The Moment It Hit Me: I’m Someone’s Boss

Next Chapter Wedding's Brandi Swanson (me)

When my team surprised me for Boss’s Day this year, I was completely caught off guard.

They gifted me the sweetest things —cute motivational pens, a one-hour massage, earrings, and a mug from The Office that says “World’s Best Boss.” It was such a simple moment, but I was honestly overcome with emotion. It hit me... I’m someone’s boss.

That might sound funny, but for so long, I never saw myself that way. I remember years ago when my nephew asked me if I had any employees. I told him no, just a few contractors who helped me from time to time. I was proud of what I had built but a little part of me wondered if that meant I wasn’t as successful as I thought.

Looking back, that’s such a silly thing to think. Success isn’t about how many people are on your payroll. But at the time, I think it gave me a little complex, like maybe I wasn’t “big enough” yet.

Rethinking What Success Really Means

Fast forward to now, and I have a full team. Real employees. Women who trust me, support me, and genuinely care about me just as much as I care about them. It’s such a surreal feeling — not because of the “boss” title, but because I’ve built something that gives others purpose, too.

For me, that’s what success really is.

When I first started over — after closing my dance studio, after heartbreak, after becoming a mom — I didn’t know what my future looked like. I just knew I wanted to create a life that let me be 100% present as a mom and 100% fulfilled as a provider. I took a leap, leaned into love and hope, and built something that reflected both.

What Women in Business Leadership Can Really Look Like

And now, I get to help other women do the same — to create lives and careers that allow them to be home with their kids, to pursue what they love, and to find joy in their work. That’s the kind of impact that means the world to me.

To me, women in business leadership is not about status or titles. It’s about building something meaningful enough to create opportunity, purpose, and support for other women, too.

More Than a Title

So when I look at that “Best Boss Ever” mug sitting on my desk, I don’t just see a title. I see growth. I see gratitude. And I see the heart of what Next Chapter Weddings was always meant to be — a space built on love, purpose, and possibility.

💛 Next Chapter Weddings is based in Houston, TX, with a team that serves couples across Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and beyond. To see more of the heart behind our work, follow us on Instagram @next_chapter_weddings.