In this episode of The Stories That Form Us, I sit down with Amanda Diehl, founder of Sky Oro — Bozeman, Montana’s premiere community and coworking space designed for women by women. But “community and co-working” barely scratches the surface. Sky Oro is an intentionally designed environment and ever-evolving membership platform that activates connection, elevates ideas, and expands access to what’s possible when women gather in real life.
Together, we talk about the nonlinear journey of entrepreneurship, the origin story behind Sky Oro (including the community rallying around the idea with generous crowdfunding, placing crystals in the concrete foundation, and the blessing of community), and what it means to build a space that reflects the wholeness of the women it serves.
We also explore Amanda’s personal transformation along the way, from partnership shifts to becoming a single parent, a visionary leader, and someone deeply rooted in both service and self-trust.
This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt like they were building the plane while flying it and wondered if they were the only one.
Meet Amanda Diehl of Sky Oro
Amanda is the founder and force behind Sky Oro, a women-led space redefining what it means to gather, grow, and get sh*t done. With a background in public health and a natural gift for connection, Amanda’s journey has taken her from building immunization registries to building community, both wildly complex in their own way. Through it all, she’s remained devoted to the idea that healing happens in relationship, and that women deserve spaces that honor their whole selves.
Sky Oro was co-founded in 2019 with the mission to create a safe, inspiring environment for Montana women to connect, collaborate, and rise together, no matter their stage of life or business. Today, Sky Oro offers both community and coworking memberships, in-person and digital connection, and event experiences that prioritize curiosity over perfection, and collaboration over competition.
My Personal Experience at Sky Oro
As a member of the Sky Oro community, I’ve felt this firsthand. Earlier this year, I had the honor of leading a brand strategy and storytelling workshop inside this beautiful space and something transformative happened.
We sat together as women with very different stories, dreams, timelines. But there was this shared feeling… a longing to make sense of where we’ve been and name where we’re going.
We listened for what was already there. The stories that are already alive in us and our work.
We asked: What’s the story I’m actually living right now? And how do I let my brand reflect that?
I watched people reconnect to their why. I watched them soften into it. I watched them realize they already have what they need… It’s just been waiting to be seen.
This is what I love most about brand work. It’s not about the perfect niche or tagline. It’s about recognizing the deeper story already unfolding.
If you’ve been sitting with a half-formed idea… if something is shifting in your work… if you’re craving more clarity in how you show up, this is where we begin.
For those who missed the workshop, Unbridled Form’s free Brand Storytelling Guide and Quiz are both great places to start. These were the foundation of the workshop and the conversation starter for exploring the deeper stories of your work and how you can reach more of the people you’re meant to serve.
A Few Themes That Rose to the Surface in This Episode
Healing Happens in Relationship
With roots in public health and service work, Amanda shares how her professional and personal experiences led her to recognize that the greatest form of healing happens not in isolation, but in community. Sky Oro was born from that belief.
Start Before You Have It All Figured Out
From crowdfunding the space to letting members lead the programming, Amanda didn’t wait until she had all the answers. She followed the idea that wouldn’t let her go and trusted that clarity would come from movement.
“The more I remove myself from the center, the more incredible it becomes.”
The Space Is the Strategy
Sky Oro isn’t just a backdrop. It’s a co-creator. From crystals in the foundation to intentional art and lighting, every detail of the space was designed to invite women into presence, possibility, and participation.
Brand as an Invitation & Identity
We talk about how Sky Oro continues to evolve and how Amanda’s identity has too. This brand isn’t about her being the face of everything. It’s about holding a container for others to be seen, contribute, and become.
Building in Real Life
Amanda shares candidly about managing finances, navigating single parenthood, and trying to build a business that not only lights her up, but sustains her and her family. The messy middle is real, but so is the clarity that comes from committing fully.
Through the Lens of Story
At Unbridled Form, we believe that the stories we tell (and the spaces we build) are always invitations into becoming.
This episode reminded us that your business doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. That sometimes the most sacred part of the story is the part where you almost gave up. That the energy you build your brand in… becomes the energy your clients receive.
Sky Oro is a living example of what happens when you build something rooted in community, not performance. And of how powerful it is to simply show up again and again for the women you’re here to serve.
Because you never know what becomes possible when someone finally says: You have arrived.
What We Loved Most
- The honesty about money, leadership, and single motherhood
- The behind-the-scenes of crowdfunding and early community support
- The reverence for the physical space as a sacred container
- The reminder that support doesn’t require perfection
- The vision for scaling community across Montana
The Stories That Form Us
The Stories That Form Us is a podcast about the narratives shaping our creative work, our brands, and the way we move through the world. It’s a production of Unbridled Form, a brand strategy and design studio helping entrepreneurs tell the story only they can tell.
Know someone whose story should be told? Apply or nominate a guest here.
Curious about building a brand rooted in storytelling and emotional resonance? Explore Unbridled Form.
