Fashion Insider: Relationship Guru Shawndell Speaks Interview with Fashion Gxd Magazine
Written By: Samantha Cee
Social media handles: S.Burney-Speaks Life Facebook
Meet Shawndell Speaks: My heart is for Social Justice, Change and Reform. I work for the Mayor of Providence and I am also the Executive Director of the African American Ambassador Group. I love my community and I desire to see real equitable change for all people of color especially Black people. AAAG PVD . My mother has always been my fashion role model. She was the queen of fashion in the church community, she was a seamstress and made almost all of our clothes as kids. She even made me and my friends prom dresses and my sister's wedding dress.
She was my inspiration in making my fashion statements as a teen. I feel like because of her I was always ahead of my time. I used to wear my clothes backward, inside out, painted on, and cut up all in the early 80’s (before Kris Kross or TLC). I got in alot of trouble for it but it was the way I expressed myself. Then, I can’t leave out my love for the fashion ICON Mary J. Blige.
Question: How did the idea for your business come about?
Answer: I was asked for years if was I a coach, and I always said no. Then I remember having a conversation with my best friend who said girl, you have always been a coach! You have been coaching me and our friends since the 3rd grade! You always have been trying to help us get our lives together. I was coined the Iylala Vanzant of Providence. So, one day, I heard about a coaching program after researching programs for 2 years and finally got certified.
Question: How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?
Answer: At the present time I am the only staff, CEO, CFO, and President of the company. However, when I have Women Empowerment Events, I am very intentional about who our guest speakers are. Their values must align with our mission and vision for the well-being of women.
Question: What three pieces of advice would you give to other children who want to become entrepreneurs?
Answer: 1-Study the success and mistakes of others who are in the field you desire to succeed in. 2-Is what you want to do a hobby or a passion, and if it’s a passion do whatever it takes to make it happen. 3- Do your best to remove all of the negative things you have heard over the course of your life. The people who you think don’t believe in you may very well believe in you, they were just afraid to go after their dreams.
Question: If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Answer: I probably would focus more on myself and make sure that I was in the place that I needed to be financially before making sure everyone else around me was good.
Question: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Answer: Communication, Dedication, Relationship building
Question: How many hours do you work a day on average?
Answer: It depends, I can work anywhere from 50-80 hours per week.
Question: Describe/outline your typical day.
Answer: Prayer, driving my daughter to college, then myself to work. I’m a real person, I cook and clean for my family. I can’t say that any day is the same. My weeks consist of meetings with my nutritionist, my spiritual mom, I have to make sure that my mental and spiritual are good so that I can do the work that I have been called to do.
Question: How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Answer: It has been positive for us. My family is very proud of me, my daughter looks up to me and that melts my heart because she has stayed encouraging with her love even at 20 years old.
Question: Fashion Gxd Magazine: What motivates you?
Answer: My children and any naysayer fuels my fire
Question: How do you generate new ideas?
Answer: Honestly, through prayer. I go to God for it all
Question: What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Answer: Time away from my family and loved ones. Not being able to go to certain places, and or travel when I wanted to because I needed to stay focused.
Question: Where do you see yourself and your business in 10 years? 20 years?
Answer: My prayer is to travel all over the world to share my story, and to pour into wonderful women and men. I don’t want to exclude men even though my focus is predominantly on women. I desire to broaden my range and speak on international stages and facilitate internationally in person.
