We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Shanita Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Shanita below.
Dr. Shanita, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry
1) Coaching- Developing others 2) Creating a culture of well being
3) Technology infrastructure
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
I am a leadership development specialist. I partner with community leaders coaching and training them to lead themselves by caring for their souls (inner self). I am the oldest of three, so being a leader has always been a part of my life. I’ve been in leadership positions outside of my home since fifteen. As I became older, I realized leadership has more to do with “being” than “doing;” character than competence. My experience, education, and leadership awareness drew me to the leadership development industry. As leaders, our focus is mainly on the success of our people and the organization. Our focus tends to be on everyone and everything else, and we don’t take the proper time to care for or take care of our souls (inner self). I help leaders care for their souls by training them to create awareness of themselves. It’s from our souls (inner self) we express ourselves, and people experience us. I am most proud of the continuous soul work I do for myself, so I can model to others how to live and lead from a transformative inner life. The services and resources I provide are leadership consulting, leadership and empowerment coaching, leadership training, workshops, and teaching. These resources are provided through my company, Shanita Brown Empowers. We may be on different levels, but we are on the same journey of becoming a healthier version of ourselves.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I started my doctoral journey in May 2018. When I started, I was working in leadership development, but in a different industry, life was looking good. I could see how my higher education would work for me in the future. Fast forward to March 2020, life as I knew it changed. Not necessarily because of the pandemic, but my personal world. I was second-guessing if going back to school was the right choice. I had resigned from an industry that I’ve been working in most of my life to pursue full-time entrepreneurship; relationships changed, health diagnosis discovered, business opportunities gone. All that I knew and what was familiar to me changed. I began questioning so many things; I felt I wasn’t on the right path. For many years, I allowed what I did (career) to shape who I was. During this period, I became aware that what I did was not the same as who I was. This period of my life taught me when everything I know is stripped from me, would I still know who I am? It taught me that who I am would stand no matter what life circumstances occur. When I discovered this, it changed my thinking and helped me pivot. Who I have always been didn’t change. It showed up in what I did. So I began shaping my already established business around who I am vs. what I did. I had to pivot and make the necessary shift, and now things are falling into place. What I do can quickly be taken, but who I am will stand no matter what. Who I am is the pivot, not what I do.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
My involvement, consistency, and creating programs in the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shanitabrown.com/
- Instagram: @shanitabrownempowers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shanitabrownempowers
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shanita-brown-dsl-b7b15248/
- Twitter: @sbrownempowers
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgO1czVe-ayvNbOTS3YynwA
Image Credits
Amber Smith