Growing up as the daughter of a teenage mother in low-income housing in western Louisville’s Russell neighborhood, Renesha Martin expected to live a life of hardship.
Today, she is a successful entrepreneur and executive who co-owns Martin and Muir Counseling, which provides counseling services in that same neighborhood.
She is clear about what made the difference in her life: the transformative power of education.
Martin, who received her MBA from Bellarmine in December 2023 after completing the Rubel School of Business’ Women of Color Entrepreneur Leadership Program, was the student speaker at the May 2024 graduate commencement ceremony, where she detailed her journey.
When she was a child, she told her fellow graduates, her mother became “the beacon of hope.”
“With unwavering determination, she pursued her associate degree and became a medical assistant, elevating us from the clutches of poverty. We moved to a safer neighborhood, and it was there that I first grasped the transformative power of education. I realized that knowledge was not just a pathway; it was the way out.”
After high school, Martin earned a college degree in history. Wanting to contribute more to her community, she then returned to school and earned a master’s in mental-health counseling.
“This decision marked a pivotal moment in my life. I pursued my passion and established a thriving mental-health agency in Louisville,” she said. “Individual, couple, family, group therapy and public speaking engagements became my tools for healing my community. But as the business grew, I found myself grappling with the challenges of entrepreneurship.”
“The experience was transformative,” she said. With encouragement from Dr. Jorge Pazmiño, director of Graduate and Executive Education Programs, Martin then applied to
Bellarmine's Executive MBA program.
“The Executive MBA program at Bellarmine University became the catalyst for my personal and professional metamorphosis,” Martin said. “Lifelong friendships blossomed, and a robust support network emerged. Armed with newfound knowledge, I now confidently navigate the complexity of business, impacting not only my private practice but also extending my influence through speaking engagements, non-profit boards and community engagement.”
Her time at Bellarmine, she said, reinforced the profound importance of education.
“My Bellarmine degree has instilled in me the confidence to continue evolving as a lifelong learner, forever driven by the pursuit of knowledge and excellence.”