Bio

René Barkley Steelman

Author, Keynote Speaker, Past President of The Steelman Mobility Foundation, President of Go Gray Dame, Disability Advocate, Social Media Influencer representing and supporting women over 50, Wife, Mother, and Grandmother.

René grew up in the mid-west before joining the US Navy at the age of eighteen. After basic training and completing photography school, she was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan in 1973. Rene met her husband, Tony, after she went into active duty. They have been married for forty-eight years and are proud parents of six children and fourteen grandchildren.

René graduated from The Heritage School of Interior Design and worked as an instructor and award-winning designer for over twenty years. Her passion for design and fashion was inspired by her experiences in Japan.

René’s life changed trajectory after the emergency cesarean birth of their sixth child. Her son was born with a diaphragmatic hernia, restricting his ability to breath, resulting in brain damage and cerebral palsy. Having a child with CP and wheelchair bound inspired her family to form a 501c3 non-profit organization, called The Steelman Mobility Foundation. The mission of the foundation was to aid in purchasing wheelchair accessible vehicles to families with children under the age of eighteen, which were completely dependent on a wheelchair for transportation. The organization proudly served over forty-eight families.

René is the host of ‘SHE BECAME VISIBLE’ podcast, which is a women led and operated conversation with women who have stood up and discovered their worth and purpose.

Rene’s life experiences have helped her develop into a shining force as a talented and valued lifestyle social media influencer. She is on a mission to show mature women the value of being their authentic self and looking good, feeling good, and doing good. She understands the value of aging gracefully by not only providing the body and brain with proper nutrition and focused daily work outs, but also living her life to its fullest, as it was meant to be lived.

René lives her life with grace, beauty, style, class, and energy. Her mission and purpose is to demonstrate that age does not limit grace, style, and beauty.