and a creative means I often find myself in rooms with people who are smarter, more experienced, or more innovative than I am. I know I’m out of my depth when I realize I have nothing meaningful to contribute to the conversation, the plan, or the strategy. That’s my signal to stop speaking and start listening, because those are the moments when I learn the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://byamandahanono.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/byamandahanono
Image Credits
Meagan Hanono
Greta Torres
