Second Acts

Who says you only get one shot?

Sometimes, it’s the second act—shaped by purpose, possibility, and hard-won wisdom—when the story truly takes
flight. Because reinvention isn’t just about change, it’s where the real magic happens. Whether they are artists, entrepreneurs, or changemakers, these five local women have found fulfillment, purpose, and surprising joy in their “what’s next.” Their journeys are creative and deeply rooted in the place they call home. And they inspire us to believe that it’s never too late to reimagine your life—and love it even more the second time around.

Photos by Kira Derryberry Photography

The Heart of Hearth & Soul

Susie Busch-Transou

At 59, Susie Busch-Transou has found her purpose at the intersection of business and belonging. As the founder of Hearth & Soul—a boutique that feels more like a welcoming home—she finds purpose in fostering engagement.

“Our mission is to connect with friends, to make their day,” she says. “It carries that thread of friendship into what we do every day, sharing hospitality and connecting with the community.”

The daughter of Anheuser-Busch’s former chairman, Busch-Transou leveraged her experience from both her family’s beer distribution enterprise and her Tri-Eagle Sales wholesale background to build her own legacy in Tallahassee. The concept for Hearth & Soul took shape after a challenge from a life coach prompted her to unite all the things that “feed her soul”—family, friends, community, and hospitality—under one roof.

Though she now has locations in Austin, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri, Busch-Transou’s original location, founded in 2015, is the most special to her. “Tallahassee is so welcoming,” she says. “The community was there to support us from the very beginning.” In return, this entrepreneur is determined to pay that goodwill forward through every fireside chat, book club gathering, and design discussion at Hearth & Soul.

“It’s a lot of work, but I wake up energized,” she says.

Photo by Norma Molina

Turning the Page

Sally Bradshaw

After decades as a high-level political advisor, including service to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Sally Bradshaw was ready for a new chapter. In her mid-50s, disillusioned by divisive partisanship, she stepped away from politics to pursue a long-held dream.

“I just didn’t want to do it anymore. I was done,” Bradshaw says of leaving her government career. “The process had become so divisive, and I didn’t feel I was moving the needle anymore.”

An avid reader since childhood, this “doer” was determined to open the independent bookstore she’d always wished Tallahassee had. That bookstore—Midtown Reader—opened in 2016 and quickly became a hub for storytelling, civil discourse, and community connection.

“You cannot pick up a book and read about someone else’s story without becoming more empathetic,” she insists. “It makes you realize the world doesn’t revolve around you.”

Photos by Kira Derryberry Photography

Art with Intention

Quia Z. Atkinson

In her mid-40s, Quia Z. Atkinson turned personal upheaval into an artistic rebirth. After enduring a nomadic childhood (she attended 11 schools in 12 years), a miscalculated corporate career, and a painful divorce, she longed to feel centered in a more creative life. In 2016, she leaned fully into her passion for art and launched QZ Design Gallery.

“Starting this business has completely transformed me as a person,” the animated artist shares. “This second act has taught me so much about myself.”

In the early days, she forced herself to say “yes” to every opportunity—art shows, collaborations, anything that put her outside her comfort zone. “I learned that by saying yes, it opened all kinds of doors I didn’t even know were there,” she tells.

Today, QZ Design Gallery is equal parts studio and community hub. Atkinson hosts workshops, mentors young artists of color, and strives to make creativity accessible to all.

Photos by Kira Derryberry Photography

A Sweet Return

Sylvia Gould

With her gentle humor and an artist’s touch, Sylvia Gould earned a loyal following crafting sweet finales at Tallahassee’s beloved Kool Beanz Café. In 2020, she became the first local chef to be named a James Beard Award semifinalist, recognized for her quiet mastery and inventive desserts. After more than two decades at the pastry counter, Gould is now stepping into a new chapter—on her own terms.

“It was a very bittersweet, hard decision,” she says of leaving. “Kool Beanz is such a special place. I learned so much, and the customers had become like family.”

As she begins her mid-century years, Gould is taking time to “reflect and recenter,” leaning into projects that fuel her creatively and personally. She’s filling private baking orders, spending more time with loved ones, and contemplating her next steps with care.

This self-taught chef thrives on the intensity of the “controlled chaos” and creative problem-solving in a kitchen. But it’s the one-on-one connection with her community that brings her the most joy. “In the end, we’re all just trying to walk each other home, aren’t we?” she asks.

Also passionate about sculpting, stone carving, and papermaking, Gould will likely find her next “course” as tactile and heartfelt as her last. Even after a storied culinary career, she’s proving her delicious ending still awaits.

Photos courtesy of Lisa Phipps

Nature’s Muse

Lisa Phipps

Lisa Phipps discovered her second act as a jewelry artist almost by accident. After being diagnosed with PTSD, her doctor prescribed daily art therapy—an hour a day of creating with no pressure to “make something good.”

Phipps began this healing exercise with a simple carving, but that first effort turned into something more. “I started working on this piece of wood … and I thought it was just so beautiful,” she recalls. “It made me feel like it was something I wanted to delve into more.”

Now, at 52, she is the founder of Chic Verte—French for “fashionably green”—turning pinecones, seashells, shed antlers, and feathers into one-of-a-kind wearable art. Each piece comes with a note explaining its origin, from the fallen oak limb or abandoned shell it once was.

“It’s not just an earring; it has a story,” Phipps says. “Teaching people about nature is really important to me.”

So is learning life lessons from the doing. “From the outside, you have no idea what’s inside a piece of wood; it’s like Christmas. People are like that, too.”

Thinking of launching your next act?
Here are words of wisdom from three Tallahassee success stories.

“Do not be afraid. Pivoting into something brand new can definitely give you a little bit of whiplash. For sure, it can be a huge learning curve, but the blessings on the other side are priceless.” —Quia Z. Atkinson

“Be willing to take a risk … get out of your comfort zone. You will learn so much and grow so much. For me, at least, it’s been liberating. I have less fear about failing because I have more confidence, and I know myself better now.” —Sally Bradshaw

“I don’t think that we women give ourselves enough ‘me time,’ and taking a leap like that is a ‘me time’ because it’s something that you do for yourself that is separate from your children and your significant other, and it’s very empowering. Even if it isn’t successful, still to have done it, I think it’s so worthwhile.” —Lisa Phipps

These five bold pathfinders have redefined what it means to start anew. Their courage to pivot, explore, and create makes the Capital City not just a place to live, but a haven where women thrive.