When women choose connection over competition, something powerful begins to take shape—and few stories illustrate that better than those shared in She Nailed It: Inspiring Stories of Going from Valley to Victory.
Among the women featured in the book are two familiar names to the Denville City Lifestyle community: Megan De Tore McDermott and Kat Esteves, both leaders in their respective industries. While their careers span different fields—mortgage lending and interior design—their stories share a common thread: resilience, purpose, and the courage to keep going.
The book, led by Danette Galvis and released this past January, brings together women from all walks of life who have faced adversity and emerged stronger. Proceeds from the book help provide sober living housing for women rebuilding their lives after addiction—ensuring these stories create impact far beyond the page. It’s a mission rooted in the very themes the book explores: growth, transformation, and second chances.
For Megan De Tore McDermott, a top-performing mortgage professional with more than two decades of experience, currently with CrossCountry Mortgage, the decision to share her story was deeply intentional.
“Being part of She Nailed It is honestly humbling,” she said. “To stand alongside other strong, resilient women who have faced challenges and adversity, each with their own story, is something I am honored to be a part of.”
But for McDermott, the impact goes far beyond acknowledgment.
“For me, sharing my story isn’t about recognition; it’s about connection. If even one woman hears my story or reads my story and feels seen, understood, or inspired to keep going, then every vulnerable moment I shared is worth it.”
That willingness to be vulnerable is exactly what gives the book its power. As McDermott explains, it’s not the highlight reel that resonates, it’s everything in between.
“Success is the highlight reel, but growth happens during the messy, uncertain, uncomfortable moments that no one talks about,” she said. “When women share the truth—not just the wins—it gives other women the permission to keep going.”
Kat Esteves, owner of Reneww Design in Chester, shares a similar perspective—one shaped by both personal and professional transformation. Known for her thoughtful, client-centered approach to interior design, Esteves believes that the most meaningful work begins with understanding how people truly live. That same philosophy carries into her story.
“Community has played a huge role in my journey,” she said. “Being part of this book reminded me how powerful it is when women choose to lift each other up instead of competing.”
Her path, like many others in the book, hasn’t been without challenge. After more than a decade in a corporate career, losing her job became an unexpected turning point.
“At the time it felt devastating, but it ultimately became the moment that pushed me to fully pursue my design business,” she said.
It’s a perspective that reframes hardship not as failure, but as redirection.
“I would tell her to trust that what feels like everything falling apart may actually be life gently redirecting you toward something greater,” Esteves said.
Together, these stories reflect a broader truth echoed throughout She Nailed It: that the valley is not the end of the story—it’s often where strength is built and purpose begins to take shape.
For McDermott, that realization is deeply personal.
“Victory to me is peace,” she said. “It’s waking up knowing that I have built a life that supports my family, honors my journey, and allows me to help others along the way.”
And for both women, that sense of purpose extends beyond their individual success. It lives in the way they show up—for their clients, their community, and the women who may see themselves reflected in their stories.
Because in the end, She Nailed It is more than a book—it’s a reminder that even in life’s most uncertain moments, growth is happening, and no one has to navigate it alone.
Stories like these are more than inspiring—they reflect what’s possible when women show up for one another. Whether through business, friendship, or shared experiences, that connection continues to shape stronger individuals—and a stronger community. Even in the valleys, something meaningful is being built—something with the power to uplift not just one life, but many.
"Success is the highlight reel, but growth happens during the messy, uncertain, uncomfortable moments that no one talks about."