Hello, my dear friends, I'm
Rachel
DesRochers
I am a woman, mother, strategic advisor,
community architect, gratitude junkie and someone who absolutely CRAVES building spaces where we can all connect and create together.
It started with a recipe and a desire
Grateful Grahams Grateful Grahams was started in 2010 in my home kitchen with my 5 1/2 month daughter, Rosalee, strapped to my back. From rolling out handmade grahams on my kitchen counter to selling in over 85 retail outlets the mission remained the same – spreading the message of gratitude one graham at a time.
Although closed in 2023, Grateful Grahams became our catalyst into entrepreneurship.
As founder of The Incubator Kitchen Collective, a groundbreaking non-profit with multiple locations, I don’t just provide shared-use commercial kitchen space – my team and I partner with aspiring food entrepreneurs, offering hands-on consulting, business mentorship, and the kind of support that transforms dreams into sustainable realities!
Through Good n' Local, a regional wholesale food show, I collaborate with local producers to accelerate growth and celebrate the incredible innovation happening in our regional food ecosystems. And with America's River Roots Festival, I brought together diverse stakeholders to create something truly special that honored our city’s food artisan culture!
My flagship initiative, Power to Pursue, showcases my expertise in building scalable programming. As host of the Power to Pursue Podcast, I facilitate conversations that share actionable strategies and real community connection. My consulting approach is rooted in my own entrepreneurial journey.
I am also the author of The Mourning Light: Reflections on Love and Loss and Shift to Light: 90 Days to Grateful, and creator of Gratitude Grams – a 54-card deck designed as practical tools for personal and professional transformation.
As an international speaker and recognized thought leader, I share my insights on entrepreneurship, strategic leadership, community building, gratitude, and women's empowerment with audiences worldwide. I’m an advisor for the Queen City Game Changers, a regional executive leadership program for women, where I develop and facilitate programming that mentors and guides emerging entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.
When I’m not consulting, speaking, or building community, I am a mom to three wildly wonderfu children who keep me grounded, grateful, and endlessly inspired!
My leadership journey has been all about collaboration and creating spaces where people can thrive together.
My innovative spirit and community impact have been celebrated with numerous awards and accolades over the years, including the Local Luminary from Slow Foods Cincinnati, and the 2021 Emerging Leader Honoree for Outstanding Women of NKY. I was also a semifinalist for Martha Stewart’s American Made Award, and was included in the Cincinnati Business Courier 2020 list of 40 Under 40. Further recognition includes being a recipient of the Business Courier's 2023 Women Who Mean Business award, and receiving a 2018 Newsmaker Award from the Northern Kentucky Tribune. Additionally, I have been recognized as part of Cincy Magazine's "Power 100" in 2020 and 2021.
In 2025, l was recognized with the Enquirer Women of the Year, Aviatra Accelerators Philanthropic Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Horizon Community Foundation Non-Profit Executive of the Year (Small Nonprofit), The Sister Accord Honoree.
Awards & Accolades
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Work with me
Let’s build something together. Questions about working with Rachel? Contact us here.
Keynote Speaker
As an international speaker and recognized thought leader, Rachel shares her insights on entrepreneurship, strategic leadership, community building, gratitude, and women's empowerment with audiences worldwide.
Strategic Community Consultant
Ready to expand what's possible? Let's talk about how we can build something that truly includes and serves the communities you want to reach.
Podcast Host
Join us to feel empowered, connect with stories that resonate, and celebrate the collective power of women supporting one another. Your pursuit is powerful, and you don't have to go it alone.
My Brands
My leadership journey has been all about COLLABORATION and creating spaces where people can thrive together. Learn more about the brands I’ve built.
“I wanted to thank you for creating such an amazing space – I know planning an event of that caliber is not easy. I also hope that you took a minute to absorb what was happening in those spaces – the grace given, the creativity unleashed, the permissions allowed, the ideas empowered, the feelings permitted, and, most importantly, the ability of everyone in those spaces to be seen, heard and received unabashedly. You are an amazing person doing amazing things with your gifts. Thank you for continuing to create and give.”
– Jackie O’Connell, Executive Director, MetroParks of Butler County
Gratitude has caught me
every time someone told me no.
Join our monthly newsletter family
We share all upcoming events, gatherings, and opportunities to connect – because honestly, there’s nothing that lights me up more than bringing our community together for those meaningful conversations we all CRAVE. I can’t wait to connect with you and share what’s coming up!
The Mourning Light-Reflections on love and loss
As an author, Rachel shares her transformative journey through her latest book, The Mourning Light - Reflections on Love and Loss, a heartfelt exploration of healing, resilience, and growth. Paired with the accompanying journal, Shift to Light – 90 Days to Grateful, Rachel provides practical tools for cultivating gratitude and embracing personal transformation.
Check out Rachel’s books, gratitude cards, and merch.
Connect with Rachel
Reach out and let's start a conversation about what's possible.
My team will be in contact with you within the next 1-2 business day
@Racheldesrochers
