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

Sydney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

Heruse isn’t pronounced the way most people think it is—it actually holds a much deeper meaning for me. It’s pronounced hee-thloo-s/zee, which means “beautiful” or “pretty” in Mvskoke (Muscogee). I feel the most beautiful when I’m surrounded by my people because they see me for who I truly am. Their compliments go beyond the surface and acknowledge me as a whole person, and that’s exactly what I strive to provide for my clients. My goal in starting this business is to offer transformation through empowerment, a value deeply rooted in my upbringing and connection to my Native culture.

Sydney, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Here’s a little about me and my journey:

I played soccer for 15 years of my life, including at the collegiate level. Sports taught me dedication, perseverance, and teamwork, values that still guide me in my business today.

From a young age, I’ve always known I was meant for more—I couldn’t see myself stuck in the traditional 9-to-5 cycle. No matter the path, my ultimate goal was always to become an entrepreneur and build something of my own.

In fact, I was on track to become a traveling nurse, deeply passionate about understanding the body and providing care with empathy. Unfortunately, financial barriers during college shifted my course, but that passion for serving others has stayed with me and influences the work I do today.

For the past four years, I’ve lived on the East Coast, far from my roots in Oklahoma. While I’ve enjoyed my time here, my heart remains with my community back home. My dream is to one day return to Oklahoma, run a farm and homestead, and serve my people by working at an Indian hospital on the Muscogee Reservation. Everything I do is tied to my culture and a deep sense of purpose, and I strive to bring that into my work every day.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Anyone who knows me knows my journey hasn’t been easy. Growing up in poverty taught me the value of stability and the determination to create it for myself. No matter what life threw at me, I knew I had to keep moving forward, regardless of the cards I was dealt.

I’ve experienced financial struggles, mourned the loss of loved ones more times than I can count, and rebuilt everything I worked for after it was torn down by external circumstances. But one thing I know for sure: you could take everything from me today, and I’d find a way to rebuild it all again tomorrow. My life is proof that resilience can lead to success.

I’ve stayed true to my beliefs while embracing the lessons that come with change and growth. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about resilience, it’s this: never dim your sparkle, speak up for those who can’t stand up for themselves, and take the leap, even when it’s scary. Trust your intuition—it will guide you where you’re meant to go, even if that place is just meant to teach you a lesson. Your journey will always align with your purpose, no matter how challenging it feels in the moment.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Let me take you back to my college experience, a time when I had to make a major pivot. In high school, I took pre-requisite classes to prepare for college and hoped to graduate early. Initially, I decided not to play college soccer, thinking my athletic career was behind me. But I soon realized soccer wasn’t over for me. I walked on to our local college team and earned a scholarship. While I knew I wasn’t at the same athletic level as my teammates, I leaned on hard work and determination to become the player I wanted to be. My first season didn’t go as planned, but when my coach offered me another scholarship to come back and play the following year, I was excited to return for my next semester and the off-season to continue improving.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to file for FAFSA, and my plans seemed to fall apart overnight. I felt like my world was crashing, but I refused to settle for a life in my hometown. I worked an overnight job and a day job to save up and move to the city in less than six months. My first job while living on my own was as a water mitigation technician. I spent my days doing demolition work, the only woman on an all-male crew and the youngest member.

Even while working that physically demanding job, I was building my next career as a personal trainer. No matter the situation, I’ve always believed something better is coming. Now, I’m at a stage in life where I can finally pause, take it all in, and focus on what’s here in the moment instead of constantly chasing the next thing. That mindset shift has been a journey, but one I’m incredibly proud of.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/herusebysyd
• Instagram: @Herusebysyd
• Facebook: Heruse By Syd