Does this sound like you or someone you want to be?

We are women who look at life as a grand adventure! We see opportunities to learn rather than problems. We unapologetically march to the beat of own drummer.

We are interesting!  We're women you want to get to know! We sparkle and crackle with energy!

We are always real and authentic. And we crave a life we've  always imagined. We may not be there yet. but we are always on the move, loving, growing and exploring every single day! We may never totally arrive at our desired destination, but we consciously remember life is a grand adventure!   


Elizabeth Gorn Stephenson
 EWE Chief Dreamweaver

Come Adventure With Us

THE WOMEN BEHIND THE VISION

Elizabeth Gorn Stephenson

Elizabeth Stephenson, often referred to as "E" has been running Custom Stuff, a full-service promotional products business for 28 years, but her real passion project is The Empowered Women's Experience. As owner and chief dream weaver, she loves watching women light up as they discover what they're truly capable of and what makes them come alive. When she's not cheering on other women, you'll find her traveling with her husband and grown children (2), getting lost in a good book, capturing the perfect flower photo, or dealing cards and mahjong tiles with her favorite women.  She is also a crazy cat lady with a clowder of 4!

Laurie Sigel

Laurie Sigel serves on the board of the Empowered Women's Experience and has used her OCD tendencies to become the Task Manager, since checking things off a list is her love language!  Inspired by having a gay son, she has unexpectedly become an advocate and activist.  She is a Co-Leader of Free Mom Hugs-Pennsylvania and serves as the Volunteer Coordinator for Centre LGBT+, Centre County's local LGBTQ+ organization. Laurie and her husband Scott, who is set to retire in the spring, are proud parents of two adult children: Tucker, 32, a registered nurse in a burn clinic in Colorado, and Grace, 27, a veterinary technician in the Chattanooga area working for a pet insurance company. Their newest family member is Piper, a ridiculously adorable, but naughty kitten.  Laurie enjoys watercoloring, her Diet Coke addiction, reading, container gardening, and playing canasta and Mah Jongg. Thursday night Mah Jongg with friends is a weekly highlight!


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Amanda Fedisson

Amanda Fedisson creates perspective-shifting experiments that help people see life differently — and feel seen in the process. After growing up without much joy, she became deeply curious about how the way we look at life shapes the life we experience. Her work is rooted in the belief that when you change your perspective, the patterns in your life can change too. Through short-form videos and reflective experiments, she helps people question old frameworks, reconnect with joy, and find deeper understanding and fulfillment. She doesn’t  offer answers — she offers clarity that invites curiosity, hope, and a new way of seeing. 

Kelli Prescott

Kelli Prescott brings a lifelong commitment to leadership, equity, and creativity to everything she does. She currently serves on the board of the Empowered Women’s Experience and has spent her entire career in the technology industry, where she is a passionate advocate for advancing women in the workplace. As co-chair of her company’s Women’s Employee Resource Group, Kelli helps shape inclusive cultures that empower people to thrive. Previously, at Penn State University, she played an active role in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives, helping drive meaningful, lasting change across the institution.
Outside of her professional work, Kelli is a proud mom to two adult sons and the devoted human of a high-energy labradoodle who ensures life is never dull. She recharges through outdoor adventures like hiking and kayaking, and through creative pursuits including singing, painting, pottery, and quilting—outlets that reflect her belief in curiosity, expression, and lifelong growth.

Denise Rupert

Denise Rupert serves as the Secretary on the Board of Empowered Women's Experience (EWE) and was drawn to the organization when she found herself at a crossroads in her life. She spent most of her adult life raising her four children and caring for her aging parents, all while being an active member of the State College community. By her 50th birthday, her children were grown and flown, and her parents had passed away. Denise decided to give herself a gift: a journey to find herself. Her accomplishments during this journey include dramatic weight loss, significant health improvements, completing her bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, starting her master's in Organizational Leadership, and returning to the workforce. Denise now uses her lived experience to support youth and families dealing with mental health challenges. As a Christian, advocate, and ally, she supports people with love and caring.  EWE allows her to support women in transition as she is transitioning in many areas of her life.  
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Nargess Kaviani

Dr. Nargess Kaviani is an internist and functional endocrinologist. She is the founder of an innovative online functional endocrinology clinic that blends conventional and integrative medicine to treat  menopause, perimenopause, PCOS, thyroid disorders, obesity, and low testosterone. With over 20 years of clinical experience, she delivers personalized, root-cause care through a concierge model that includes functional lab testing, lifestyle coaching, and evidence-based protocols. A passionate educator and mentor, Dr Kaviani, currently developing a signature educational platform and podcast focused on holistic endocrinology. Shaped by her upbringing during the Iran-Iraq war and now based in the U.S., she brings a multicultural lens to her work and a global vision—to found 50 orphanages across 50 countries and transform healthcare into a more preventive, patient-centered system. Her approach is science-driven, approachable, and purposefully bold.