We caught up with the brilliant and insightful La-shawnda Thompson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
La-Shawnda, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us a bit about who your hero is and the influence they’ve had on you?
Certainly! Here’s a revised response:
My heroes are my father Christopher grandmother Betty Bush, my Aunt Renee. Each of them played a unique and significant role in shaping my love for food, family, and tradition, and their influence can be felt throughout Mama Shawnda’s Cookbook: Southern Recipes Gourmet with a Taste of Soul.
My grandmother, Betty Bush, was the heart of our family. She wasn’t just a phenomenal woman of faith but also someone who taught me the importance of resilience and creating joy even in the toughest times. Her kitchen was always warm and welcoming, and while this cookbook isn’t filled with her recipes, it carries her spirit. I’ve put my twist on traditional recipes to honor her legacy while bringing something fresh to the table. She taught me that food is more than nourishment It’s a way to bring people together, celebrate life, and create lasting memories.
My Aunt Renee is another incredible influence on my journey. She’s a true master chef, and during the holidays, her five-star meals were nothing short of extraordinary. She has a gift for transforming simple ingredients into gourmet masterpieces, and her holiday feasts always brought our family together in the most beautiful way. Watching her in the kitchen, pouring love and creativity into every dish, inspired me to approach cooking with excellence and intention.
And then there’s my father, who was a single parent and an amazing cook in his own right. He prioritized making our meals, often starting as early as 5 AM to ensure we had everything we needed for the day. He taught me the importance of discipline, dedication, and the power of showing love through service. His example has been a constant reminder that even the simplest meals can be a labor of love. Together, they’ve influenced not only my passion for cooking but also my commitment to creating experiences that bring people together. This cookbook is my way of blending the lessons I’ve learned from them with my own creativity, offering recipes that honor tradition while adding my personal twist. It’s not just about food it’s about celebrating family, creating memories, and finding beauty in every bite.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m La-Shawnda Thompson, a visionary entrepreneur, transformation specialist, and passionate advocate for empowering women. My journey into the beauty, culinary, and creative industries is rooted in my personal experiences, faith, and desire to inspire others to embrace their God-given potential. Over the years, I’ve built a diverse brand that blends creativity, strategy, and empowerment to help others transform their lives from the inside out.
My passion for beauty began early on, leading me to work with some of the most iconic brands in the industry, including NARS, MAC and Laura Mercier. I’ve since expanded my expertise into entrepreneurship, founding Kingdom Kreatives, a creative agency that provides beauty services, content creation, and brand strategy for women looking to level up their presence both online and offline. Through La-Shawnda’s House of Beauty, I offer makeup artistry, hairstyling, and photography that empower women to look and feel like queens.
My work doesn’t stop at beauty.
I’ve recently launched Mama Shawnda’s Cookbook: Southern Recipes Gourmet with a Taste of Soul, a heartfelt collection of recipes inspired by my family’s legacy and my personal twist on traditional Southern dishes. This project highlights my love for food as a way to connect with others and create meaningful moments. I also plan to expand this brand with products like aprons, cookware, and seasonings to bring a taste of my kitchen into yours.
What sets me apart is my ability to blend practical solutions with inspiration. Whether I’m helping women build their confidence through beauty services, supporting single mothers through my Women of Fire ministry, or creating platforms for Kingdom entrepreneurs, I approach everything with intention, excellence, and a heart for service. My goal is to empower others to embrace who they are, walk boldly in their purpose, and build legacies of their own.
I’m most proud of the impact my work has had on others. From helping women feel beautiful and confident to providing tools for personal and professional growth, everything I do is centered on transformation. My personal journey from homelessness to entrepreneurship has shaped my perspective and fuels my passion for helping others overcome obstacles and thrive.
For those just getting to know me or my brand, I want you to know that my work is about more than just products or services. It’s about creating spaces for connection, empowerment, and growth. Whether it’s through a beauty session, a cookbook recipe, or a heartfelt conversation, my mission is to inspire others to live their best lives with faith, creativity, and purpose.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Social media has truly been a blessing for my business. It’s my digital business card and one of the most powerful tools for connecting with new clients and building relationships. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and even LinkedIn have allowed me to showcase my work, share my story, and engage with my audience in a way that feels authentic and personal.
Through consistent posting, storytelling, and intentional branding, I’ve been able to reach people who resonate with my message and value the services I provide. Whether I’m highlighting a beauty transformation, sharing a recipe from Mama Shawnda’s Cookbook, or posting motivational content, social media helps me show potential clients who I am, what I do, and how I can help them.
Word-of-mouth referrals also play a huge role, and social media amplifies that. Happy clients often share their experiences, tag me in their posts, or leave glowing reviews, which draws more people to my page. It’s amazing how quickly your work can spread when you’re consistent, engaged, and committed to providing value.
Social media allows me to not just attract clients, but also build a community. It’s where I connect with women who are ready to transform their confidence, their businesses, or their lives. For me, it’s not just about selling a product or service it’s about creating meaningful connections and offering inspiration and solutions to the people I’m called to serve.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
One of the most significant times I had to pivot was during one of the hardest seasons of my life when I went through a nasty divorce and found myself living in homeless shelters with my daughters. Everything I had planned for my life seemed to crumble, and I was left questioning what was next. But even in that dark season, I knew I couldn’t stay stuck. I had to find a way to rebuild, not just for myself, but for my daughters.
That experience forced me to pivot my mindset first. I stopped looking at my circumstances as the end of my story and started seeing them as the foundation for something new. I leaned into my faith, trusting that God had a greater purpose for me. I began to dream again, even while navigating the challenges of homelessness.
The pivot came when I decided to step fully into my creative gifts. I had always loved beauty and empowering women, but during that season, I realized those passions were also a pathway to rebuild my life. I started small, offering makeup services and building relationships with clients who believed in me. Over time, I expanded into entrepreneurship, launching Kingdom Kreatives and
La-Shawnda’s House of Beauty.
This pivot wasn’t just about survival it was about stepping into my calling. I realized that my story of resilience could inspire and empower others, so I began writing, speaking, and creating platforms that blended my creativity and my testimony. That season of pivoting birthed not only my businesses but also my cookbook, Mama Shawnda’s Southern Recipes, and my ministry, Women of Fire.
Looking back, I’m grateful for that pivot because it taught me the power of trusting God, embracing change, and creating opportunities even in the midst of adversity. It wasn’t easy, but it allowed me to build a life and a legacy I’m proud of, and it showed me that every setback is just a setup for a comeback.
Image Credits
Kingdom Kreatives Media