Kate Hurdley is an inspiring woman. Literally.

As director of her own personal empowerment coaching and events business, Inspired Excellence, Kate empowers women to honour themselves in all aspects of their lives. Creator of the Goddess Series of seminars for successful women and still only 25 years old herself, Kate embodies the 'inspired excellence' she preaches.

For her it has been a challenging and exciting journey. After completing a communications degree in New Zealand and becoming a qualified journalist, Kate resisted the norm of structured employment, despite her tutors' efforts at persuasion. "Working for someone else I didn't feel in control of my destiny, my income potential, my job description," she said. "It didn't sit well feeling that limitations were being imposed on me by people who weren't aware of my full range of skills or my personal ambitions!"

So after completing training in advanced communication and personal development techniques, Kate jumped into business. She felt ready to use these breakthrough techniques to help young women break through self-imposed limits, while she did the same herself by going it alone.

"I had always known that I would have my own business some day. I'm determined and I have big dreams - I knew there'd be a place for combining the two somehow! Realising my communication skills actually extended to helping people with their own lives made me realise that I was about to start on a very new and exciting path."

"I really had no role models from who to draw inspiration and guidance, and I also knew no other women my age who had their own businesses (I had just turned 23), so I had no professional network. In fact, I didn't even know what a network was, much less a networking function, or how it would benefit me or my business."

"In fact, I didn't even realise that there were other things I was going to have to do during my day other than coaching - such as market my business, manage my finances, build a database, gain media exposure. I had all this excitement and energy, but had no idea what to do with it!"

Kate's journey has not been without its challenges, but Inspired Excellence is now taking off as women realise the power of inspiration and empowerment in affirming the value of their lives. The unique Goddess Series was launched in October this year, with the final seminar on 18 December in Sydney.

"My focus with coaching has shifted. Initially, when I started my business two years ago, I wanted to help people who had specific problems and needed to break through and let go of the beliefs and emotions that surrounded and created those problems."

"Since creating the Goddess Series and as a result of the personal challenges I've faced, I've realised that what is important is to give ourselves permission to grow and learn."

The process Kate has developed will benefit any woman who wants to gain greater control over her emotions and choices, get closure over past experiences, or who simply wants to learn more about who she is and give herself permission to become all that she is capable of.

Kate explains that being a goddess is about honouring and valuing ourselves, giving ourselves permission to acknowledge and respectfully let go of anything or anyone in that is draining our energy on any level. "The focus is on encouraging talented, ambitious, feminine women to live the life we want to live, creating synergy in our busy lives, giving ourselves permission to put ourselves first sometimes."

So what's next for Kate and Inspired Excellence?

"We've been asked to take Goddess to Melbourne - so we are working on securing financial sponsorship which will allow us to do that. There'll also be a Teen Goddess Series next year; if I can help young people access and believe in their inner beauty and strength, then I'll be living my passion."

Now that's inspiring.

Kate was interviewed by PR Consultant Ainsley Gilkes.