From NYCSBS Employee to Entrepreneur. 10 Years in the Making. 🧡
As we close out #WomensHistoryMonth, I find myself reflecting on how far the journey has come.
Ten years ago in March, I was an employee at NYC Department of Small Business Services slowly stepping into entrepreneurship...afraid, hopeful, and faithful. I hadn't yet created my first piece until that April, while traveling for my birthday in Cairo — where I made my first #YESIAM (a brand designed to inspire and empower) tee in a mall inside my hotel. The design: I AM....! I wore it home on the plane, and the journey began. DA SPOT NYC wasn't even a concept yet.
So to be tapped by #NYCSmallBusinessServices again this year to speak at #WENYC, to give back to the very community that was part of my foundation, is a full circle moment I do not take lightly.
This year I had the honor of sharing the stage with the incredible Colleen Galvin — a fellow SBS alum now at Mastercard — and the powerhouse Tamekia Flowers-Ball , with the brilliant Geri Stengel leading the conversation as our moderator. I even saw my old cubemate, Lin, and we hugged about 5 times 😊. Another full circle moment within the full circle. 🙏🏾
Together we had a real, honest conversation about work-life harmony. The messy parts of business. The weight of leadership. And how we keep going anyway. It was a warm reminder of how important it is to pour into our own cups, as much as we pour out to others.
The resounding message was: lift your crown, pull your shoulders back, and walk forward. Take up space, Sis, and pursue your dreams, but also prioritize your wellness. You have everything you need to keep going, but you must be on the agenda too.
To the nearly 100 women who showed up that day, and to the amazing women I sat alongside, thank you for filling that room with your energy, your stories, and your presence. When you could have been anywhere else, you chose to be there. For yourselves. For each other. That is what community looks like. 💗
A very special thank you to Coby Kalter, Mayra Chavarria, and the entire WE NYC team for creating space for these conversations. They matter more than you know, and so does your work🙏🏾
#WENYC #WomensHistoryMonth #DASpotNYC #WorkLifeHarmony #FromEmployeeToEntrepreneur #Community #SmallBusiness #Brooklyn #Womenempowerment