As part of the Morning Lazziness series highlighting empowering women who are making a remarkable impact with their ideas, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Fabus Cheng.
Jessica Fabus Cheng is a rare thyroid cancer survivor, accessibility advocate, and Mrs. DC International 2025. A former registered nurse and Team USA Taekwondo athlete, Jessica now channels her strength and resilience into empowering others through her platform, Accessibility in Action, and her podcast, All the Best with Jess. Despite living with only 80% vocal function, she uses her voice—literally and figuratively—to champion digital inclusion and help brands build more accessible content through her Turnkey Accessibility program.
Crowned Mrs. New York International 2023 before her current title, Jessica carries many roles: surgical nurse, athlete, mother, Duchenne carrier, and cancer survivor. She was also recognized in 2021 as one of Taekwondo Life Magazine’s “10 Women to Watch.”
Jessica’s advocacy journey is deeply personal. In 2004, her younger cousin Tommy was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. That same year, genetic testing revealed that Jessica herself was a Duchenne carrier. Instead of retreating, she leaned into community support—raising awareness, fundraising, and walking alongside families affected by Duchenne.
From figure skating to martial arts, from nursing to global advocacy, Jessica embodies resilience, leadership, and service. Whether on stage, online, or in her community, she continues to inspire by turning life’s greatest challenges into platforms for change.
In this interview, she offers a candid look at the realities of entrepreneurship, sharing both the challenges and the victories that defined her path.
What inspired your leap into entrepreneurship, and what personal experiences sparked the idea behind your current venture?
My leap into entrepreneurship wasn’t a choice. It was a calling. When I was diagnosed with rare thyroid cancer, I was told I might permanently lose my voice. For someone who moved to New York at 19 to pursue music, then spent years working in operating rooms as a nurse, that felt like a cruel twist. But in that silence, I found clarity. I realized I didn’t need a perfect voice to speak up. I needed purpose. That’s how Accessibility in Action was born. I saw how many voices were being left out of digital spaces. I knew I had the story, the strategy, and the heart to change that.
What core problem does your business solve, particularly for women or underserved communities—and how does your approach stand out in today’s competitive space?
Most brands overlook disabled and neurodiverse communities, even though they represent over $13 trillion in global buying power. Through Turnkey Accessibility and my Triple A Framework (Awareness, Allyship, Action), I help businesses create content and experiences that include everyone, not just the majority. What makes my approach different is that it’s rooted in lived experience and driven by human connection. I don’t teach accessibility as a rulebook. I teach it as a relationship.
What were some of the toughest obstacles you faced early in your journey as a woman entrepreneur, and how did you navigate through them?
One of the hardest things was feeling like I didn’t belong in the conversation. I don’t use a wheelchair. I didn’t go through years of treatment. So I used to wonder if my voice was enough. But losing 20 percent of your vocal function and still choosing to speak up is its own kind of power. I had to unlearn the idea that advocacy has a single look or language. I leaned into the intersections of my story, and that’s when things started to shift.
When the going gets tough, what keeps you grounded and motivated to keep pushing forward?
My daughter, Coco. She is my why. I want her to grow up in a world where inclusion isn’t optional. Where empathy is modeled, not just taught. I also think about my cousin, who lost the ability to walk after tripping on an inaccessible sidewalk. These are real lives impacted by systems that were never designed for all of us. That’s what grounds me and keeps me moving.
What daily habits or non-negotiable routines help you stay focused, creatively energized, and balanced as a founder?
I design my day around energy, not just tasks. I schedule vocal rest like it’s a meeting. I walk our guide dog-in-training. I play with my daughter. I take time to unplug. These aren’t extras. They’re essentials. And they’re part of the reason I can show up with clarity and purpose when it counts.
What’s been the most effective growth lever for acquiring new clients or expanding your customer base?
Speaking. Whether on a podcast, a panel, or a corporate training, when I get to tell the story behind the mission, people connect. They don’t just understand accessibility. They feel it. And that’s what turns awareness into action.
What branding or marketing decision had the biggest impact in elevating your business and building trust with your audience?
Choosing to lead with my real voice. For a long time, I worried that people would hear the difference in how I speak. But it turns out, that difference is what makes my message stick. When people understand where your story comes from, they trust where you’re taking them.
How do you personally define success—not just as a business owner, but as a woman living a purpose-driven life?
Success is alignment. It’s when your actions match your values, and your work reflects your purpose. For me, that looks like creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. If my daughter grows up knowing that’s normal, not exceptional, then I’ve done something right.
Can you share a mistake or misstep that taught you a lesson you still carry with you today?
Waiting to feel “ready.” After cancer, I thought I had to be fully healed before I spoke publicly about accessibility. But healing isn’t linear. And your story is valuable even while you’re still living it. The lesson I carry is this: you don’t have to be finished to be impactful.
What’s your best advice for women just starting out—especially first-time entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed or unsure of their next steps?
Start small and start with heart. You don’t need a fancy logo or a five-year plan to begin. What you need is clarity about who you want to serve and why it matters. From there, the next step always reveals itself.
How do you approach risk and innovation, especially when breaking new ground in a male-dominated or fast-changing industry?
I approach risk like I approach accessibility, with curiosity and courage. Sometimes the boldest innovation is simply asking, “Who isn’t being considered here?” When you lead from that place, your solutions become more inclusive by design.
If you lead a team, how do you foster a culture of trust, inclusivity, collaboration, and growth?
Whether it’s a team of contractors, collaborators, or volunteers, I lead by example. That means making sure everyone feels heard. It means building flexible systems that support different communication and learning styles. Inclusion is not just what we do. It’s how we do it.
What are the top 5 mindset shifts or personal practices that helped you overcome self-doubt and grow your confidence as a woman entrepreneur?
- Progress is better than perfection
- Rest is strategic
- Vulnerability builds trust
- You are allowed to take up space
- Visibility is an act of service
Each of these helped me show up, even when I was afraid.
If you could spark a global movement through your work, what would it be—and why is that mission meaningful to you?
I want to make accessibility the default, not the afterthought. If we design with inclusion from the start, we don’t just accommodate more people. We invite them to lead, create, and thrive. That’s the world I’m working toward, one brand and one voice at a time.
What’s a quote, philosophy, or guiding belief that shapes how you lead, create, and live every day?
You don’t need a loud voice to create big change. I’ve learned that impact comes from intention, not volume. If you show up with clarity and heart, your message will echo in ways you can’t always measure.
Where can our audience connect with you, explore your work, or follow your entrepreneurial journey online?
Visit Jessica Fabus Cheng or follow me on Instagram and @bestwithjesspodcast. You can also tune into All the Best with Jess, where I spotlight entrepreneurs and voices of impact across industries.
