We recently connected with Natima Sheree and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Natima , thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Healing and helping others heal has become a relentless mission of mine. What’s unique about my mission, however, is the method and conduit I have leveraged to accomplish this.

I have always used writing and journaling as a form of release and aid for healing. I write to express myself when I feel anxious or inadequate. I journal to channel emotions and unhealthy thoughts. I began to rely on writing as medicine during my personal healing journey.

After publishing my first book in 2016 and witnessing the positive effect my words and truth had on female readers. I wanted to expand, reach even more women, and tell even more stories. And although it took several years, I launched the Diamond Writers, in 2020 at the height of COVID-19. The Diamond Writers is a community, a platform, a sisterhood, and a safe space for BIPOC women to heal from trauma through writing while inspiring others through storytelling.

Natima , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

A native of New York City, and best known for my role as Rosie in the 1994 cult classic film FRESH, I am now starring in the greatest role of my life – inspiring, influencing, and championing greatness in others.

By profession, I am a credentialed Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Talent Partner, speaker, and consultant. A mother of two beautiful girls, literary influencer, and Book Enthusiast by passion!

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A lover of literature and an advocate for independent authors, I am dedicated to aiding writers, and content creators in sharing their stories and literary gifts with the world through my boutique consulting firm, Transparent Gem Inc., established in June 2017. Since launching T.G.I., I have assisted more than three dozen first-time independent authors with manuscript development, editing, author brand development, and navigating the independent publishing process.
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An author myself, designated Queen Pen, I co-wrote the Amazon best seller Mascara: Beat Face. Broken Soul and compiled and contributed to anthologies, Pretty Broken: Transforming Scars to Beauty Marks, and Beneath the Crown: Her Story. Her Power. Her Voice. in collaboration with my women’s focused literary community, the Diamond Writers.

In 2022, after experiencing a traumatic break-up, I turned my pain into a purpose and released my independent project the S.A.V.A.G.E Healing Journal, a heart-break recovery workbook compromised of personal stories and relevant exercises and activities. I firmly believe that everything we face in life, good or bad can be used to empower and inspire others.

My passion for writing and helping women to heal has been the driving force behind all I do. As an author, speaker, and influencer in the indie-literary space, I am always working on programs that empower women and build community.

When I am not hosting my podcast, Hustle & Shine, I am focused on passion projects including several new anthologies, preparing for the opening of the Diamond Loft Literary Cafe & Event Venue, or preparing for law school this fall.

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

There are so many lessons I had to unlearn as a maturing entrepreneur and many perspectives and mindsets I had to abandon as well. The biggest opportunity for change for me was intentionally healing from financial trauma. I had no idea this was a “thing” and couldn’t see how much this trauma was holding me back as a person but also as a business owner. Many of my financial decisions were made in fear and from a place of lack. I was hesitant to invest in my own business out of fear of losing and being broke. I know that entrepreneurship is a risk, however, I was too afraid to take risks, financially which would have benefited the company and expanded the brand much faster as a result of this unaddressed trauma.

When the term was first introduced to me, I went home and thoroughly studied what it meant, and how it affects us. I began to assess opportunities I forfeited and walked away from because of my financial trauma. I made poor decisions with money that affected my business and had never truly understood why until now.
I’m learning you can’t be a good business owner or entrepreneur without being healed and whole. Our confidence as business owners is built upon the confidence, we have in ourselves and in our idea. However, if you have holes and trauma that affect your decision-making, it will advertently affect your business.

I didn’t want to be one of those entrepreneurs with a great idea but no vision or who have a great product or service but lack the character to build a sustainable business. Unlearning some of my unhealthy habits, abandoning toxic mindsets, and healing from trauma played a huge role in my success.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

As I’ve mentioned before, I am invested in holistic healing, and I believe what I do as a creative provides a unique platform and community for others to do the same through individual and collective effort.

My community is for women only, however, the very women we serve, and support are mothers, who through our community are taught to break generational patterns which directly benefit their children. We teach financial freedom and dependency through independent book sales and author branding. We teach sisterhood through connection and accountability. And we help women to uncover pain and trauma and support their healing journey by addressing unresolved daddy issues, sexual abuse, neglect, infidelity, etc.

The creative space that I have created and cultivated for myself, and others is to nurture healing and foster individual growth and development. We live in a materialistic and superficial society, one that promotes gain but not gratitude. A society that promotes selfishness and greed. My mission is to combat that through truth-owning, accountability enforcing, thought-provoking, creative storytelling.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.natimasheree.com
• Instagram: @natima_sheree
• Facebook: thee.natimasheree
• Linkedin: natima-fisher
• Twitter: @natima_sheree
• Youtube: natimasheree
• Other: www.diamondwriters.com

Image Credits
Photo credit: Look2C Photography