Food Blogger, Iris Sherman, Was Shot While Driving Her Car
Last week, my daughter’s college was locked-down for four hours. My daughter spent most of that hiding in the bathroom with her roommate. The catalyst for all of this was a school-wide tweet alerting the students to find cover as an armed gunman was believed to be roaming the campus. I believe that I was more terrified in learning the news than her. The assailant would eventually turn out to be another student who was innocently walking the campus with a hot glue gun in his hand.
And so goes the times we live in as well as the unfortunate reality that this university reacted extremely aggressively and exactly how it should have given the number of random shootings that are occurring in the most unexpected of locations, daily. Which leads me to introduce you to a mom and food blogger who stunned me with a post that stopped me in my tracks.
Her name is Iris Sherman and the post is “Yes, I am that Woman Who Got Shot!” In it, Iris discusses how her normal life changed overnight due to her being shot, right out the blue, while driving in her car. Thankfully, she lived but the toll the incident has taken on this very strong and inspirational woman can’t fully be explained. She does a great job of trying though.
Since that point, she has resumed her work at the blog she co-owns, called Kitchology. Talk about being able to turn lemons into lemonade. This woman takes the cake. I urge you to get to know her and what she is doing.
What is your full name?
Iris Sherman
What is your personal mantra?
Live for today and live life to the fullest!
Tell us about you and your life. (Include in this answer where you live, number of kids, etc.)
I currently reside in Maryland -- greater Washington DC area. I have two amazing sons who constantly show me their brilliance and determination. One son is in college and is studying to become a doctor. The other is out of college and aspiring in the field of cybersecurity.
What is the name of your blog?
What is the primary focus of your blog?
Kitchology blog is a source for updates surrounding great food, recipes to share along with food interests and technology industry headlines. Kitchology blog supports our community of people dealing with special diets. It provides recipe tips for ingredient substitutions, reducing sugar, fat, salt, eating vegan, paleo and more. You can read the latest science based information on health, nutrition, food safety along with current food technology trends. The blog is a companion to my startup Kitchology. Kitchology is an integrated health and wellness platform for special diets. Kitchology allows consumers to overcome the limitations imposed by food restrictions. Kitchology helps consumers decide better, so they eat better.
List any awards you have won.
-
Inventors Inc: Upstart 100 honoree for 2016
-
SBA InnovateHER Entrepreneur Finalist 2015
-
16th Annual Maryland Incubator Company of The Year
-
Finalist SXSWi Pitching Competition 2016
-
Finalist Maryland Incubator Company of the Year 2016
-
Tech.Co Startup of the Year Finalists 2016
-
Winner Ratcliffe Shore Hatchery Business Plan Contest 2015
-
Winner Maryland Startup Fan Favorite in 2014, 2015
-
Finalist Northern Virginia Technology Council Hot Ticket 2016
Are you a Brand Ambassador and if so, for which companies?
I often represent multiple brands through She Knows Media
What is your favorite social media outlet?
I personally like twitter the best. I like the character restriction because I feel it is all about the message. If you cannot say something in 140 characters than the message is too long. I also like Facebook too.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to moms who may be interested in beginning a blog?
You must love to be a conversationalist writer. There is writing and then there is starting a conversation writing. Blogging is all about conversations and within there should be a story…
Share the name of a blog you read regularly (besides your own).
Are you an entrepreneur or professional beyond your blog (and outside of being a mom)? Please share.
I consider myself to be a serial entrepreneur. Over the course of my career from college, I have been involved in the entrepreneurial circuit. My background is in Immunology sciences as well as business. After of years of bioscience entrepreneurial experiences, I decided to be bold and entered the tech space. This was quite challenging as I quickly learned that I needed to adapt my core science logic to fuzzy logic where decisions of the importance are downplayed and accept that a rough answer might just have to do.
My current startup, Kitchology, is a health and wellness platform and the technology is based on machine learning which encompasses deep learning, big data, statistics, decision & risk analysis. So much to learn and embrace! As a woman, I find this empowering that I could intermingle with the intellectuals in this space.
On the topic of Entrepreneurship. It is a tricky love-hate relationship. I do consider myself successful. But I fell hard for this lifestyle. Therefore, it is something that you need make sure you are cut out for before deciding if you can handle this kind of a lifestyle.
Do you support – either formally or informally – a particular social cause?
I am involved in Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. This is something that I became connected with recently when my life suddenly changed overnight when I myself became a victim of gun violence. You can read more to my story. On the way to the Metro to pick up my son, my car and my body were rocked by a bullet that came within ½ inch of taking my life that night. Everything changed; and I had done nothing to deserve this. My family life changed; my work life changed. It opened my eyes to a world that I did not know or truly understand. For me so far, no justice and no peace…. of mind…. This has been a challenge of course. I am a survivor to the full extent of the definition. But those are the memories that remain. It is a real miracle that I am still here!
When all is said and done, how do you want to be remembered?
I want to be remembered as someone who strives to get things done. A role model, as I also enjoy being a role model and feel empowered to serve in that capacity. Woman need to serve more as the role models. We can change the future. I am thrilled to be a part of the future and I know that I am making a difference every day.
As my youngest daughter pointed out that it took her more time to get her license than it takes for most gun owners to buy a gun, here is a prime example of what happens when a situation needs reform, yet continues to get “lost in the sauce”. We need to change this so that fear no longer drives the car across college campuses, on local freeways or wherever we may roam.
Thank you, Iris Sherman, for sharing your alarming story. It is yet another reminder of how much work we still have to do to keep everyone in our nation safe.