Today we’d like to introduce you to SONJI GRANDY.
Hi SONJI, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I come from very humble beginnings. It may sound cliché, but it is true. As an African American woman, I grew up in Curries Woods, one of the worst housing projects in New Jersey. I was a childhood victim of physical, sexual, emotional, and mental abuse. I am a living, breathing statistic of society’s impoverished community. Society got it wrong, though, because they counted me out without giving me a chance to survive or thrive, both of which I am doing now.
Growing up, education was very important in our household, even if the community at large did not support it. In the 1970s, I became eligible for a pilot program for gifted students called the Gifted and Talented Program in the 3rd grade. This program centered around taking exceptional students and putting them into an accelerated curriculum that included not only additional academics but real-world experiences. Living in a poor neighborhood, these experiences were invaluable and impactful.
My trauma from childhood abuse left an impression on me that remains with me today. The grace from our heavenly Father has sustained me and allowed me to live a very fruitful and impactful life so far. I believe I have much more to do, which humbles and makes me grateful for the resilience I learned as a child to keep moving and pressing forward. The trauma I experienced gave me a deep-rooted empathy, enabling me to recognize the trauma in others and live a life of servanthood, empowering people to push past their pain.
I have over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, specializing in serving affluent clients. My exceptional dedication and service have earned me numerous accolades, including being named one of Insurance Business America’s “Elite Women of the Year” in 2021 and 2022. I was also recognized on Insurance Business America’s “Hot 100” list in 2022 and 2023, highlighting my standout contributions to the industry.
I began my insurance career at the tender age of 16, studying people and the patterns of behavior associated with their decision-making. The key to serving clients was not in saving money but in understanding them as humans like myself. The insurance industry was my safe zone for many decades. It was where I felt most comfortable in knowledge, where I could help people, and it served as a great financial provider for me and my family. At one point, I was confident it would be the place I would retire from, lending all my wisdom to the next generation of leaders. I got it right and wrong at the same time.
In November 2022, life took a pivot when a job I had no longer ceased to be my job. I was at the top of my career according to the industry, a new homeowner, and had a new car, but I was uncertain if I wanted to remain in the insurance field. The only thing I could do was trust God for my answers and take a few weeks to begin writing one of the many books I was supposed to write as prophesied by God.
The prophecy I received regarding being an author entailed me authoring not one but five books. At the time the prophecy was given to me, I was knee-deep in my work life and charity work and wondered when I would find the time to write one, let alone five books. God has a great sense of humor because all I did in 2023 was write, and four of my books are completed. Three have been published, and here is breaking news—I just outlined the material for my last one. That is all I will tell you for now. Stay tuned.
As an accomplished author, I am a seven-time award winner. My debut book, “Beautifully Blended,” received a BookFest Honorable Mention, was a finalist for a Literary Global Award, and received an International Impact Award. My second book, “Mentoring With Confidence,” earned First Place Honors from The BookFest Awards and The International Impact Awards. My third book, “Out of The Woods,” received second-place honors and top recognition at the International Impact Awards. These achievements led to my work being featured on the Nasdaq Billboard in Times Square. I have been recognized in categories such as Parenting & Family, Motivational, Business of Sustainable Practices and Environmental Leadership, Women in Business, and Business Leadership-Professional Growth.
All of my books have a common theme of strategic coaching or mentoring of some type. As stemmed from my early childhood days, I mentioned I came from humble beginnings and endured trauma in my life. The really amazing thing is that I did not stay there. I sought professional help and leaned on my community. “Beautifully Blended” is a memoir of my journey of love, life, and family. I candidly share my experiences from childhood to the present, taking you on a quest from fractured to wholeness through the power of truth, love, and forgiveness. I identify potential pitfalls and iterate the positive behaviors necessary to anchor and create a strong family unit. “Mentoring with Confidence” is a workbook designed to challenge and highlight the necessity of mentoring in the workplace. “Out of the Woods,” co-authored with my sister, Dr. Nicole B. Simpson, is a duet autobiography with two unique stories of overcoming tragedy, trauma, and insurmountable odds to ultimately live lives full of triumph and victory. With extensive backgrounds in the financial securities, investments, and insurance industries, we have both emerged as titans, earning Top 100 status and numerous awards, accolades, and international recognition throughout our thirty-year careers.
Almost 25 years ago, alongside my sister Dr. Nicole B. Simpson and two friends, I proposed an idea that would change us. We were all tired of what was happening in our community, so we decided to do something about it. I serve as the Vice President of the Generation X Community Association, a nonprofit organization in New Jersey that supports youth, underserved populations, and individuals who have experienced incarceration. Through the years, we have given away book scholarships for students who are actively involved in community service, maintained an active prison ministry for over 18 years, provided holiday presents for over 13,000 families, had mentoring programs for young adults interested in a career in mass media, conducted voter registration drives, hosted television & radio shows, and, most importantly, impacted the lives of real people in New Jersey in a substantive way. We recently launched a “You Are a Business” initiative that helps returning citizens turn their business ideas, gifts, or skill sets from a hobby into a viable business. Generation X was born out of our commitment to tithe money, time, talents, and opportunities.
During the pandemic in 2020, I launched an online blog, www.itsabattle.com, as a safe space for individuals to share experiences and address traumas triggered by the pandemic. I have plans for expansion before the end of 2024.
I am a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, focusing on the needs of marginalized and often overlooked communities of color within the insurance industry and beyond. It is very frightening to me as a African American woman to see what I see happening in the areas of politics and imagine it could all be reversed one day. We have to be smarter, think bigger and run faster by the nature of who we are. The young girl in the 3rd grade Gifted and Talented class that grew up to be me needs to be proud of me and my involvement and recognize that she had opportunities that many others did not have. It will not be squandered.
In 2023, I became a minister, one of the many roles I take very seriously and am most proud of. This is where I am today. Every road I walked led me to this moment. If something hasn’t been done yet, it’s because I haven’t done it, and I have every intention of getting it done.
I have a wonderful husband, children, and support community around me to keep me grounded.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, the road has not been smooth. It has been plagued with racism, nepotism, and all the other “isms” that are oppressive in nature. Working in an industry that is predominantly male and white is commonplace when you think of being in insurance for over three decades. The difficult part was when it began to diversify, the diversity did not immediately trickle down to African American women. White women were given promotions and positions of power, and that silent sisterhood became invisible once they were on the inside.
You can’t be what you can’t see. Women who don’t see themselves in senior positions or c-suite roles often settle for positions beneath their skill set or dim their light to make others around them feel more comfortable. This is a way to fit in, stay employed, and avoid the psychological and mental trauma associated with the microaggressions and biases faced in the workplace.
Becoming an advocate and mentor was a natural and easy choice for me. Through my own lived experiences, I understand all too well what it feels like to be marginalized and passed over. It has been my life’s mission to disrupt the system from within and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves or are too afraid to do so. It’s not an easy task to take on.
I believe that most people want to point out the injustices they see around them. The fear that keeps them from doing so is part of the trauma they carry into the workplace every day. Fear of job loss, fear of homelessness, food insecurity—the list goes on. Add to this the pressure of being the voice to speak up when your work is credited to someone else or you are labeled as aggressive when you are not. Yes, the struggle was real.
Despite it all, it has been worth it, and I will continue to fight whether I am in corporate or on the outside.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Sonji K Grandy Consultants, LLC is my business, where, as the CEO and Founder, I am dedicated to mentoring and guiding emerging leaders. I help them navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and develop their skills. My extensive experience as an insurance advocate, a strategic relationship partner, and a mentor uniquely positions me to help others reach their full potential.
My specialty in mentoring involves helping my mentees recognize that their past experiences and traumatic stresses could be potential roadblocks hindering their growth and development. I am uniquely positioned to do this work because I possess a wealth of experience in mentoring, relationships, and insurance. I have a passion for empowering others to reach their full potential and a commitment to fostering meaningful, long-lasting relationships built on trust and mutual respect.
I am known for being a great advocate and listener. It is essential that all clients and partners feel seen and appreciated, and that I do not impose myself on their journeys. I have been told that I possess a high level of emotional intelligence, which humbles me. I strive for all of my engagements to be fruitful and for individuals to walk away feeling empowered to take on the world.
What I am most proud of, brand-wise, is that I AM my brand. The partner relationships I have and any referrals I receive are based on who I am as an individual and what I provide in those relationships. Clients want more of me and less of gimmicks. I am personable, and my personality is my selling point. However, in full transparency, I understand that this will not be sustainable in the long term. Therefore, I am actively working on a plan to expand the business and give clients what they want, which is more of me, while also incorporating technology.
By the end of 2024, I aim to make myself more accessible beyond traditional one-on-one sessions. It has been a privilege and an honor to collaborate with some of my former mentees to expand my brand and services for a more global reach, without losing the intimacy of personal communication.
In addition to my new project, I am undertaking a branding overhaul. Stay tuned to my website and social media pages for launch dates and updates.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
One important lesson I learned during the COVID-19 crisis was to never take for granted that I have more time to accomplish my goals. As a mentor and strategic relationship coach, one of the fundamental aspects of my work is helping clients map out action plans for their future goals and identifying the steps needed to achieve them.
Often, we become preoccupied with obstacles that hold us back or rush through steps in an attempt to reach the finish line, which can prevent us from reaching our fullest potential. For instance, if my goal is to pursue a doctorate and I don’t enroll in school due to financial constraints, it may never happen. However, if I actively seek grants or jobs that offer tuition reimbursement, I’ve moved one step closer to my destiny.
COVID-19 taught me that time waits for no one. Get it done!
Pricing:
- Beautifully Blended – $18.99
- Mentoring With Confidence -$12.99
- Out of the Woods – $19.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sonjikgrandy.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonji-grandy-/