09/25/2026
Today, I was asked, “Share a moment in your entrepreneurial journey when you faced a major challenge or setback.” Whew… that question hit me hard. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to sit with it, reflect, and articulate my experience on paper. And after writing it, I felt called to share it here too, I hope it encourages someone!
My Answer: One of my greatest entrepreneurial challenges came when I stepped into full-time business ownership in November 2021. As I began navigating government, philanthropy, and nonprofit spaces across Colorado, I was often the only Black woman in the room. I carried the pressure of having to prove my expertise while also resisting the expectation to represent an entire community. There were moments when my ideas were welcomed, but my leadership was questioned; when my proximity to community was valued, but the power to shape decisions remained elsewhere. I handled those experiences by refusing to shrink. I strengthened my business systems, documented my results, built relationships rooted in trust, and remained anchored in faith, culture, and the wisdom of community. I learned that access does not always mean belonging and that being invited into a room is different from having the power to change it. That lesson sharpened SIYG’s purpose. I am building a firm that helps move voice, resources, and decision-making closer to community while creating space for women like me to lead without having to surrender who we are ♥️♥️