Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Sanchez.
Brenda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a first-generation Latina originally from Los Angeles, and my story really started with always feeling like I was creating community wherever I went. When I moved from LA to Pittsburgh, I experienced a huge culture shift. I missed the sense of connection, diversity, and the kind of spaces where women could show up exactly as they are and feel like they belonged.
That experience ultimately inspired me to create For the girls in Pittsburgh | @forthegirlspgh. What started as a small idea to bring women together for meaningful social experiences has grown into a thriving Pittsburgh community centered around friendship, wellness, fitness, and connection.
We started with just a small group of women, and within a year grew to thousands of followers and hundreds of women attending our events. We’ve since partnered with incredible local and national brands, fitness studios, and organizations to create experiences ranging from Pilates and wellness events to book clubs, social gatherings, and large community activations.
Being Latina and coming from LA has always influenced how I approach community. I understand what it feels like to walk into a new city and wonder where you fit in, so I’ve made it my mission to create spaces where women from different backgrounds can find their people.
Today, ForTheGirlsPGH is so much bigger than what I originally imagined. It’s become a community that reminds women that you don’t have to wait to find your people sometimes, you can create the space you wish existed.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. One of the biggest challenges has been building a community in a smaller city and learning that not everyone sees you as community rather sometimes, they see you as competition. That has probably been one of the hardest parts for me because I genuinely believe there is room for everyone to succeed, and I’ve always approached what I do from a place of collaboration rather than comparison.
There have been moments where I’ve questioned whether I was doing too much, standing out too much, or trying to create something that simply didn’t exist yet in Pittsburgh. Coming from LA, where there are so many different communities, creators, and opportunities, adjusting to a smaller market came with its own challenges.
But those experiences have also taught me a lot. They’ve made me more intentional about who I surround myself with, the partnerships I choose, and the kind of community I want to build. I’ve learned that you can’t force everyone to see your vision. You can only continue to keep building it authentically.
And honestly, some of the hardest moments have made ForTheGirlsPGH stronger. I’ve realized that the right people don’t compete with the community, on the contrary they contribute to it. That’s the kind of energy I want to continue creating.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Professionally, I work at Omnicom on a major account, where I’ve built my career in media, marketing, and strategy. But what I’m most proud of is the journey it took to get here.
I’ve been working since I was 16 years old. In college, I worked three jobs while going to school full-time, and there was never really a point where I could afford to slow down. I grew up low-income in a first-generation immigrant family, so from a very young age, I understood that if I wanted something, I was going to have to work for it.
I’m the first person in my family to go to college, the first to move away from home, and so much of my life has been a series of firsts. There was no blueprint or safety net for many of the decisions I’ve made. I’ve had to figure things out as I went, and every milestone came with its own set of challenges.
Because of that, I’m not new to adversity. Hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance have been part of my story long before I had a career or any sort of platform. I think that’s ultimately what sets me apart: I’ve learned how to keep going, even when things are difficult or unfamiliar.
I’m most proud that I’ve been able to build a life that, at one point, probably felt very far outside of what was possible for my family. Everything I’ve accomplished has been rooted in dedication, commitment, and the belief that my circumstances don’t have to determine my future.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There are so many people who deserve credit for where ForTheGirlsPGH is today, but two groups especially come to mind.
First, my partner and future husband, Anthony Levis, has truly been my rock throughout this entire journey. He has been my calm in the storm every time things have gotten difficult, and he has supported me through every idea, challenge, late night, and moment of self-doubt. Building something from the ground up can be overwhelming, and having someone beside you who believes in you even when you’re struggling to believe in yourself has meant everything to me.
I also couldn’t talk about this journey without mentioning my admin team. Lucy Johnson, who recently stepped down as she prepares to become a mom to her baby boy, was such an important part of building this community. She believed in the vision from the beginning and helped shape ForTheGirlsPGH into what it is today. I’m so grateful for everything she poured into it, and I’m incredibly excited for this next chapter of her life.
And then there’s my current admin team: Gianna Donati, Elizabeth Wrenn, Kaeli Stolar, and Amanda Reilly. They joined the team in April 2026, and what has meant the most to me is how quickly they embraced the vision. They don’t just help run ForTheGirlsPGH, they genuinely love and care about it as if it were their own. Each of them brings something completely different to the table, and together they’ve helped take the community to a new level.
ForTheGirlsPGH may have started as my vision, but it has become something so much bigger because of the people who have chosen to believe in it, contribute to it, and grow alongside me. I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
Pricing:
- We don’t believe in memberships 🙂
- we keep our events at a very minimal price if we do charge for everyone to access
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forthegirlspgh?igsi=MTM4ZGZ6aGlrNnc4NA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/for-the-girls-in-pittsburgh_meetthefounder-latinafounder-womeninbusiness-activity-7458510819815796737-CzFE?utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAADFoIecB8EJegGnkO3c6SIDXjlww0RkOBnA&utm_source=social_share_send&utm_campaign=copy_link
Image Credits
The dark studio PGH | Nicolle Munar
