Empowered by The Sisterhood of Chocolate

Author and Artist Jan Bethancourt has found the perfect way to combine her two greatest passions—Inspiring women to recognize the many gifts they hold inside, and her love of painting. As an author, she writes motivational books using her original sayings, alongside bright and cheerful watercolors. As a motivational speaker, she engages audiences with words of encouragement to help build the courage and confidence women need to be empowered.

Inspirational Author

Her first book, Be Empowered! Eat Chocolate With Breakfast came as a result of short sayings Bethancourt created over the years to help her daughter cope with the many challenges she faced while away at college. As a mom, she struggled from a distance to find the right words of encouragement and comfort. She wanted to ‘mother’ yet not ‘smother’ her daughter.

Through soul searching and prayer she asked, “God help me know what to say to her so that she will believe in herself.” Bethancourt believes her prayers were answered again and again, taking the form of brief affirmations she sent her daughter in frequent emails.

As an integral part of her message, Bethancourt uses chocolate as a metaphor for confidence, courage and compassion; qualities that inspire from within. When Jan was a child her mother wouldn't let her eat her chocolate Easter bunny until she finished breakfast. When she was older and realized the choice was hers; she ate chocolate with breakfast. Bethancourt says, “When you start each day with metaphorical chocolate; confidence, courage and compassion, you are empowered to accomplish great things.”

What started as simple heartfelt thoughts sent from a mother to a daughter soon blossomed into a catalyst for helping women of all ages to look at old situations from a new perspective. Her sayings found their way taped to dorm room walls, repeated in conversations over mugs of hot chocolate, and even offered to complete strangers. The universal appeal of her hopeful messages began to help people change their lives.

The result for Jan has become a sisterhood of chocolate—a message all women need to hear.

Jan was recently interviewed by anchor Rachel McNeill
of KPRC Channel 2, Houston's NBC affiliate.

Visit Jan’s Bookstore

Motivational Speaker

Bethancourt speaks frequently to groups of all sizes, sharing her straightforward wisdom to motivate women, telling them to, “Know your heart, trust your instincts, and speak your mind.”

Speaking engagements can be scheduled as a short lecture, lasting 30 or 45 minutes, or as a facilitated mini workshop lasting an hour or more. Bethancourt also works with groups to structure speaking engagements to best achieve a specific meeting or event’s objectives.

Learn About Speaking Engagements

About Jan

Jan Bethancourt received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and has studied fine arts extensively at the Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. A native Texan, she has been married for 33 years, living in Fort Bend County for the past 28 years. She is the mother of a daughter, and a married son who, along with his wife, recently blessed their family with a new grandson. All live nearby.