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

Alright, Sakinna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My mission is to help women restore and rebuild their lives after leaving a domestic violence relationship. This mission is very dear to my heart because I experienced domestic violence in my life and i know what it is like to not know what’s next to come after leaving. I was torn and felt like i was at my lowest point in life. Not only did i have to rebuild by life physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually but my daughter, who had witnessed the violence and all that i had gone through, also needed support from the trauma she endured as well, with my business i want to provide a service that offers the support and guidance to help these women and their children restore what was lost.

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 background and context?

My name is Sakinna J. I am the CEO/Founder of I Choose Me Enterprises LLC, Certified Transitional and family life coach, and a #1 bestselling author in Blessed Not Broken Vol 4: The Power of Letting go. In Blessed Not Broken, I share my story about a very toxic and abusive relationship I endured. I take readers on my journey by revealing the steps i had to take to leave, heal, and rebuild my life after this relationship. It was not easy and there were times when i felt like no one was in my corner but my faith in God gave me the strength to continue. After co-authoring in Blessed Not Broken, I decided to turn my book in to my business, hence why the title of my Chapter is also the title of my business. My ultimate goal is to help women regain, restore, and rebuild their lives after experiencing a Domestic violence relationship. I do this through a 7-step program that focuses on an increase in self- esteem, goal setting (career and educational), financial stability, creating thriving relationships as well creating a solid supportive environment for not just the woman but for their children as well.

Many people work with DV survivors because they want to help that particular population, With me, potential clients will have someone who is authentic, supportive, passionate, and understanding. Not only have i lived through what they are going through but i too had to go through it with a child involved as well. I have an extensive background in working with children, and i was also a Social worker at a DV shelter where i ran the support groups as well. Because of my background and life experience, i am extremely confident that working with me will enhance your life in a multitude of ways.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social Media can be a great platform to build your business. When i first started building my business, i was afraid to make myself visible. But what i was taught and had to realize was, how can people get to know, like, and trust you if they dont see you. Many people spend hours scrolling through social media, so it is important that every time they scroll, they see something you have posted, or they see you! Even if they do not comment, like or share every time, they are watching Trust me! After a while they may click on your page because they keep seeing you and they are now interested in who you are and what you do. Visibility is key and has helped me a lot as i continue to grow my business. I allow my audience to see me as my authentic self whether its a live video of me alone, with my kids, or with the love of my life. I also create post about what i have been through and how i can help others overcome their obstacles. I share my successes as well as my failures and short comings. This way, people get to know me in my entirety. People truly appreciate it when you are transparent

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

When i was growing up, i never wanted to be an author nor did i think about owning a business. I have always been a helper! I wanted to help all vulnerable populations and be a part of their support system. However, my life changed in so many ways causing me to endure things that i never knew i would have to endure. As life took a turn for me, i began journaling to help regulate my feelings and thoughts. What i didnt know was that all my years of journaling would turn into stories that can help others. I was actually working as a Full time Social worker when i co-authored in my first book in 2021. Since then, i have co-authored in two more books, founded my business, and have spoken at several engagements. There were moments when i was so afraid to pursue my business full time but i stepped out on faith and went for it. I did it afraid! Being a mother and working full time was challenging yet rewarding but i wasnt helping people the way i wanted to. There are limits on what you can and cannot do when you are working for someone else but i wanted to help people without so many limits. Leaving corporate america and starting my business of course came with sacrifices, however I have a great support system that has helped me on my journey

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sakinnaj
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sakinna1
• Other: [email protected] (Email)

Image Credits
Photos by Di at Every Angle Philly and Julian Grant IV