Yiema John Helps Women Live Authentically through Storytelling

Interview by Steph Greegor

Name: Yiema John
Age: 27
Job Title and Company: Field Communications Specialist, Bath & Body Works and Owner/Content Creator, She Radiates
Neighborhood: Short North
One-word description: Hopeful
Connect: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram (personal) | Instagram (She Radiates)

Who knew that Yiema John was a Columbus superhero?

“By day, I’m a communication specialist working behind-the-scenes helping a fleet of 1,700 North American stores get the info they need to succeed,” said the 27-year-old Field Communications Specialist for Bath & Body Works. “By night I run a website, She Radiates, that encourages women to live authentically through storytelling.”

OK, she doesn’t wear a cape, but she does have the workings of a superhero. At Bath & Body, she’s a gatekeeper.

“In my role, I act as a sort of gatekeeper in our communication to stores,” said the Short North resident. “Our goal is simple: Make sure the information we share is going to help our teams.”

And during her nights, she’s dedicated to helping women throughout Central Ohio.

“It’s a lifestyle site rooted in connection and community,” said the Long Island, New York native, who earned her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and her master’s degree from the New York Institute of Technology. “All of my free time has been going towards [it].”

John blames her quarter-life crisis for the website that encourages and empowers women. She kept watching her social media feeds and seeing how “put-together” everyone was and felt the same pressure. She soon realized that wasn’t the way to go.

“I remember looking at all of these bloggers and Instagrammers with these perfectly curated lives and feeling like I had to compete with others which led to me started burning out,” she said. “When I paused the craziness for a moment, I realized that I’m perfectly imperfect and comparing my life to someone else’s will only rob me of becoming the woman I’m meant to be.”

That’s when She Radiates was born; John knew she wanted to create a place where “other women from all seasons of life could go to and learn to love their lives and fully embrace it.”

And that’s exactly what this Junior League of Columbus volunteer does—she embraces her life, especially when it’s Bonifacio.

“Also, Denmark on High makes amazing drinks,” she added, saying, “Try the Bee’s Knees.”

Yiema was named to our annual list of 52 Young Professionals You Should Know in Columbus – one for every week in the year!
Meet the entire “Class of 2018” »