We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nya Russell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nya below.
Nya , appreciate you joining us today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)? Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style.
When I was just starting out, I knew I needed hands-on experience in hospitality, but I didn’t know where or how I’d get it. One day I went on TikTok, searched for Black-owned hotels, and came across a property in Jamaica. I didn’t know I’d be going to Jamaica until that very moment, but I saw an opportunity.
I noticed their social media presence had potential for growth, so I reached out. I called the front desk, sent multiple emails, and followed up until I finally got in touch with the owner. I told her, “I’ll work in every single department for free—just give me the chance to learn. In return, I’ll help with social media. All I ask is housing and meals.” She agreed.
That’s how I created my own internship abroad. I rotated through every department, learned resort operations firsthand, and built cross-cultural connections. But the biggest lesson was that opportunities don’t always come to you—you have to create them. That experience gave me both the confidence and the skill set that later became the foundation of my own business.
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.
My name is Nya Russell, and I’m the founder of Eccentric Consulting LLC, a boutique consulting firm that helps small hotels, resorts, and entrepreneurs grow, adapt, and thrive. My journey into this industry started in an unconventional way—I created my own internship in Jamaica after finding a resort on TikTok. That experience opened my eyes to both the challenges and the opportunities small properties face, and it inspired me to build a business dedicated to solving those problems in creative, sustainable ways.
Eccentric Consulting offers a wide mix of services: marketing and branding, project management, operational audits, technology integration, and strategic planning. My approach is hands-on and holistic. I don’t just look at one aspect of a business; I look at the big picture. Sometimes that means creating strong marketing campaigns and brand strategies, while other times it’s improving the way a property functions behind the scenes. We have done things like enhancing safety, streamlining operations, and making the guest experience more seamless. At the core, my role is to identify what a business needs most and then bring the right solutions to life.
What sets my brand apart is that it embodies exactly what its name suggests—eccentric. My logo features a giraffe stepping outside of the box, a symbol of seeing beyond limits and approaching challenges with fresh perspective. That’s how I approach consulting: not with cookie-cutter answers, but with creativity, adaptability, and the willingness to take a different path when that’s what it takes to help a business thrive.
I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve turned resourcefulness into a strength for myself and for my clients. I didn’t wait for opportunities to show up, I built them, and I bring that same spirit into every project. Above all, I want potential clients and partners to know that Eccentric Consulting is about seeing opportunities where others might see obstacles, helping small businesses stand tall in competitive markets, and creating solutions as original as the people behind them.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn in business was the idea that being available 24/7 proved my value. When I first started Eccentric Consulting, I was inexperienced, new, and eager to prove myself. I let clients contact me at all hours and felt like I had to immediately respond to every request to show that I was dedicated. The problem was that I was burning myself out.
What I’ve learned is that boundaries don’t make you less professional—they make you sustainable. Today, I work every day by choice, but I only respond to clients between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., unless there’s an event or a true emergency. That structure allows me to give 100% during my working hours without running on empty. And what I’ve found is that sometimes you don’t even have to announce your boundaries outright! You just enforce them, and clients adapt.
As a startup founder, it’s easy to feel like you have to overextend yourself to impress people, but the truth is, everything isn’t urgent all the time. Learning to prioritize, manage my energy, and trust the process has been one of the most important shifts in my journey. Boundaries don’t limit what I can do for my clients—they actually make it possible for me to show up stronger and more consistent for them, day after day.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Resilience for me has been tested most in my decision to move to Jamaica, a developing country, to build and run my business. I didn’t move with a safety net, I came on faith. At the time, I had just one potential client, and their contract wasn’t even signed yet. I didn’t bring much money with me, but I brought determination and prayer.
Since then, I’ve faced real challenges: water crises, health issues, hurricanes, and power outages, all while most of my work depends on being online. There were times when it would have been easier to pack up and quit, but in hospitality, you don’t get to stop showing up just because life gets hard. Guests still arrive, clients still have needs, and deadlines don’t wait. I had to learn to pivot quickly, roll with the punches, and keep delivering no matter what was happening around me.
What I’m proud of is that through it all, I’ve continued to grow a business that earns in USD, even in an environment where that’s not the norm. Every obstacle has forced me to get sharper, more resourceful, and more grounded in my purpose. Resilience, for me, isn’t about pretending challenges don’t exist—it’s about showing up anyway, building despite them, and creating opportunities in places where others might not see them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @eccentriccllc & @nya_symone
- Facebook: Eccentric Consulting LLC
- Other: Tiktok: @nya_symone
Image Credits
Photo taken by: Nia Lindsey
Photo of: Nya Russell