We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cynthia Luvlee-Austin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cynthia below.

Hi Cynthia, thanks for joining us today. We believe kindness is contagious and so we’d love for you to share with us and our audience about the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me was forgiving me when I didn’t show up for them during one of the darkest times in their life. Years ago, a dear friend confided in me about their depression, and instead of listening with presence and compassion, I was too caught up in my own world to truly hear them. When they told me how hurt they were by my inaction, I didn’t know how to respond, so, I didn’t. We lost contact for five years.

During that time, I went through deep personal healing. I met someone who taught me how to truly listen—how to move past the fear, shame, and defensiveness that had kept me locked in survival mode. I began to understand how my past trauma had shaped my inability to take responsibility or offer sincere repair. I learned what it means to truly apologize, to forgive myself, and to seek forgiveness from others.

Earlier this year, I finally reached out to my childhood friend. I knew she didn’t owe me a response, but I wanted her to know I was sorry, for being a bad friend, for not listening, and for not being there when she needed me most. To my surprise, she forgave me. Not only that, she was willing to see me in person.

Walking up to her doorstep, my heart was pounding with hope and humility. When she opened the door, I saw the same beautiful soul who had once trusted me, and tears filled my eyes. That moment, her courage to let me back into her life, was the most profound act of kindness I’ve ever received. Today, we talk every day, just like we did as teenagers. Her forgiveness taught me that it’s never too late to say “I’m sorry,” and that healing, when met with grace, can bring people back together in the most powerful way.

Cynthia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Cynthia Austin Luvlee, Founder and CEO of Shyne®, The Reinvention Room, and Cynthia Austin Consulting. While each of these entities serves a different purpose, they’re all rooted in the same mission: to create pathways to prosperity, purpose, and freedom, especially for those who’ve been historically excluded from opportunity.

My journey into this work began over two decades ago. With 22 years of experience as a nonprofit strategist and small business coach, I’ve seen firsthand how systems of injustice—like poverty, gender-based violence, and racial inequity—limit people’s access to freedom, wealth, and self-determination. I started in the trenches, working directly with underserved communities, survivors, and aspiring entrepreneurs who had powerful ideas but lacked resources, confidence, or connection. Over time, I realized that the key to sustainable impact isn’t charity…it’s reinvention. It’s giving people the tools to rewrite their own stories.

That insight led me to build three interconnected brands:

Shyne® is a 501(c)(3) and survivor-led organization that provides access to Executive Leadership education, coaching, and community for survivors of trafficking, exploitation, and gender-based violence. We are building an ecosystem where survivors can thrive as entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators.

The Reinvention Room is a launchpad for purpose-driven people ready to start or scale a business aligned with their passion and values. It’s a safe space where courage meets strategy, offering programs that demystify business building, support personal reinvention, and create sustainable growth from the inside out.

Cynthia Austin Consulting is where I partner with emerging leaders, nonprofit founders, and visionary entrepreneurs to build solid foundations for their ventures. From strategic planning to funding strategy to leadership coaching, I help my clients turn their mission into measurable impact. And yes, I reward referrals because I believe in building wealth together.

What sets my work apart is not just my experience, it’s my lens. I’m a social impact investor with deep roots in trauma-informed practices and a belief in the brilliance of underestimated people. I’ve built my brands around values of dignity, equity, and possibility.

What I’m most proud of is seeing lives transform. Whether it’s a survivor launching their first business, a new nonprofit founder landing their first grant, or a woman finally stepping into her worth as a CEO, those moments fuel me.

What I want people to know is this: I believe in the power of reinvention. No matter where you’ve been, what you’ve survived, or how many times you’ve had to start over, there’s a path forward, and I’m here to help you walk it with clarity, strategy, and bold purpose.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What’s helped me build my reputation is a core belief that life and business is relational. No one builds anything meaningful alone. I’ve invested years in cultivating genuine, trust-based relationships that prioritize shared value, mutual respect, and long-term impact. I show up, I listen, and I follow through. People know I do what I say and deliver results.

I also own my mistakes. That vulnerability has strengthened my leadership and deepened the trust others place in me. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I’m highly creative and resourceful, especially when solving the common (and uncommon) challenges business owners face. I think outside the box, connect dots others may not see, and always aim to co-create win-win-win solutions where everyone benefits.

In communities that have traditionally been taken advantage of, my reputation has been built on trust, transparency, and a consistent track record of impact. I’m a connector, a bridge-builder, and someone who genuinely cares about helping others rise together.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Each of my ventures—Shyne®, The Reinvention Room, and Cynthia Austin Consulting—had a unique capital formation story. In the nonprofit world, early access to capital is not likely. For me, building a strong foundation came first. I focused on solidifying our back-office operations, compliance, and infrastructure before pursuing large-scale funding. Early support came from personal relationships, and friends who believed in the mission and connected me to others. Over time, this grew into partnerships with corporations, universities, and banks. It was a slow and intentional build, but one that positioned Shyne® to be sustainable and fundable long-term.

For my consulting businesses, funding looked very different. I built both through sweat equity, bootstrapping every step of the way. There were moments in the “valley of death,” that critical point in every business lifecycle where giving up felt like the only option, but I pushed through. A strong personal credit score became a key tool, unlocking access to small business loans and grants where funders’ money could be leveraged for social impact returns.

Capital formation has become a core focus of my work, because every business, no matter the size or sector, needs capital to thrive. Whether it is $500 or $5 million, how funds are managed directly shapes capacity for growth. What I’ve learned is this: financial clarity fuels better decisions, and your mindset around money often determines how far your business can go.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shynesd.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/shyne_global
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shynesd
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthialuvlee/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shyneglobal