COEUR d’ALENE — There was a commonality between the businesswomen, photographers, floral designers and energy practitioners at The Art Spirit Gallery on Wednesday morning.

Each, in their own way, was an influential woman.

The crowd of about 40 women laughed, cried and shared moments of inspiration as they listened to the latest installment of the North Idaho Alliance’s Women of Impact Roundtable Series.

NIA is a leadership organization focused on connecting women.

Speaker and author Raydeane Owens said every woman in the room had a gift and it should be shared.

“There are the gifts you carry within you, and the one each of you are to your family and friends,” Owens said.

Some women may not yet know what their gift may be, and that’s OK, she added.

“Don’t put yourself in a box,” she said. “Something else inside of you just might need to be pulled out.”

Owens also emphasized the importance and power of community among women, particularly during a time in which independence is often prioritized.

“I think it’s innate in all of us,” she said. “I think people are taking notice that when women are empowered, often they turn around and help their community.”

Women often realize that even their most personal struggles are more widely understood than they might think.

Between her husband’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis and a complicated relationship with her mother, author and businesswoman Elaine Damschen often felt as though she was going it alone.

It wasn’t until she began to seek community intentionally that she began to find meaning in life’s hardships.

“Sometimes I think those harder lessons in life are actually a ‘divine nudge’ in the right direction,” Damschen said.

“We all have lessons to learn,” she added, “but you are the author, editor and publisher of your own story.”

While business and life coach Debbie Heiser agreed, she pointed out a critical distinction.

“We all have learned stories about ourselves that we carry with us,” Heiser said.

And though these stories most often manifest as self-limiting beliefs and habits, they are not set in stone.

Heiser encouraged the women to seek mentorship from those who inspire them.

“We were not meant to be on islands of our own,” she said.