We recently connected with Latasha Waddy and have shared our conversation below.

LaTasha , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I want to leave a legacy where people remember that I helped others. Specifically, for over 20 years, I have worked to help over 100,000 individuals realize the American Dream of homeownership. This experience sparked my desire to write children’s book series, “The Unbelievable Adventures of Gabby and Josh Can”. By offering these stories to the world, I am putting a deposit in the earth for generations to come. When my life is over, the message of the importance of financial education will live on. The stories were specifically named after my children and grandchildren as an reminder that generational wealth starts with generational knowledge.

LaTasha , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Storytelling has always inspired me. At just 12 years old, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. My 7th-grade history class sealed my fate when we watched 1776 (my generation’s version of Hamilton). Intrigued, I asked my teacher about the men who wrote the Constitution. His response? “Many of them were lawyers.” That single moment sparked my passion for law and set me on a path toward one of the most challenging yet rewarding careers I could have imagined as a finance attorney.

Fast forward 20+ years, and storytelling remains at the heart of what I do. I’ve helped thousands of individuals achieve the American Dream of homeownership. Along the way, I’ve listened to countless stories about the paths people take to buy a home, which led me to ask an important question: When and how should we start preparing for the biggest financial decisions of our lives? Resoundingly, the answer that continued coming back to me was as early as possible. And so I decided that through my own story telling I would begin to equip the next generation of homeowners.

That realization led me to my next chapter—children’s book author. My book series, My debut book, The Unbelievable Adventures of Gabby and Josh: Josh’s Clam-Tastic Spending Quest, is the first in a series , is the perfect blend of my professional experience as a lawyer and my personal journey as a mom. Through engaging storytelling, I aim to spark curiosity in young readers and introduce them to the foundations of financial literacy early in life; just as my own curiosity was ignited in that 7th-grade classroom.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of my author’s journey has been stepping out of my comfort zone to fulfill my purpose.There are still days when I have to push past the thought that my legal career alone is enough of an accomplishment; that writing won’t have the same impact. But I’ve come to realize that we are all uniquely placed on this earth to do something only we can do. Bringing The Unbelievable Adventures of Gabby & Josh Can to life has been a powerful reminder that storytelling has the ability to inspire, educate, and spark curiosity in ways I never imagined. Seeing this vision come to fruition through the Can Family has been an incredible motivator to keep creating and embracing the impact my words can have on the next generation.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I had discovered the incredible communities dedicated to early childhood education and children’s book authors sooner. In the early stages of my writing journey, I spent a lot of time creating stories that didn’t quite align with my target age group’s developmental and educational needs or missed key elements in the storyline. Connecting with these groups has been a game-changer; it has not only strengthened my writing but also boosted my confidence as an author.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Latashawaddy.com
• Instagram: @latashawaddy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latasha-waddy-b8620911/

Image Credits

Imagery by Sophisticated Press, LLC