In this episode of There Is No Plan B, Gabriella Borrero sits down with Neli Rodriguez, founder of Embellished Ribbon.

During her postpartum depression, Neli found herself struggling quietly, doing what so many women do: holding it together on the outside while unraveling on the inside. Candle making became her outlet — a grounding ritual, a way to calm her nervous system, and a space where she could finally breathe.

Those moments turned into something bigger. Each Embellished Ribbon candle is hand-poured and paired with affirmations pulled straight from Nellie’s personal journals — words she wrote for herself before she ever imagined sharing them with the world.

This conversation is about healing out loud, building something meaningful without having it all figured out, and how community, collaboration, and courage can turn your hardest seasons into your most impactful work.

If you’re a woman who’s ever thought “I should be further along by now” — this one’s for you.

• Some of the best businesses are born in survival mode

• Healing doesn’t always look like therapy — sometimes it looks like creating

• Affirmations can regulate your nervous system when words feel hard

• You don’t need a perfect plan to start — just permission

• Motherhood changes you, and your business gets to evolve too

• Community support is non-negotiable for women entrepreneurs

• Collaboration > competition (always)

• Growth happens one small, brave step at a time

• Celebrating yourself matters — especially when no one else is watching