Hi, I’m Billie.
I’m Dr. Billie Kowalke—a writer, researcher, and lifelong believer in going after the things that won’t leave you alone.
For most of my life, becoming an author was one of those things. I dreamed about writing a book long before I believed I could actually do it. All In grew from that journey—and from my fascination with what happens when we stop waiting for the perfect time, permission, or certainty and start taking our dreams seriously.
My background may look a little unconventional for a writer. I hold a doctorate in finance and economics management and a master’s degree in business intelligence and data analytics. I’m a researcher by nature—someone who loves understanding why we do what we do and what helps people turn intention into action.
But All In isn't a book about having everything figured out. I certainly don't. It's about choosing to participate fully in your own life, even when the next step feels uncertain.
The Story Behind All In
I wanted to be a writer long before I ever believed I could become one.
Writing was one of my earliest dreams—and one I kept mostly to myself. For a long time, becoming an author felt like the kind of thing you dreamed about, not something you actually did.
So I pursued other goals. I built a career, earned degrees, challenged myself, and created a life I was proud of. But the dream of writing never completely went away.
Eventually, I started wondering how many of us do that. How many things do we quietly talk ourselves out of because they feel too big, too impractical, or because we’re waiting to feel completely ready?
That question became All In.
This book is about what happens when we stop waiting for permission, certainty, or the perfect time—and start taking the lives we want to build seriously.
BEYOND THE BIO
When I’m not writing…
You’ll probably find me chasing some kind of adventure—traveling somewhere new, visiting a winery, golfing, running a 5K, working on a project that sounded easier when I started it, or spending time with my two cats.
I’m a big believer that a fully lived life isn’t necessarily a perfectly planned one. Sometimes it’s ambitious. Sometimes it’s messy. And sometimes it’s simply saying yes to the thing you’ve wanted to do for years.
That philosophy is a big part of what eventually became All In.