We were lucky to catch up with Ashonda Culcleasure recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ashonda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Fix It with Piggy, our mission goes beyond making a living; we’re here to make a difference by empowering the youth and nurturing future innovators through technology. This mission is deeply personal and fulfilling for me because I grew up as a “program kid.” My childhood was shaped by after-school programs, camps, and organizations like the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx on Randall Ave.

I witnessed the staff in these programs go above and beyond to keep us off the streets. My friends and I chose to participate in activities like ping pong challenges, basketball games, and teen nights instead of hanging out on the streets. These programs provided academic, social, and developmental support that made a significant impact on our lives.

I believe it is my duty to give back to the community that shaped me, and what better way to do that than through something I love—technology. Watching the smiles on the faces of young people as they overcome challenging repairs and codes is incredibly rewarding. Seeing them problem-solve, create memories, and build relationships with one another is key to our mission. Empowering the youth through technology is not just our mission—it’s a meaningful way for me to contribute to their growth and success.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those who may not have heard about Fix It with Piggy, let me share our story and mission. My journey into the tech industry was unexpected. I started in sales, working at places like Foot Locker, Footaction, AT&T, and Verizon. It was at Verizon that I realized sales wasn’t my passion. I noticed the techs never had to deal with customers, so I began picking their brains about their work, discovering that I had the potential to do it too.

This curiosity led me to Asurion, a phone insurance company, where I trained and became certified in Apple and Samsung repairs. After some time, I received an offer to work at the NYS DMV, which I thought was the ultimate goal due to the promise of retirement benefits, pensions, and job security. However, I quickly found the work environment stifling and unsatisfactory.

My perspective shifted drastically when my four-month-old son, a chronic asthmatic, needed a procedure for a kidney issue. My request for a day off to be with him was denied due to tenure policies, and I was told I would be written up if I didn’t show up, even with medical documentation. Being told to ask someone else to sit with my son was the breaking point. That was the last day I allowed anyone to dictate how I could be a mother to my child.

I started repairing phones from home to make ends meet. When the pandemic hit, I expanded my services to include pick-up and drop-off for my community. Soon after, I opened the first Black woman-owned repair shop on East Tremont Ave in the Bronx. I cherished every moment of it, especially the Saturdays when kids would come in to learn repairs. That’s when I realized I needed to reach more kids in the Bronx.

In 2023, Fix It with Piggy transitioned from a repair company to an edtech company. We now partner with schools and organizations to offer a variety of tech courses, ranging from hardware and software repairs to web development. Since this transition, we have received a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Biden and two Certificates of Recognition from Mayor Eric Adams.

We have hosted over 20 NYC SYEP high school participants and taught tech courses to over 300 middle and high school students. This year alone, we provided 30 school supply bags and fresh produce to 37 families.

The most rewarding aspect of our work is seeing the smiles on the faces of young people as they overcome challenging repairs and codes. Watching them problem-solve, create memories, and build relationships is key to our mission. Empowering the youth through technology is not just what we do—it’s who we are.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Networking! Most definitely. Curating relationships to show people my brand stands on business. We provide top of the line, inclusive educational services and they won’t. know this if they don’t know us. Also, understanding my customers. My customers aren’t the schools, they are my students. So I have to ensure I am dependable, accountable and actionable.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

You don’t owe anyone. Growing my business taught me that, that statement is false. I owe everyone who contributes and supports. When I realized that and acted on it, my network of supporters grew exponentially.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fixitwithpiggy.com
• Instagram: @fixitwithpiggy