Meet Jennifer, The Heart Behind Carolina Momᵀᴹ
About the HOST
From Small Town to International Business Success ( . . . and back home again!)
Hi, I’m Jennifer Dunleavy, founder of Carolina Mom™, and I’m probably a lot more like you than you might expect.
I grew up in a small town, but life had bigger plans. My path eventually led me to the thriving tech hub of Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, where I built a successful career. At 27, I took a leap of faith and started my first company. What began as a dream grew into a nine-figure international corporation — an achievement that changed my life forever.
But here’s what I eventually learned: Success doesn’t always look the way you think it will, and it doesn’t always answer the deeper calling of your soul.
The BEAUTIFUL, MESSY TRUTH
ABOUT MY JOURNEY
Three things people are always surprised
to learn about me:
- My path to entrepreneurship has been anything but traditional. Instead of going straight to college after high school, I entered the workforce, beginning as a typist in a large law firm before moving into sales roles with major broadcasting corporations and a global recruiting firm. At 27, I launched my first company and later returned to earn degrees in Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
- At 40, I became a mother after a long fertility journey. My son, Evan, now 9, is a reminder that dreams don’t always unfold on our timeline—but they can still come true.
- After building my career in the technology hub of Raleigh-Durham, I felt called to return home to South Carolina. Today, my work is rooted in a simple belief: real success is measured by how we help others rise.
- Women entrepreneurs face a $1.7 trillion gap in funding and financial resources.
- Only 1.9% of venture capital funding goes to women-founded startups (despite generating higher returns!)
- Among the Fortune 500, only 55 companies have CEOs who are women.
- Women-owned businesses represent 39% of U.S. businesses, generating $2.7 trillion in revenue.
I've been there, too. The 24/7/365 business cycle. The 3AM urgent texts. The 5:30AM wake-ups, the juggling act, the constant feeling like you're not doing enough for everyone. Including yourself. The dreams that whisper to you in quiet moments, then get drowned out by the busyness of daily life. This is why Carolina Momᵀᴹ exists.
Why I'm Really Here . . .
The statistics don't lie, and they break my heart:
One of the hardest parts of
a woman’s journey is
the guilt that comes with
balancing family and career.
My Biggest Lesson
After 23 years of entrepreneurship — building multimillion-dollar businesses, raising a family, and learning that it truly takes a village — one truth has become clear:
Real success isn’t about competition. It’s about reaching back, taking the hand of the woman behind you, and saying, “I’ve walked this road —and I’ll help you find your way.”
We are meant to rise together.
What Brings Me Joy
Some of my happiest moments are the simplest — sitting in our backyard with my family, watching my son play with our dogs in the quiet beauty of nature. It’s where I find God, reconnect with myself, and remember what truly matters.
Because in the end, success isn’t just about what we build— it’s about the love we give, the community we create, and the legacy we leave behind for the next generation of dreamers.
my why?
I’m here because your dreams matter. Every woman scrolling through Instagram late at night — tired, overwhelmed, but still dreaming — deserves to know her vision is valid and possible.
Other incredible women once poured into me, and now it’s my turn to pour into you. Because when women rise, families strengthen, communities grow, and the world becomes brighter.
Welcome to Carolina Mom™, beautiful soul. You belong here. Your dreams are real, and together we’re going to build your comeback — one conversation, one resource, one step at a time.
