Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Koonjbeharry. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The biggest risk I’ve taken was when I left a job with no back up plan in place. A few years ago, I found myself  at a company that I thought was going to be a great experience and fit but quickly turned into an experience that made me question my abilities and even my confidence.  The decision to leave came down to a moment where I realized I didn’t recognize myself and the women I was becoming in that environment. My light was starting to dim and I knew I couldn’t risk staying any longer. After hours of contemplating and seeking advice from close friends and family, I knew I had to leave. I submitted my resignation the next day, something I’ve never done anywhere, but it felt like the most empowering decision I had made. 

I decided to do what I had always dreamed of doing, starting my own consulting firm. Taking this leap was the scariest thing I’ve done but it showed me that when I take risks and keep myself open the opportunities are endless.

After a few months of doing consulting work, I got a great opportunity to join the renewable energy industry and dive into a new field that is completely new to me.  

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My superpower lies in connecting people, cultivating spaces, and crafting experiences that foster deep, authentic, and meaningful community connections. An example of this is a community initiative I co-founded in my home state of Minnesota, called “In Sisterhood, We Brunch” – a brunch series dedicated to creating a space for healing and empowerment among BIPOC women, business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals. Additionally, I’ve launched a new initiative in Dallas, TX called “She Prospers, We Prosper” (SPWP), an inclusive community building initiative that provides curated events for women who are seeking to learn, grow and support one another. SPWP is grounded in the belief that when one woman prospers, we all prosper.

My passion for serving communities started at a very young age. As a teenager I was always looking for ways to get involved and loved supporting people to be their best selves. I knew I wanted to be of service and decided to pursue a master’s degree in social work. During this time, I had the privilege of working with children and families who were receiving assistance through a statewide program called Minnesota Family Investment Program. There, my eyes were opened to the inequitable systems and policies that were in place, and the detrimental impacts those had on the families I worked with. I grew frustrated with these systems and policies and decided that to create real change I needed to know how to advocate on a policy level.

Determined to effect tangible change, I pursued a dual master’s degree in social work and public policy at the University of Minnesota. Along this journey, I collaborated with graduate students on community service projects, provided crisis intervention for families at an elementary school, and directed an anti-sex trafficking program, “No Wrong Door,” at Hennepin County.

My tenure at Hennepin County included co-leading the statewide anti-sex trafficking committee for Super Bowl LII. This experience underscored the transformative power of storytelling in shaping public perception and policy reform. Subsequently, I served as director of public policy at the Citizens League, tackling diverse issues from water quality to policing and public safety, including convening the Community First Public Safety Commission in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.

I then pivoted to a public affairs and public relations firm as I enjoyed merging my public policy, social work, community engagement and facilitation background with communication strategies to create lasting change. Eventually leading me to serve as a public affairs manager at Leeward Renewable Energy, where I get to immerse myself in a new industry while  bringing my diverse experiences to the table.

In 2021, I joined Vision Investment, a coaching firm, to empower high-potential women of color. As a coach, I rediscovered the profound impact of one-on-one support, guiding individuals on their paths to greatness.

I believe that we can create impact in many ways and my work has taught me to never limit myself to one industry or issue.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to shed a limiting narrative around money. Over the years I had picked up a narrative from my environment and from the media that wealth equated to greed or unethical behavior. This narrative planted a subconscious idea that wanting to be financially abundant, or wealthy was a negative thing.  Recognizing this narrative has been a recent thing, prompting me to undertake intentional efforts to dismantle it and cultivate empowering beliefs regarding money. Through this journey I’ve come to realize that money itself is neutral; It merely reflects and amplifies who we already are. It’s up tp us to decide whether we use money for positive or negative change.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In October 2023, my older brother passed away unexpectedly. This loss has been profoundly devastating, challenging me to embrace courage, vulnerability, and intentionality in navigating life. There have been numerous moments where I’ve felt overwhelmed, tempted to abandon the pursuits I’ve begun or dreamt of, as the pain of forging ahead without him has been consuming. However, my resilience is anchored in my love for life, my aspiration for a better world, and my commitment to honoring his memory by living fully. Resilience, for me, entails acknowledging that I can’t simply “busy” myself through grief; instead, I must slow down to speed up. Consequently, I’ve temporarily paused my coaching practice and the community-building initiative I founded, She Prospers, We Prosper. Resilience, in my experience, involves pivoting to discover a new path, re-evaluating where and how to direct my energy, and clarifying my vision for impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amandakoonjbeharry.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-koonjbeharry?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits
One of the images has a photo credit attached. I have the rights to the other photos