We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Arlana Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Arlana below.

Arlana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?

Corporate America often misses the mark in relationship building by focusing primarily on outcomes or transactions rather than cultivating genuine, long-lasting partnerships. Relationships built solely on results—without understanding the vision, culture, or humanity of the other party—become short-lived, transactional, and often unfulfilling. The absence of mutual respect and shared vision erodes trust and prevents meaningful collaboration.

One example that comes to mind is the corporate tendency to treat partnerships with community organizations or smaller enterprises as one-sided, driven purely by corporate goals. They might see a community partner only as a means to an end—like checking a box for corporate social responsibility—rather than as collaborators with shared interests. This approach can lead to situations where corporations provide short-term grants or support but don’t invest in the long-term relationship, leaving community organizations feeling used and undervalued.

In consulting, relationship building is crucial because it’s not just about delivering a service—it’s about empowering clients to either learn the skills they need or trust in your expertise to handle the job. When I work with my clients, I don’t view them as mere transactions. Instead, I focus on fostering a genuine partnership where they feel supported, understood, and confident in the process. My goal is to build long-term, meaningful relationships that go beyond just taking their money—it’s about creating value that helps them succeed in the long run.

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?

As a little girl, I was always drawn to creative writing—whether it was short stories, poems, or just exploring my thoughts on paper. Over time, people around me would ask for advice or help with things, and I became intrigued by what they did with my suggestions. One turning point came when a neighbor asked me to help her with a grant for her daycare, and when she called to say she’d been funded, I realized the power of my work. I often forget that first time, but it was the moment that sparked a path for me.

Word spread, and I started getting calls for help. During undergrad, I was initially on the path to nursing, but while figuring out if that was truly for me, I had a conversation about the nonprofit I had started—Project S.A.V.E. That conversation opened my eyes to nonprofit management, and from there, everything clicked. Now, I get paid to do something I love: helping people think through their ideas and make a positive impact on the world.

What I’m most proud of is my “get it done” attitude—I don’t go down easy. Before I even stepped into a classroom, I learned the entire nonprofit process through research. I started my first nonprofit while I was still in undergrad, and that experience showed me that I could do more. When I realized I could help others bring their visions to life, I started my consulting business.

Seeing the success of both my nonprofit and consulting business is incredibly rewarding, especially knowing that it all started with a dream. What drives me is knowing that the work I do not only helps others think through their ideas but also makes a tangible difference in their lives.

Through Project S.A.V.E., I help survivors of sexual and domestic violence heal, while in my consulting business, I help people turn their ideas into reality and secure funding. It’s a great mixture of both worlds. My nonprofit work keeps me grounded in the community, while my consulting business empowers and uplifts the community by helping others achieve their goals.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A major lesson I had to unlearn was to stop selling myself short. After writing my first successful grant, I kept things quiet and only worked through referrals for years. I didn’t put myself out there, even though each person I worked with was impressed and kept referring me to others. I realized two things: 1) I wasn’t always meeting people who were open to sharing knowledge, and 2) when I talked about my work, it flowed as naturally as my writing.

The turning point came when I realized that the only way I was going to achieve my bigger goals was to “put myself on” and stop waiting for others to do it for me. So that’s exactly what I did. By stepping into my own power, I started to create more opportunities and finally embraced the impact I was capable of making.

Any advice for managing a team?

My advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale starts with setting clear expectations early on. People often have different interpretations of success or what’s expected, so being upfront helps eliminate confusion and sets the groundwork for everyone to thrive. I hold myself to a high standard, but I also recognize that not everyone may aspire to the same level of “success” as I do—and that’s okay. The key is to push your team members to reach their own personal best.

To understand what motivates them, you need to invest in the relationship. Take the time to talk with your team and build that connection, just like you would with any other relationship. Knowing their strengths, goals, and challenges will help you guide them more effectively.

It’s also important to remember the difference between a boss and a leader. A boss tells people what to do, but a leader inspires and guides their team to grow and succeed together. Leading with empathy and understanding can make all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aandaconsulting.my.canva.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.and.aconsulting/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561353802688
• Other: Project S.A.V.E: www.projectsavephilly.com
  Twitter: @psavephilly
  Facebook: Project SAVE
  Instagram: @projectsavephilly

Image Credits

Holly Maher