Gratitude, Grit, and Getting Launched Into Your Purpose

Hey, I’m Regina Renda, founder of Kick Ass Swag, culture consultant, merch alchemist, LGBTQ business owner, and mom of three.

This time of year, we all talk about gratitude. Sure, I’m thankful for wins like clients, speaking gigs, and growth. But the moments that shaped me the most? The layoff. The panic. The moments that felt like the end… but weren’t.

Zappos or Bust

Over a decade ago, I picked up Delivering Happiness and thought: “I need to work there.” I packed my life into a Nissan Rogue and drove across the country. A month later, I started in Customer Loyalty, and my life cracked wide open.

Eight years at Zappos taught me everything about culture, engagement, and meaningful swag (and yes, I saved the company over $100K on forgettable promo products). I even got a side hustle inside the company called Swag Source. It was the perfect mix of scrappy and strategic.

The Layoff That Launched My Purpose

Then 2020 happened. Pandemic. Email. Laid off. Panic.

And then Dani, my wife, said:"You’re already doing it. You just weren’t doing it for you. Now you are."

That push turned Kick Ass Swag from a dream into a real, nationally certified LGBTQ-owned business.

Kick Ass Swag: Culture in a Box

We don’t do boring merch. We do experiences that stick: onboarding kits, recognition gifts, company stores, activations. Everything is intentional, people-first, and built to make an impact.

I juggle kids, supplier calls, and UPS pickups daily, but every messy moment is worth it.

Culture isn’t a perk. It’s the whole damn point.

The Takeaway

I’m thankful for the peaks, but especially the valleys. The challenges, the pivots, the doors that closed just so better ones could open. They launched me, and my purpose. They built Kick Ass Swag.

Want more stories about building culture, brand, and business the messy, real way?

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