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

Hi Danyel, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

After transitioning from the Virgin Islands to America after high school to further my education at North Carolina A&T State University, I recognized how much resources, academic opportunities, and exposure we lacked. Being a Virgin Islands native and gaining exposure to American culture allowed me to connect better with children I’ve mentored and tutored. I was able to share my journey with them and the obstacles I’ve endured throughout my academic career. My resiliency and willingness to succeed inspired my students. Those past experiences confirmed my career choice and helped me to further understand how prominent it is to be a prototype and role model for African-American kids.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

During my tenure as an undergraduate student at North Carolina A&T State University, I struggled with aligning my passion and purpose. I’ve always been invested in my academic goals and mentoring with different non-profit organizations, however, after I decided to become a teacher! Teaching within the public school system for 7 years helped me to further understand the inequities that exist in our education system. amongst students and the direct impact it has on our future leaders. I wanted to be in a position to have a positive impact on the children in my community and be a part of the change we need, so I decided to launch Educators’ Black Book.

Initially, the idea came to mind when I finished my lesson plans for teaching my students how to start a business. 95% of my scholars either want to attend an HBCU, start their own business, or do BOTH. Although I was extremely goal-oriented at that age with the same vision, I had no clue what college would be like, or what skills I would need to successfully execute my plans. During this workshop each scholar received an Educators’ Black Book Career Manual that has resume templates, vision board activities, and academic planners. The guest speakers provided presentations on diligent planning, mental health, and the effects of self-esteem during their academic journeys.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

When hard work and passion are in alignment, everything falls into place. I was able to build rapport in this market, because I remained grounded in my principles. Credibility is important to me, so despite how challenging things got, I continued to be fully invested in our mission by providing content and services that aims aims to elevate, empower, and equip scholars and emerging educators with resources to promote and achieve student success.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Winners never quit! This has to be one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned since starting this journey. There has been so many challenges I faced while managing many aspects of the business, however, once I’m reminded of my “why” it keeps me going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.educatorsblackbook.com/
• Instagram: educatorsblackbook
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danyeljoseph/
• Youtube: Educators’ Black Book