Meet the women behind the passion
Meet Brianna
Brianna Finney, Co-Founder
Brianna, a proud Pacific Northwest native, began her professional journey in the corporate world, spending 15 years climbing the ladder. It wasn’t until she became a mother that she began questioning the cost of giving over 100% of herself to a career that left little room for her well-being, her children, or her partnership.
In time, she recognized a deeper truth the success she had been chasing wasn’t aligned with who she truly was, what she valued, or the example she wanted to set for her children. That realization became her catalyst for change. Brianna made the bold decision to leave the corporate grind and create something of her own, Ash & Rise.
At the heart of her work is a belief in the transformative power of connection between women. She credits her growth to the mentors, friends, and cheerleaders who guided her through self-discovery and reinvention.
The Ripple Theory was born from a need she couldn’t find elsewhere: a space where all parts of her could coexist, the ambitious professional, the fiercely loving (and sometimes overwhelmed) mother, the community-minded leader, and the little girl still searching for belonging. When that space didn’t exist, she built it with her dear friend Shannon.
Shannon Stewart, Co-Founder
Shannon’s story has never followed a straight line. Every time life has shifted, career, motherhood, purpose, she’s felt a pull to reimagine what’s next. Creation has always been her compass.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Washington, Shannon is deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest. After years spent in Bellingham and Seattle, she returned home to raise her family, carrying with her a clear sense that community is something we don’t just find, we help create.
Her path has taken many forms: corporate project manager, founder, educator, mentor. But the thread connecting it all is her ability to see potential early, in people, in ideas, and in moments before they fully take shape. She has spent her life creating spaces where others feel seen, capable, and ready for what’s next.
She co-founded The Ripple Theory to bring that kind of space to life. What began as conversations over coffee became a community where women can show up honestly, reconnect with themselves, and remember they are not alone.
Shannon believes the right conversation can change the trajectory of a life, and she’s devoted to creating more of them.
Meet Shannon
“When one woman rises, we all rise”
— Shannon Stewart, Co-Founder