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

Hi Sardia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

The first step wasn’t creating a company. It was writing. I turned my experiences into a one-woman show called From a Yardie to a Yankee. I performed it wherever I could, and audiences connected deeply with the story. Their response showed me that this wasn’t just a play, it was something bigger. After that, I immersed myself in learning. I attended workshops, studied producing, built relationships with mentors and fellow filmmakers, and joined professional organizations. I spent years figuring out how the business side of storytelling worked. I learned how to create pitch decks, develop projects, assemble teams, and navigate the many moving parts involved in bringing stories to life.
Eventually, I founded MarvaJoy Productions, named in honor of my sister, Marva, whose life and memory continue to inspire me. In the beginning, I wore many hats: writer, producer, actress, director, marketer, and problem solver. I had to learn how to manage projects, build teams, secure locations, and bring together talented people who shared the same vision. Step by step, what started as an idea became reality. I adapted From a Yardie to a Yankee into my first feature film and returned to Jamaica to shoot it. Every stage presented new challenges and lessons, but I remained committed to telling authentic stories rooted in truth and community. Looking back, there was no single moment when everything changed. It was a series of small steps taken consistently over time, one script, one class, one relationship, one project after another. What began as a desire to tell my own story evolved into MarvaJoy Productions, a company dedicated to creating meaningful stories that celebrate resilience, culture, and voices that deserve to be heard.
For me, entrepreneurship has never been just about starting a business. It has been about creating opportunities, honoring my roots, and using storytelling to connect people across cultures and generations.

Sardia, 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?

My name is Sardia Robinson, and I am a Jamaican-born actress, writer, producer, and director, and the founder of MarvaJoy Productions. Storytelling has always been at the center of who I am. I was born and raised in rural St. Thomas, Jamaica, and immigrated to Chicago as a teenager. Those experiences, growing up with strong women, navigating a new country, and learning to find my voice, shaped both my life and the stories I tell today.
I studied theater at Columbia College Chicago and had the privilege of interning at the Goodman Theatre, where I learned from incredible artists, including the late August Wilson. Those early experiences taught me that stories have the power to heal, inspire, and create understanding. Since then, I have built a career as an actor, writer, producer, and director, working in television, film, and theater while remaining committed to telling authentic stories that reflect communities and experiences often overlooked.
Through MarvaJoy Productions, I create films, stage productions, and content that center on themes of identity, family, migration, resilience, and hope. My work seeks to amplify voices that deserve to be heard and to tell stories with honesty, heart, and humanity. I also love collaborating with brands and organizations that share values around representation, culture, empowerment, and community.
What sets me apart is that I write and create from lived experience. I am not afraid to tackle difficult subjects, and I believe vulnerability is a strength. Whether I am acting, directing, or writing, I approach every project with authenticity and purpose. I want audiences to see themselves in the work and to leave feeling inspired and seen. One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is my award-winning one-woman show, From a Yardie to a Yankee, which has been performed internationally and touched audiences from all walks of life. That journey has now evolved into my debut feature film, inspired by my own experiences as a young immigrant. Bringing that story to life has been one of the greatest honors of my career because it represents not only my journey but the journeys of so many people who have had to leave home and redefine what belonging means. Beyond the work itself, I am most proud of being a person of service. I believe success means little if we are not using our gifts to uplift others. Whether mentoring emerging artists, creating opportunities, or giving back to my community, I strive to lead with compassion and purpose. I want potential clients, collaborators, followers, and supporters to know that my brand is built on authenticity, excellence, and heart. I believe stories can change lives. I believe representation matters. And I believe that no matter where you come from, your story has value. At the end of the day, I am simply a Jamaican girl with a dream, using art to bridge cultures, celebrate resilience, and remind people that our stories matter. My mission is to create work that entertains, inspires, and leaves a lasting impact for generations to come.

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

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the belief that I had to do everything on my own.
Growing up in rural Jamaica and later immigrating to the United States, I learned early to be independent. Like many people who come from humble beginnings, I wore self-reliance like a badge of honor. I believed that asking for help was a sign of weakness and that if I worked hard enough, I could carry every burden myself. That mindset served me for a while, but as my career grew, it became limiting. When I was creating my one-woman show, From a Yardie to a Yankee, and later adapting it into a feature film, I quickly realized that storytelling is a collaborative art form. I couldn’t be the writer, producer, director, fundraiser, marketer, and emotional support system all at once without burning out. I had to unlearn the idea that success meant doing everything alone. Instead, I learned that there is strength in community. It’s okay to ask questions, seek mentors, lean on family, and surround yourself with talented people who believe in the vision. Some of the biggest breakthroughs in my life and career came because I trusted others enough to let them walk alongside me.
The backstory really goes back to my upbringing. I come from a line of strong women who taught me resilience and perseverance. Those lessons were invaluable, but I eventually realized that resilience doesn’t mean carrying every weight by yourself. It means having the courage to accept support and recognizing that none of us succeed alone. Today, I still work hard, but I no longer believe I have to prove my worth by struggling in silence. I’ve learned that collaboration, community, and vulnerability are not weaknesses; they’re gifts. And that lesson has made me not only a better filmmaker and artist, but a better human being.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience has been the thread running through my entire life. I was born and raised in rural Jamaica and immigrated to the United States, leaving behind everything familiar. Like many immigrants, I had to navigate a new culture, racism, financial struggles, and the challenge of figuring out who I was in a place that often made me feel invisible. Years later, after building a career as an actress and creating my award-winning solo show From a Yardie to a Yankee, I decided to take the biggest leap of my life and turn that deeply personal story into a feature film. There were countless moments when it would have been easier to quit. Production was challenging, and there were days when I wondered if I was asking too much of myself. But I kept going because I believed the story mattered.
One of the hardest blows came with the loss of my sister, Marva. Her passing was devastating, but instead of allowing grief to silence me, I chose to honor her by naming my company MarvaJoy Productions and continuing to tell stories that celebrate resilience, family, and hope. Completing From a Yardie to a Yankee became more than making a film; it became a testament to perseverance and to the sacrifices of the women who raised me.
Whenever obstacles arise, I think about my grandmother, who taught me that service and faith are stronger than fear. Her example reminds me that resilience isn’t about never falling; it’s about getting back up, again and again, and continuing to move forward with purpose. That lesson has carried me from a small village in Jamaica to stages, film sets, and opportunities I once only dreamed about.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marvajoyproductions.com
• Instagram: @fromayardietoayankee
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sardiam
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sardia-robinson-866a939/
• Other: https://www.fromayardietoayankee.com
  https://www.sardiarobinson.com

Image Credits

Photos by Richard Dennison