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

Alright, Sharhonda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

The idea was just a simple thought of how could I help young girls thrive after feeling left out, like a failure, not good enough, or even fearful. I was a full-time Banker, married and expecting my second child at age 24. I started my family earlier than I planned. Life became survival mode for some time. I decided to take a few steps back to being a part-time teller to focus on my son and daughter. Sitting on the teller-line I would go into deep thought of what I wanted life to look like. Mentoring young girls kept popping in my head so I wrote it down and went back to school. Years later after graduating with my AA, becoming a Bank Manager at age 28, purchasing my first home, and buying a new car I still felt incomplete.

God started to make himself visible to me. I started cleaning my life up, feeling fearless, and feeling like it was time to seek God for my purpose. I took the leap of faith and created the business, quit my job, cashed out my savings and started moving towards entrepreneurship. My very last day of resignation I found out I tested positive for COVID. Everything changed and went smooth downhill! The savings for the business became the money I’d need to survive. For months I suffered physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

In those moments I believe God allowed me to hit rock bottom to surrender my life and become fully dependent on Him and His plan for my life/purpose. I remember coming to myself and feeling the need to go back to what I knew best, banking. I gave up on my dream of entrepreneurship. 2 years later the Lord gave me confirmation to “try again” this time with Him in first place.

I pulled my journals back out, started talking to my therapist about how I could make this happen mentally. Each day I’d pray and God would give me instructions. Once completed, I was on to the next step, leading me to now having impacted over 100 girls in Baltimore Maryland. I’m still trusting the process and believing that this is only the beginning. I still work for the bank but no longer in survival mode, I know I am called for this!

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

For folks that do not know about me, I am a Dreamer and most importantly, a believer (obviously). I’ve gotten to the point in life that I want to make my dreams come to life. I learned key lessons of becoming a corporate leader through discipline and discovery. I empower others to become their best self while building a relationship with Christ. Life is so much better with Jesus!

I had to learn the hard way of living in my truth, forgiving myself, others, and being ok with making mistakes. In my hardest season I was angry at the world but all fingers pointed back to me. God showed me how to apologize, bring my issues to Him and live in peace. I want young girls to understand it takes work to create the life you want. Plan to have the best life even when it seems there’s no way. What you put in is what you get out.

That brings me to the reason Rare Ruby was named. Be “confidently rare”. No matter where you come from… No matter the fire and darkness you had to endure… or how you look, it creates the most beautiful and precious gem! You are worth so much. She is more precious than rubies.
Proverbs 3:5

If you can discover that early in life, you’re already on the fast track to success.

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

Being cheap isn’t always the best way! It’s ok to pay for quality work. I’m not gifted in every facet of business. Investing in quality work is better the first time around rather than backtracking.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I started a savings account from my 9-5. I would only allow myself to use 10% of my personal funds to invest in my business over time. Tasks that could’ve taken me a few weeks to complete actually took me months because I needed to keep in mind that regulating my personal finances was important to me. Changing my family’s budget and way of living was not an option for me. I was not willing to risk our comfort for immediate success.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: RARERUBYGIRLS
• Facebook: RareRubyGirls