• Gisselle Hernandez founded Glamlite when she was home with her baby. • She grew up undocumented in New York City and considered becoming a nurse for stability. • Today, she's a multi-millionaire and working to break family cycles of abuse and poverty.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gisselle Hernandez, founder of Glamlite. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Five years ago, I was running a cosmetic business that had generated millions in sales. And yet, my bank account only had a few hundred dollars in it. I felt trapped in a relationship with my romantic partner because I didn't think I had the financial or emotional resources to leave.

That's when I realized that, despite building a successful company, trauma from my past was still holding me back. W

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