We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shekina Farr. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shekina below.

Shekina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a story that illustrates an important or relevant lesson you learned in school

I vividly remember starting my doctoral program in 2005. I was so excited to have applied and been accepted, I was on cloud nine. What I didn’t know was that I would be required (no option) to take a full load the first two semesters of enrollment, on top of commuting an hour while working two jobs. Was I ever in over my head!

During the day, I worked as a high school Assistant Principal at a school with an enrollment of 2,700 students. My duties included freshmen seminar, child nutrition, student discipline, transportation, SST committee, summer school, virtual learning, school-wide testing and more. Three evenings a week, I taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to adult learners at a local community college.

The remaining evenings, I commuted to the university for classes. Whew! My schedule was super tight, I had little time for myself and I got very little sleep. The one day I had off, I was up all night doing homework. I was exhausted and burning the candle at both ends.

What many don’t know is that Assistant Principals are also on call for evening responsibilities at the school. So, I would often bargain with my colleagues to trade off on extra duty responsibilities so that I could attend my doctoral classes, and keep working my part-time job to afford my tuition and gas, and not get kicked out for missing too many classes.

It was a daunting season of my life when I honestly thought I would fail.

Fast-forward, an opportunity arose for me to transfer to a larger university that was much closer to my Assistant Principal post and would save me time, money and energy. So, I applied. And guess what? I GOT IN! I was so excited!

Until I learned that none…and I mean not ONE…of my class credits would transfer. I was utterly disappointed, and almost made the decision to call it quits. All that work for nothing!

However, after a full semester at the new university, I soon realized that the amount of work, the hour commute and the overall exhaustion had built something in me. With a closer commute that saved me an hour each day, I was able to thrive. I now had more balance. What used to be hard now seemed manageable and within reach. My capacity was expanding and my thirst for knowledge was increasing.

The lesson I learned from this season of life as a new doctoral student was to trust the process. I apply this lesson to my business and every area of my life. There will be times when things will be hard and will be challenging. But I have what it takes to weather the ups and downs, ebbs and flows of life and business.

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

My business focuses on confidence building and training. The confidence industry is very important to me as confidence was an area I struggled in.

There are defining moments in your life that, if you’re not paying attention, will go over your head.

SO…My platform is my life.

For YEARS I struggled with confidence. I questioned my abilities. I went along to get along even when things didn’t feel right or sit well with my spirit. I played nice and acquiesced to people I had no business connecting to. I yo-yo’d with my weight. I accepted roles and jobs that didn’t tap into my light. I downplayed my gifts to make others comfortable. I apologized for the wrongs made by others.

Defining moments I had to open my eyes to.

I WISH the man who wrapped his hands around my throat and choked me out would try that today. I WISH the boss who told me I would NEVER be promoted would utter those words across a table with me today. I WISH the company that swept my sexual harassment claims under the rug would try that today.

That Shekina had to unbecome™️.

Listen.

I share all this to say, I understand my audience because I was my audience. And I am keenly aware of the significance of having a forerunner circle back and say, “Queen, I’ve been there. I feel you. Let’s get you back on track. Because your tribe is waiting for you.”

I am called to the woman who looks good on paper but she hasn’t fully accepted her greatness.

To this end I create, build, and breathe life into products and services that make women more “confident, competent and clear™️”.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Formidable Woman® Beauty has a brand loyalty membership platform where clients earn loyalty points for signing up for our membership and continue to earn points on all purchases that can be redeemed for product discounts throughout the years. Members benefit from getting exclusive access to sales and content as well. Recently rolled out, our clients are already taking advantage of the member benefits!

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

I got sucked into the fixed mindset that I had to become something (else) to operate in my calling. But the truth is I am already that person. I just had to UNBECOME everything that isn’t really me. In other words, God created me perfectly from the beginning. I just needed to release everything that no longer serves me that I may fully actualize what is already mine. I am a formidable woman. I don’t have to become her, I just have to unbecome everything that isn’t her.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.formidablewoman.online
• Instagram: @formidablewomanbeauty
• Facebook: @formidablewomanbeauty
• Linkedin: @formidablewomanbeauty

Image Credits
Credits: Drea Nicole Photography (pink bkgrnd & leapoard shirt) Bloom and Flourish Photography (orange pants, products on table, seated at white table) ArielViews Photography (gray shirt images)