We recently connected with Hyidea’ Burgess and have shared our conversation below.
Hyidea’, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.
God’s House for Queens Ministry Inc. (GHQMI) is dedicated to transforming the lives of underserved teenage girls from low to middle-income homes, group homes, and juvenile facilities. These girls face significant challenges, such as financial instability, lack of access to quality education, and insufficient support systems. GHQMI addresses these issues by providing mentorship, educational support, and life skills training, focusing on biblical principles, academic excellence, financial literacy, health and wellness, sisterhood, etiquette, and community service. Our programs empower these young women to overcome their circumstances, build resilience, and achieve their dreams. By offering practical knowledge and nurturing support, we help break the cycle of poverty and create stable futures. GHQMI’s work improves individual lives and positively impacts their families and the broader community, ensuring these girls are allowed to thrive.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am Hyidea’ Burgess, the CEO and founder of God’s House for Queens Ministry Inc. (GHQMI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering underprivileged teenage girls through mentorship, education, and personal development. In addition to my leadership role at GHQMI, I serve as a Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman, contributing to critical defense initiatives and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization.
Growing up as a minority with a single mother in an underprivileged environment, I faced significant challenges, including times when I didn’t have food, water, or electricity. These hardships instilled in me a deep sense of resilience and determination, driving me to create opportunities for myself and others who face similar struggles. Reflecting on my upbringing, I realize that programs like buildOn, Girls Inc., and Upward Bound were lifelines that kept me focused and out of trouble and inspired me to believe I could make a meaningful impact despite my circumstances. These experiences inspired GHQMI, which I founded to provide the same support and opportunities that shaped my development.
GHQMI serves low- and middle-income girls through programs designed to foster their potential. Our services emphasize academic excellence, leadership development, and personal growth, all within a framework grounded in Christian values. The core programs we offer include:
Pretty Pure with a Purpose: Designed for teenage girls from low/middle-income homes, this program includes college readiness, college tours, community service, meetings with women in leadership, coding/web design, career readiness, mentorship, branding and marketing, financial literacy, and culinary arts.
Med Queens: Tailored for teenage girls from low/middle-income homes with an interest in the medical field, this program offers college readiness, tours of labs, hospitals, and clinics, education on animal/human health, certifications in CPR, First Aid, and Epilepsy management, exploration of careers in bioinformatics, doula, esthetician, and cosmetology, live/virtual dissections, shadowing female physicians, cosmetic chemistry labs, volunteering, and career readiness.
Fostering A Queen: A: This program supports teenage girls in the foster care system, offering college readiness, college tours, community service, meetings with women in leadership, coding/web design, career readiness, mentorship, branding and marketing, financial literacy, and culinary arts.
Fostering A Queen: B: Designed for teenage girls in the juvenile system, this program provides college readiness, in-person/virtual college tours, home-based volunteering, meetings with women in leadership, career readiness, mentorship, and financial literacy.
GHQMI distinguishes itself through a holistic approach to personal development, extending beyond academics to include training in etiquette, the arts, and essential life skills. We are committed to creating a nurturing environment that fosters sisterhood and instills values of poise, love, and integrity.
My entry into the field of engineering was non-traditional. Initially, I pursued a medical career with a major in chemistry and minors in computer science and biology. However, my passion for problem-solving and technology redirected me towards engineering. I began my career at Northrop Grumman as an Associate Radar Systems Engineer. I have since assumed various roles, including serving as a Scrum Master and supporting the development of technical documentation and Agile task management.
In my current role, I also contribute to the Ground-Based Weapon System (GWS) contract, a crucial initiative that provides U.S. NORTHCOM homeland defenders with advanced operational capabilities to counter emerging threats. As part of the GWS prime contract, Northrop Grumman is a key partner in engineering, producing, and testing the missile defense shield that protects the United States and its warfighters. Our team, primarily based in Huntsville, Alabama, is instrumental in positioning Northrop Grumman as a global leader in missile defense solutions.
Beyond my technical responsibilities, I am an active African American Task Force member at Northrop Grumman, where I advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. I also engage in community outreach through STEM initiatives, career fairs, and volunteer work, such as mentoring students through the High School Involvement Partnership (HIP) Program and participating in the “I Belong” campaign, which emphasizes inclusivity in the workplace.
One of my greatest sources of pride is leveraging my professional success to give back to the community. It is advantageous to witness the transformation in the young women we serve as they begin to believe in themselves, pursue higher education, and achieve goals that once seemed unattainable. Seeing them progress to college and realize their potential is a testament to the impact of our work.
Moreover, I am committed to setting an example for these young women, demonstrating that they can achieve anything they set their minds to, provided they maintain their faith and determination. This belief is the cornerstone of our mission at GHQMI, and it is the message I strive to convey to the girls we serve, their families, and our supporters.
Through GHQMI, I have created a platform where young women can discover their purpose, overcome the challenges of their environment, and develop the confidence needed to make a positive impact in the world. This work is more than a career; it is a calling, and I am dedicated to pursuing it with passion and commitment.
For those interested in learning more about GHQMI, our programs, or how you can contribute, I invite you to visit our website at www.ghqmi.com or contact me directly. We are continually seeking ways to expand our reach and deepen our impact. I look forward to connecting with individuals who share our vision of empowering the next generation of young women.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the most profound lessons I had to unlearn was procrastination, which I now see as a weed—a plant that is considered undesirable because it conflicts with human needs, goals, or preferences. Just like a weed, procrastination can be hazardous, unappealing, and difficult to control. Procrastination was the visible issue in my life, but its roots ran deeper.
In this metaphor, perfectionism is like the stem of the weed—the part that stands tall and is easily seen. However, the stem is supported by something deeper: the roots, which symbolize my need for control. But even deeper than that, at the very base of the issue, is the seed that started it all—rejection.
Growing up as a minority with a single mother in an underprivileged environment, I faced significant rejection. Despite my mother’s efforts to shield me and my having friends, many people looked down on me because I was from Oakland, California. Some parents didn’t want their children to interact with me, fearing I would be a bad influence simply due to my background. This planted a deep sense of shame and fear of rejection within me. I spent much of my life trying to please people, constantly worried about what others thought of me.
As I grew older, this fear of rejection sprouted into a need for control. I wanted to control how I was perceived and ensure that everything I did was perfect. If something wasn’t perfect, I would procrastinate, afraid to submit work or take action unless it met an impossibly high standard. This behavior followed me into my work on GHQMI.
When I first started GHQMI, I encountered rejection from an unexpected source—people who loved and supported me. Many of them didn’t agree with my decision to pursue the nonprofit full-time, especially if it meant stepping away from my secure job. They couldn’t understand why I would take such a risk, and their rejection of my decision weighed heavily on me. I became so determined to prove them wrong that I struggled with asking for help, fearing that people would talk down on my progress or discourage me from the sacrifices I made to build the nonprofit. This only intensified my need for everything to be perfect.
I was convinced that if my nonprofit didn’t appear flawless—if it didn’t look like I had been in business for years with an entire team behind me—then others would doubt my capabilities and my sacrifices would seem in vain. I carried this burden of perfectionism into every aspect of GHQMI, delaying actions and decisions out of fear that they wouldn’t measure up.
It wasn’t until a mentor told me, “You have to work with what you have, and if what you have is your best, then it is perfect,” that I began to address this major issue. I realized that my desire to control everything was rooted in my fear of rejection, which fed my perfectionism, leading to procrastination. I had to remind myself that the girls I was serving were not perfect and didn’t come from perfect homes. What I had to offer them—my authenticity, determination, and willingness to give my best—was precisely what they needed and more.
Unlearning this behavior has not only changed how I approach my work and life but has also shaped the kind of leader I want to be for the girls I mentor. They need to see that it’s okay not to be perfect, that doing your best is enough, and that embracing who you are—including all your imperfections—is the key to real success and fulfillment. By addressing the root of the issue, I’ve pulled the weed of procrastination from my life, allowing myself and my work to grow freely and authentically, offering what is truly needed to those I serve.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I decided to start my nonprofit, God’s House for Queens Ministry Inc. (GHQMI), I knew it would require a significant shift in my life. To fully dedicate myself to this mission, I decided to step away from my full-time job as an associate radar systems engineer. This was not an easy choice, and it set off a series of life changes that tested my faith, resilience, and commitment to the cause.
At the time, I was living comfortably in a three-story house in Maryland. But as I poured all my energy and resources into the nonprofit, I needed to make sacrifices. I went from renting a room in someone else’s house to sleeping in a friend’s spare room, then moving to North Carolina to live with family. Eventually, I attempted to move to Georgia, where I faced homelessness, sleeping on family couches or in my car. Finally, I relocated to Alabama, where I currently reside.
Throughout this journey, I never gave up on my dream of establishing GHQMI. Despite the hardships, I found ways to continue working with teenage girls. By the time I arrived in Alabama, I had already run two programs in Maryland and three successful partnered programs in Alabama. There were countless nights when I felt drained, overwhelmed, and discouraged. But I knew deep down that these programs were necessary and that the teenage girls needed them. So, I fought through the challenges and gave everything I had to make it happen.
No matter how little I had, I ensured the girls were always cared for. They were fed, supported, and given the best of what I could offer. Looking back, despite the hardships, I wouldn’t change a thing. The journey was transformative. I grew immensely, overcame incredible obstacles, developed unwavering faith, and inspired many with my perseverance. Today, I have so much to show for it: a building where I recently housed teenage girls during our summer program, and a tangible reminder that the organization’s name—God’s House for Queens—was divinely given to assure me that God will always be with me and that I will never be alone in this ministry.
I often told people, “Do you think God would ask me to leave my job, sell my clothes, and leave my home without having a plan to restore it all and more?” Because I was obedient, I went from being an associate radar systems engineer making less than $100,000 and renting a 1,500 sq ft townhouse to becoming a level two systems engineer making over $100,000 and owning a 2,700 sq ft home. I only had a bachelor’s degree; now, I’m finishing my master’s. In the beginning, I paid for everything out of my pocket. Now, people are donating and asking how to invest in the nonprofit. At first, I had no board members; now, I’m building a team of board members and volunteers. Where once few people knew who I was, today, people are reaching out to feature me in their magazines. I went from living a life with little purpose to a life full of purpose.
I stayed committed to my vision through all the challenges, knowing God had a plan for me. I knew that teenage girls needed the programs I was building, and that kept me going even when the journey was arduous. This journey has instilled in me a deep sense of gratitude and humility. As I look back, I know that this is only the beginning. The challenges I faced were not just obstacles; they were stepping stones that have allowed me to wake up each day with a heart full of purpose and determination. Through it all, I remain humble, knowing that everything I have achieved is because of God’s guidance and the unwavering belief that He had a plan for me all along.
May God add a blessing to those who have read my story and are inspired by it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ghqmi.com
- Instagram: Imchasingbigdreams
- Facebook: @ghqmi
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/hyidea-burgess-70b2b9176
