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

Hi Shanequa, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career.

I would change the strategy and include preparing the learner for real world experience. We can prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career if we add in curriculums, mental and emotional support to the youth. When I was growing up, the school I was in was so controlled and uniformed, it did not give students the space to be unique and did not offer enough resources to prepare me for the real world. I feel as if we put more effort and energy into changing the HOW we educate, we could make a huge difference in the world and education system. We also need to understand that students have different learning styles, personalities and it’s vital to know how to communicate and convey information to them.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Shanequa Joseph, an accountant, a 501(c)3 non-profit executive director, and founder. I was born and raised in a rural town in Louisiana, and we did not have access to educational resources that inhibited opportunities for the youth. I moved to Houston, Texas, a decade ago. It shocked me to witness how much support and resources were available to the youth. I have always wanted to be a humanitarian and I love children. So, the idea of creating a non-profit was something that was always in my plans. Last year, I decided to push the pedal to the metal and I created Pathways For Excellence, Inc. Our mission is to direct the youth with innovative development initiatives and provide resources for academic excellence. What sets us apart from others, is that we are relatable, personable, innovative, and most of all compassionate. A few of our members come from backgrounds similar to mine. It gives us insight into how we should approach and direct our initiatives. I am most proud that although we are a small organization, we manage to make a huge impact. In the past year, we have impacted the lives of 31 people (aged 5 and up to young adults), and we are continuing to grow and gain traction. We still have some work to do but we are heading in the right direction. I am beyond excited to experience what the future holds for us.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson that I have had to unlearn is to release fear. The non-profit sector requires a lot of communication and being around people you have never met before. A non-profit is donor and grant funded so that involves interaction. It all made me outrageously nervous. I have had public speaking anxiety my entire life and it was something that I had to overcome. I started off by understanding WHY we are here and that gave me the strength to convey our message. Then I went into what and how I would communicate our mission, values and initiatives. I once read that thinking will not overcome fear but actions will. So, I gave myself that extra push and now I am able to effectively communicate without anxiety blocking me.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

A non-profit is typically funded through donors. However, the start up capital came out of my pocket from money that I had been saving. Our initial fundraising projects came from members of the organization, friends, family, businesses and others who support our mission.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @pathwaysforexcellence
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pathways4excellence/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathways-for-excellence-inc/
• Twitter: @waysforexcellence
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4Vdh-2PB86lyQEbEKgo2XA