We recently connected with Shirley Blaise and have shared our conversation below.

Shirley, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

When I think about building my legacy, I think about being impactful in my current roles while creating opportunities that were not created for people like me at one point. I think about the talents that God has bestowed upon me while using them to create generational wealth for all of my loved ones. I think about giving back to those in need while traveling to impoverished countries in the future to serve in anyway. I also think about my goal in wanting to foster a community where people can learn and grow together.

I am a very passionate individual and I hope that when I am gone, people can speak towards that passion while also sharing the positive moments we had. I believe anyone who truly knows me will talk about my level of ambition, my drive and my level of resilience. I also believe that they will mention ways that I’ve wanted to help elevate people to their next level because someone did that for me.

I hope to be remembered as being impactful in everything that I’ve done.

Beyoncé has a song called “I was here.” She has one line where she sings “I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was here” and that is exactly how I feel.

Shirley, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a Director during the day at a company that I love working for. I am the CEO and Creator of my Brand – B.A.D Brilliant Ambitious Dreamer. I am a Singer that has recently decided to release songs that I’ve recorded in my past because I believe that my songs align with my brand and with my vision.

B.A.D. Brilliant Ambitious Dreamer came to me in a vision in 2018. A family member affirmed this calling over my life and in 2020, a friend helped me kick start B.A.D. Brilliant Ambitious Dreamer. In creating B.A.D, my goal was and still is to inspire people.

I currently sell apparel online at Badblaze.com and In the past, I was able to make custom items for my loyal customers. I am most proud of the growth of my business and the level of support that I have obtained in the past few years. I am truly grateful for the support and I would like my potential clients to know this business was created with love. There are many other options in regards to where someone wants to shop but my brand serves as reminder that we all possess greatness and are all Brilliant, Ambitious, Dreamers that can do anything they want to do in life!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My past experiences included people doubting my capabilities and people waiting for me to fail or to give up. I’ve experienced people say NO to me when I met with a record label, auditioned for certain opportunities, interviewed for certain positions, etc… I never allowed any of those moments to get in the way of what God had and still has in store for me. I have been able to grow within my career, I am a Black Female Leader in a predominately White Male business, I am a creator and CEO of my brand, I am an artist that plans to release music independently… I am a woman that grew up without a Biological Father and STILL, I have been able to overcome all odds that were stacked up against me.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I currently keep in touch with clients via email campaigns and social media. I also am able for foster brand loyalty by providing a Five Star Customer Service Experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: Badblaze.com
• Instagram: B.a.d.apparel20
• Facebook: Brilliant Ambitious Dreamer
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/shirley-blaise
• Twitter: ShirleyBlaze
• Youtube: Sblaze17