We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maniyah Richardson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maniyah, thanks for joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

To start, I believe some sort of creativity is embedded within us, but it takes a bit of introspective thinking to figure out what a person’s “thing is.” For many years I struggled with the clarity of understanding “Who I am” and “What makes me great.” On a rainy day, I found myself sitting on the edge of my bed journaling trying to discover the answers to lingering questions I had about myself and my purpose. A few things became clear to me that day which led me to starting my business, Light in the Dark Media Co. One, I love having the opportunity to connect with people, and two, I have a deep infatuation with unlocking the hidden potential that is connected to purpose and creativity.

In 2018, I initially started out taking photographs at weddings, then transitioned into branded photography. As I would shoot my clients would talk to me about not knowing what to do next with the images I had taken for them and then I had a light bulb moment of transitioning my business into a one-stop shop for people wanting to be connected with their purpose. By, the end of 2019, I added branding, web design, and customer segmentation coaching to my list of services and this changed the game for me almost immediately.

When I take in clients the first thing I push for us to uncover is their why and what. Why do you want to provide this service? Why do you feel so connected to it? and What do you want to be accomplished at the end of our business relationship? For me, these questions are pivotal when it comes to taking an idea from inception to reality because whatever your driving forces are will lay the foundation of what we will build together from fonts, logos, color palettes, business messaging and more.

Sometimes people go into business because they want to achieve financial freedom and make money. However, I believe in order to get there and it be sustainable, it has to be something connected to who you are, your experiences and your dedication to driving change.

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?

My name is Maniyah Richardson. I am a twenty-something-year-old, insecure girl, born from parents who never loved each other. Sometimes I wake up and can find every imperfection on my body and in my soul, while others, I see God’s beauty running through my veins. Along the way, I’ve hurt a few people, lost a few friends, and given my worth away. But, I am in constant transition of owning who I am and my creativity. And, even when I don’t know anything, I know that God isn’t done with me yet.

If I can speak from my own experience for many years I’ve been hard on myself because I know that I am meant to become more than what I am now. That, for some reason God chose me to fulfill a purpose that is bigger than what I could ever imagine or what I feel I can bare.

My superpower is having the ability to bring ideas to LIGHT through branding, web design, and motivation. Be the Light is my way of helping creatives walk into their purpose the way they always imagined. I have been in business for 5+ years where I have helped brands flourish in all different types of industries including woman empowerment, health & wellness, education, and e-commerce.​ I desire to motivate others by providing resources for creatives. Definitely, a creative who believes in community and sharing knowledge. Be the Light Blog is all about providing tools to creatives in an effort to help them maximize cost-efficient resources and tap into their potential.

Furthermore, about a year ago I started a podcast called “Dear 20 Something & Beyond” where I get real candid with listeners by sharing real-life stories, lessons, and conversations about her twenty’s. If you are looking for a podcast where you can just “be” this is the place for you. The Dear Twenty-Something & Beyond Podcast is real asf & relatable asf! For me, my podcast has been my saving grace for my mental health and for others but showcasing that we are all battling but healing is a milestone to growth and development. In the episodes I connect with people I have dated, people I have hurt, people who have like/different interests, and more.

The problem I always look to solve in business and through my podcast is the understanding of your why and that it is okay to hurt, heal and grow.

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Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Juggling owning a small business and having a leadership role in corporate America is tough because your business needs a certain amount of time to create and your career always needs a certain amount of time for your to be effective.

I knew it was time to pivot when I found corporate America was great because it provided me the opportunity to pay bills, travel, and level up it drove me away from what my true purpose was. Most days I found myself giving 200% to my leadership role and -10% to my business which left me depressed and unmotivated.

Growing up you always hear the cliche “Money doesn’t buy happiness,” and at 28 I found that is undeniably true. I never want to get to the end of my life and say “You made money but you missed your mark.” In fact, that was is the thing I fear the most. With this understanding, I am learning to set boundaries and demand respect of my personal time.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience is a personal story. What I might be resilient at might not look like resilience to someone else. But I’d say the thing that I have learned about myself that makes me resilient is having the humility to say, I don’t know something. Alot of times that is the biggest roadblock for growth.

My career as a Program Manager for two departments has definitely had its up and downs and challenged my way of thinking when it comes to processing, delegation and thinking on more of a wide scale. When I first started I didnt want to show or was embarrassed by showing vulnerability. Today, I embrace my mistakes, my lack of understanding and highlight them in a way that will catapult me into growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maniyahrichardson.com
• Instagram: www.instragram.com/maniyahrichardson
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maniyahrichardson/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpbUb80PLVfsVzdDYcK4vgA