Tucked behind Christiansburg’s Main Street, a small white storefront blends into a row of brick buildings. Inside, a narrow staircase leads upward, opening into a wide, airy floor filled with light. This is Skyward Studios.
High, white-gilded ceilings catch the glow from tall windows, while a skylight brightens the kitchen at the center of the space. The open layout invites you in: big tables for coworking, private offices with their own character, and a community lounge where lo-fi music sets an easy atmosphere. It’s a blend of historic charm and modern creativity.
At the center of it all is Rachel Coleman, the author and entrepreneur who dreamed Skyward into existence.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA in Business Administration from Texas A&M University–Texarkana. Before founding her own business, Rachel spent years in finance — insurance, wealth management, banking, and tax auditing — even serving as a CFO and financial director responsible for managing millions in assets and grants.
But she eventually realized the corporate climb wasn’t for her. “I consider myself a ‘corporate world dropout’,” she says. Rachel describes how she did the “shiny climb-the-corporate-ladder thing,” chasing titles and success, only to end up burned out and unfulfilled. “Younger me always thought I wanted to climb the corporate ladder and be a big wig somewhere. Now I want to go play.”
That shift away from the grind set her on the path to creating Skyward Studios.
Breaking Away from the Ladder
Rachel’s career path was everything a résumé could showcase: insurance, wealth management, banking, tax auditing — even serving as a CFO managing millions in assets. But success came at a cost. “I felt like I’d been following instructions my whole life,” she says. “And I wound up miserable.”
That disillusionment, paired with her own struggle against burnout and depression, pushed her toward a new purpose. Writing became her outlet. Her book, 42 Things To Do Before You Go: Finding a Reason to Stay, grew from a personal list she wrote in her darkest moments. Published in 2023, it became an Amazon bestseller. The book offers prompts to reconnect with yourself, your community, and nature — what she calls “a catalyst, not a cure-all.”
Rachel also reflects on how the corporate world can be especially brutal for women. Many, she says, carry hidden exhaustion while managing the constant demands of work and caregiving.
“Women are often the primary caregivers in America, but we rarely stop to care for ourselves. There is always another fire to put out,” she explains.
Even as women climb higher, the pressure often intensifies, leaving them facing glass ceilings or what she calls the “glass cliff.” She points out how stress and fatigue can manifest differently in women, sometimes masking serious health issues like chronic fatigue or even heart disease.
For Rachel, walking away from that world meant choosing her own well-being, rediscovering her creativity, and creating space for others to do the same. Her reflections in 42 Things To Do Before You Go: Finding a Reason to Stay continue that conversation, inviting readers to slow down, listen inward, and rediscover their passions. The book is available through Amazon, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, or by request at local bookstores and libraries.
Bringing Skyward to Life
Once Rachel located the right building, the real work began. She turned to Elliott Inc., the commercial real estate firm in Christiansburg led by Carmen Elliott, Principal Broker, for help navigating the complexity of leasing and property negotiation. Working alongside them was Olivia Kelly, a sales associate, who also played a key role in site selection and lease details.
The property Rachel chose was full of character: a more than 150-year-old building, once a classic movie theater, later converted into corporate apartments. The building’s age added charm, but also its share of complications. Renovation was supposed to take a couple of weeks. Instead, it stretched into two full months. Every delay cost money. Meanwhile, Rachel was still holding down her day job, paying rent, and trying to keep momentum alive. “I was sweating bullets some days,” she admits.
Finances were tight. Renovation delays stretched her budget thin, and each new obstacle made it harder to move forward. That’s when she connected with People Inc. Financial Services (PIFS) — the partner that helped her bring Skyward Studios to life.
PIFS: A Partner in Entrepreneurship
When the financial strain of renovation and delays reached its peak, Rachel turned to People Inc. Financial Services (PIFS) for help. Based in Abingdon, Virginia, PIFS is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that supports entrepreneurs through loans, business counseling, financial guidance, and more.
“People Inc. was absolutely instrumental in securing this place. There was no way I could have started it without them,” Rachel says. “They gave me the bread and butter for the deposit and first month’s rent.”
Through PIFS, Rachel secured an SBA loan of $5,000 and a small-dollar, personal loan of $2,500 that helped her keep the lights on until revenue began coming in. But the support wasn’t just financial. PIFS also offered guidance, encouragement, and practical tools to help her strengthen the foundation of her business.
Much of that guidance came through Sam West, Business Development and Lending Officer at PIFS, who worked closely with Rachel throughout the process. West helped her secure funding and introduced her to new planning tools that proved just as valuable as the loans themselves. With his encouragement, Rachel used the Initiate platform — a business planning software — to refine her plan, strengthen her financial projections, and brush up on accounting details.
Even with her own strong background in accounting and consulting, Rachel found the platform to be a welcome refresher and a resource she could turn to when she needed direction. “Working with Rachel was a real partnership,” West said. “Even though she already comes from a strong background in accounting, she was excited to explore new tools. Watching her take those resources and pair them with her own expertise to bring Skyward Studios to life was incredibly rewarding.”
Together, the funding, mentorship, and planning tools gave Rachel the foundation she needed to move forward with confidence. Her journey reflects the kind of hands-on, personalized support that People Inc. offers entrepreneurs across the region.
Creating a Third Space
When Skyward Studios finally opened, the ribbon-cutting felt like a turning point for both Rachel and the community. Partners and supporters — including FemCity Roanoke, Launch Christiansburg, and the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce — filled the space to mark the occasion.
Skyward goes beyond a coworking space with desks and Wi-Fi. Rachel imagines craft nights, workshops, maybe even karaoke, creating the kind of community gatherings where connection comes easy.
“We have work, we have home, and some people don’t have a third space outside of those things,” she says. For some, that place might be church. For others, it doesn’t exist at all.
Rachel wanted to create an alternative: a space that’s affordable, inclusive, and not tied to alcohol or eating out. “There aren’t a lot of spaces where you exist for a low cost or even less, especially if you don’t do alcohol or you don’t want to always go out to eat,” she explains.
Skyward Studios is her answer: a place where anyone can belong.
Claiming Her Own Destiny
After years of chasing the “shiny climb-the-corporate-ladder thing,” Rachel chose something different.
With the support of People Inc. Financial Services (PIFS), she left behind the corporate path and built Skyward Studios, a space centered on balance, creativity, and connection. PIFS provided the resources and partnership to help her move from corporate life into business ownership, shaping a place designed for collaboration and well-being.
Skyward Studios is her invitation to the community: come work, create, and belong.
Skyward Studios offers memberships, day passes, and event rentals for up to 40 guests. Visit skywardcoworking.com or email skywardcoworking@gmail.com to learn more — or stop by 37 W Main Street, Suite B, in Christiansburg to meet Rachel in person!
People Incorporated of Virginia provides programs to help entrepreneurs thrive, including support through People Incorporated Financial Services (PIFS). Reach out to PIFS at (276) 619-2297 or PIFS@peopleinc.net and start your business story.
Written by Michelle Fleury, People Inc. of Virginia
For communications, marketing inquiries, or partnership opportunities with People Incorporated of Virginia, please contact Michelle at mfleury@peopleinc.net.
